tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86473928685317701152024-03-14T01:34:58.962-07:00Learning about FrogsHop on into the frog pond or squat on a lily pad. We will learn about frogs, toads and tadpoles with unique hands-on activities.Evelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04839884466037714350noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647392868531770115.post-69669830469438850312013-06-14T04:10:00.002-07:002013-06-14T04:17:44.041-07:00Frog Species Back from Extinction!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DFrKEmgW0K8/Ubr5TvJcQbI/AAAAAAAAAJU/GnVKUMS-88o/s1600/Israel_painted_frog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DFrKEmgW0K8/Ubr5TvJcQbI/AAAAAAAAAJU/GnVKUMS-88o/s640/Israel_painted_frog.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
A species thought to be extinct as a result of habitat distruction in the 1950's, has just been discovered in a pond in Israel. According to USA Today in their article <a href="http://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_282278925"></span></a><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/sciencefair/2013/06/04/living-fossil-frog-extinct/2388201/" target="_blank">Frog thought to be extinct found in Israel pond<span id="goog_282278926"></span></a> we learn that the Hula painted frog has actually survived in a small pond. Scientists are now scrambling to study them as well as trying to find ways to help these amphibians multiply and eventually be taken off the endanged species list.Evelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04839884466037714350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647392868531770115.post-92177712047833378852013-03-06T02:27:00.000-08:002013-03-06T04:12:32.288-08:005th Annual Save the Frogs Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HpYfpHD0BFs/UTcVwUkZXMI/AAAAAAAAAIs/2qUG1jW8RR8/s1600/Save-The-Frogs-Day-Current-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HpYfpHD0BFs/UTcVwUkZXMI/AAAAAAAAAIs/2qUG1jW8RR8/s320/Save-The-Frogs-Day-Current-2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
April 27th will mark the 5th year in a row that Save the Frogs celebrate the efforts around the world to save frogs from extinction. With pollution and diminishing habitat for frogs around the world, frogs face extinction on every continent. You can help by organizing an event in your community. Visit <a href="http://www.savethefrogs.com/day" target="_blank">Save the Frogs</a> for more information.<br />
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In the meantime, you can begin your own unit study about frogs so that the children you work with know as much about frogs as possible before the great even. You will find dozens of fun <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/frog-theme" target="_blank">frog themed activities</a>,<a href="http://www.squidoo.com/frogunitstudy" target="_blank"> frog unit study activities</a>, <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/frog-math" target="_blank">frog math</a> and so much more in articles I have written describing the ways I have taught my own children when homeschooling as well as classroom activities I have used when teaching in the classroom.<br />
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Have fun with <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/frog-songs" target="_blank">frog songs</a>, <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/frog-fly-swatter-game" target="_blank">frog games</a> and read about a <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/frog-pond-tale" target="_blank">Hunt for Frog Eggs</a>.Evelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04839884466037714350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647392868531770115.post-20839434385301959802010-12-21T18:06:00.000-08:002012-05-13T07:03:12.302-07:00Frog Spawn Place Value<span style="font-size: 180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Frog Themed Place Value Workjobs </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-unwZ6Pr8x78/T6-94ju1H_I/AAAAAAAAAHA/P3tH6gpXQz4/s1600/Frog+and+Toad+Eggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-unwZ6Pr8x78/T6-94ju1H_I/AAAAAAAAAHA/P3tH6gpXQz4/s320/Frog+and+Toad+Eggs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43508320@N02/4009400680/" target="_blank">Frog </a>and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/oakleyoriginals/3464553644/" target="_blank">Toad </a>Eggs<br />
on Flickr, Creative Commons.</div>
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Frogs lay their eggs in clusters and toads lay their eggs in strings.<br />
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To practice <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/place_value/" rel="nofollow">place value</a>:<br />
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1. Lay out a sheet of blue paper (Pond Mathmat) Cut it down the middle. On one paper write frog eggs and on the other write toad eggs.<br />
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2. Roll dice of two different colors. The black die could be the ones and the green could be the tens.<br />
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3. Use White Reinforcement circles to show the number in clusters (Frog Spaw<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ibCmdJoLBiE/TRFeqaNso5I/AAAAAAAAAE4/PArN8_PRLzo/s1600/Florida%2BTree%2BFrog%2BClip%2BArt%2BPublic%2BDomain.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553323898208822162" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ibCmdJoLBiE/TRFeqaNso5I/AAAAAAAAAE4/PArN8_PRLzo/s320/Florida%2BTree%2BFrog%2BClip%2BArt%2BPublic%2BDomain.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 300px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 300px;" /></a>n) or in strings of tens and ones (Toad Spawn)<br />
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4. Write the number in digits on the back of each one.<br />
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Later on these papers could be laminated and become a matching game with the answers on the back for self-checking.<br />
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This is adapted from an idea in <a href="http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0STR/is_6_110/ai_84344623//" rel="nofollow"> Instructor , March, 2001 by Jacqueline Clarke </a>.<br />
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More activities with a frog theme can be found at: <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/frogunitstudy">The Frog Unit Study</a> <img alt="" src="file:///C:/Users/EVELYN%7E1/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-5.png" /> </div>Evelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04839884466037714350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647392868531770115.post-34380170341123969712010-12-20T05:51:00.000-08:002010-12-20T06:08:22.373-08:00Frogs are a popular Unit Study<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ibCmdJoLBiE/TQ9itHctCJI/AAAAAAAAAEw/ZFbAfnrNnwM/s1600/Frog%2BUnit%2BStudy%2BSwat%2Bthe%2BVerb%2BFlies.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 143px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ibCmdJoLBiE/TQ9itHctCJI/AAAAAAAAAEw/ZFbAfnrNnwM/s320/Frog%2BUnit%2BStudy%2BSwat%2Bthe%2BVerb%2BFlies.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552765392804186258" border="0" /></a><br />Children love learning about animals and frogs are one of the more interesting wild animals that can easily be observed by children. In the <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/frogunitstudy">Frog Unit Study</a>, written by The Homeschool Club Co-Founder, Evelyn Saenz, children learn about frogs and all areas of the curriculum are addressed.<br /><br />The games <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/FrogUnitStudy#module4106011">Swat the Verb Flies</a> has children pretending to be frogs catching flies. Frogs only eat insects that are moving. By using fly swatters, the children swat at fly shaped cards which have words written on them. If the word is a verb, a word that shows motion, the children (Froglets) swat it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>The games and activities in this <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/frogunitstudy">Frog Unit Study</a> are unique and original. Be sure to visit often for more frog themed activities all across the curriculum...Evelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04839884466037714350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647392868531770115.post-66577794739369386142010-12-20T05:32:00.000-08:002010-12-20T05:38:36.894-08:00The Frog Writing Center<span class="collapse"> </span> <div class="module_description"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51rgURExILL._AA280_.jpg" alt="Writing Process" align="center" width="510" /><br /><br />The green spotted table and frog chairs inspire young frogs to write their life histories.<br /><br />Provide plenty of paper, pencils, and frogs to observe. Novelty pens that are shaped like frogs or paper that is cut in a frog shape can also inspire writing.<br /><br />Spend time writing every day. Write in all curriculum areas and don't forget to publish the best writing so that everyone can be inspired to write more.<br /><br />The more you write about frogs the more you will learn about frogs because writing requires observation, deep thinking and accuracy in expressing your thoughts.<br /><br />From <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/frogunitstudy">The Frog Unit Study: Hopping to Learn</a><br /></div>Evelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04839884466037714350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647392868531770115.post-58827670525661772912010-11-27T21:51:00.000-08:002010-11-27T22:29:55.303-08:00Autumn Frog and Leaf Litter<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ibCmdJoLBiE/TPH0yAarXYI/AAAAAAAAAEo/hxhN2ld5qvU/s1600/Autumn%2BFrog.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 251px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ibCmdJoLBiE/TPH0yAarXYI/AAAAAAAAAEo/hxhN2ld5qvU/s320/Autumn%2BFrog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544481756212321666" border="0" /></a><br />Fallen leaves provide shelter for a multitude of animals including earthworms, pillbugs, and millipedes. These animals provide food for frogs, toads, and other small animals. As winter draws near, the leaf litter becomes a warm blanket which helps these small animals to survive the cold.<br /><br />Consider leaving a leaves on a portion of your lawn to increase the fauna of your yard. The frogs and other small animals will thank you and reward you with more wildlife sitings in the coming year.<br /><br /><p style="text-align: right; font-size: 8pt; font-style: italic;">Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/32345848@N07/3504715906">Portrait of Toad</a><br />on Flickr, Creative Commons.</p>Evelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04839884466037714350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647392868531770115.post-4184967410219891692010-09-20T04:01:00.000-07:002011-04-29T04:15:04.246-07:00Mixing frog green for Painting FrogsGreen Frog Paint<br />Color the Frog Green<br /><br /><br />Set out lots of yellow and some blue and let the kids mix the colors to make various shades of green.<br /><br /><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2243/2364134745_66953820f9.jpg?v=0" alt="Frog Painting" align="middle" height="200" hspace="10" vspace="7" /><br /><p style="text-align: right; font-size: 8pt; font-style: italic;">Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/heygabe/2364134745//">Frog Watercolor</a><br />on Flickr, Creative Commons.</p><br /><br /><br /><br />Large paper covered in shades of green can be cut into frog or vegetation shapes to create bulletin boards, collages or other froggy art projects.Evelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04839884466037714350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647392868531770115.post-72604439552684909462010-08-17T10:29:00.000-07:002010-09-20T03:56:31.342-07:00Cat-o-nine-tails in the Frog PondToday we look at cat-o-nine tales. Growing up in Vermont, Cat-o-nine-tails grew in swampy areas along the roads, in the setbacks of ponds and in low lying damp areas. I remember picking them with my mother and feeling the roughness of their brown blossoms. When we picked them in the late fall they would fall apart in clouds of fluff to disperse in the wind looking for another damp spot to sprout and grow new plants.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a class="APCTitleAnchor" href="http://affiliates.allposters.com/link/redirect.asp?item=4936153&AID=806952965&PSTID=1&LTID=2&lang=1" target="_blank" title="Cattails For Anne"><img src="http://imagecache6.allposters.com//LRG//%5C36%5C3638%5CP6OEF00Z.jpg" alt="Cattails For Anne" border="0" height="320" width="400" /></a><br /></div><p align="center"><img src="http://tracking.allposters.com/allposters.gif?AID=806952965&PSTID=1&LTID=2&lang=1" border="0" height="1" width="1" /><br /><a class="APCTitleAnchor" href="http://affiliates.allposters.com/link/redirect.asp?item=4936153&AID=806952965&PSTID=1&LTID=2&lang=1" target="_blank" title="Cattails For Anne Giclee Print">Cattails For Anne</a><br /><a class="APCAnchor" href="http://affiliates.allposters.com/link/redirect.asp?c=c&search=63483&AID=806952965&PSTID=1&LTID=2&lang=1" target="_blank" title="Tuck, Ann">Tuck, Ann</a><br /><a class="APCTitleAnchor" href="http://affiliates.allposters.com/link/redirect.asp?item=4936153&AID=806952965&PSTID=1&LTID=2&lang=1" target="_blank" title="Cattails For Anne">Buy at AllPosters.com</a></p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ibCmdJoLBiE/TGrJcxUVmKI/AAAAAAAAAEY/aIV9tmvW8-M/s1600/Purple_loosestrife.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 123px; height: 191px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ibCmdJoLBiE/TGrJcxUVmKI/AAAAAAAAAEY/aIV9tmvW8-M/s320/Purple_loosestrife.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506434990526011554" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />When we walked down to the frog pond in summer we would notice the Redwinged Blackbirds sitting on the Cat-o-nine-tails. The Cat-o-nine-tails stuck up a bit higher than the rest of the vegetation proving a perch for the blackbirds while they searched for insects to devour.<br />My sister and I loved to have sword fights with the Cat-o-nine-tails. Their stiff stems held up quite well and there were always more when the ones we were using broke.<br /><br />How sad I felt one day when I heard than an invasive species, Purple Loosestrife is taking over the Cat-o-nine-tail’s habitat. Though Purple Loosestrifeis a beautiful plant, I would feel that the world was a poorer place if Cat-o-nine-tails no longer existed.<br /><br />More recently I discovered what fun it can be to use a Cat-o-nine-tail as a pointer for word walls. They are a delightful addition to our Frog Unit Study. The children love to hold the Cat-o-nine-tail and point to words that we are reading about frogs and their habitat.Evelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04839884466037714350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647392868531770115.post-54318968515145376022010-07-23T08:23:00.000-07:002010-07-23T08:30:09.977-07:00Using frogs to enhance learning...Looking around my house I discovered that we had many different frog shaped objects that could be used to inspire children to work on language arts and math skills while playing games. Often these games are so much fun that the children may not even realize that they are working on these skills. Recently I was given a pair of froggy salt and pepper shakers. What could we do with them?<br /><br />I posed this question to the children and soon we were out in the driveway creating a frog pond with lily pad place markers. We drew them with sidewalk chalk and used the salt and pepper shakers for place holders.<br /><br />Learn more about this game on my <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/frogunitstudy">Frog Unit Study</a>.<br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://squidutils.com/us/B000LJUGY0/goorea02-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="http://squidutils.com/us/bB000LJUGY0.jpg" alt="Toby The Toad Frog Salt And Pepper Shakers For Kitchen Decor" border="0" /></a></p>Evelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04839884466037714350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647392868531770115.post-64737678793396115732010-05-26T13:28:00.000-07:002010-05-26T13:33:18.472-07:00How to create frog green paint. Mix, swirl and paint a frog...<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3169/2574726358_f9dc1238c6_o.jpg" alt="Mixing frog green" align="center" height="200" hspace="10" vspace="7" /><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2243/2364134745_66953820f9.jpg?v=0" alt="Frog Painting" align="center" height="200" hspace="10" vspace="7" /><br /><p style="text-align: right; font-size: 8pt; font-style: italic;">Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/heygabe/2364134745//">Frog Watercolor</a><br />on Flickr, Creative Commons.</p><br /><br />Whether you want just straight green or you want to mix up your own there's enough paint here to paint hundreds, maybe even thousands frogs.<br /><br />Set out lots of yellow and some blue and let the kids mix the colors to make various shades of green.<br /><br />Large paper covered in shades of green can be cut into frog or vegetation shapes to create bulletin boards, collages or other froggy art projects.<br /><br /><br /><br />For more Froggy Art Ideas be sure to check out <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/frog-art">Frog Art: Art Projects for the Frog Unit Study</a>Evelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04839884466037714350noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647392868531770115.post-11051491466867167772010-05-16T04:16:00.001-07:002010-11-27T22:26:15.874-08:00Frog Lifecycle GamesSpring is a wonderful time to learn about the life cycle of frogs.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">1) You can print, color and laminate the <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.trcabc.com/wp-content/uploads/FrogRacingGame1.pdf">Frog Racing Life Cycle Game</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span></span><br /><br /><h2><span><span class="mw-headline" id="Summary">2) The Life Cycle of Frogs in French<br /></span></span></h2><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ibCmdJoLBiE/S-_euf5FgfI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/BeuPckpLJ0c/s1600/Frog+Life+Cycle+from+Wiki.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 190px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ibCmdJoLBiE/S-_euf5FgfI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/BeuPckpLJ0c/s320/Frog+Life+Cycle+from+Wiki.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471836962694726130" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><h2><br /></h2><h2></h2><table summary="A standardized table providing complete information about the file, including description of what it shows and how it was made, copyright status and source." class="toccolours vevent" style="width: 100%; direction: ltr;" cellpadding="2"> <tbody><tr> <th style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(204, 204, 255); text-align: right; vertical-align: top; padding-right: 0.4em; width: 15%;" id="fileinfotpl_desc">Description</th> <td><span class="summary" style="display: none;">Frog lifecycle.jpg</span> <div class="description en" lang="en"><span class="language en" title=""><b>English:</b></span> . <ol><li>Before hatching</li><li>Newly hatched larvæ hanging on to water-weed</li><li>With external gills</li><li>External gills are covered over and are absorbed</li><li>Limbless larva about a month old with internal gills</li><li>Tadpole with hind-legs, about two months old</li><li>With the fore-limbs emerging</li><li>With all four legs free</li><li>A young frog, about three months old, showing the almost complete absorption of the tail and the change of the tadpole mouth into a frog mouth.</li></ol><div class="description fr" lang="fr"><span class="language fr" title="Français"><b>Français :</b></span> . <ol><li>Avant l'éclosion</li><li>Larves juste après l'éclosion s'accrochant à des algues</li><li>Avec des branchies extérieures</li><li>Les branchies extérieures sont recouvertes et sont absorbées</li><li>Larves sans membres d'environ un moi avec des branchies internes</li><li>Têtard avec jambes arrières, d'environ deux mois</li><li>Avec les jambes avant qui paraissent</li><li>Avec les quatre jambes libres</li><li>Une jeune grenouille d'environ trois mois, montrant une absorption presque totale de la queue ainsi que le changement de la gueule de têtard en celle de grenouille.</li></ol> </div> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><br />To create this Frog in French game, Make cards<br /><p style="text-align: right; font-size: 8pt; font-style: italic;">Photo Credit: <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Frog_lifecycle.jpg">Frog Life Cycle</a><br />on Wikipedia Commons.</p>Evelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04839884466037714350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647392868531770115.post-32807213678761558142010-04-30T05:55:00.000-07:002010-05-16T04:17:20.161-07:00Florida's Pig Frogs were saved by Save The Frogs!<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102); line-height: 110%;font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" >Because of Save The Frogs, <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Florida's Pig Frogs</span></span><br />are no longer on the menu at San Francisco's <a href="http://www.garydanko.com/" target="_blank">Restaurant Gary Danko</a>. This a major victory for SAVE THE FROGS! and for worldwide amphibian conservation efforts as this is a well-know place in culinary circle and it is expected that more and more restaurants around the world will follow their lead.<br /><br /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/COMPAQ%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-5.png" alt="" /><br /><br />The 3rd Annual <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Save The Frogs Day</span></span> will be on Friday April 29th, 2011.Evelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04839884466037714350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647392868531770115.post-59070035183904971782010-03-28T08:15:00.001-07:002010-03-29T08:11:06.961-07:00Annual Frog Count<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.cdn.fotopedia.com/flickr-1157721620-original.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://images.cdn.fotopedia.com/flickr-1157721620-original.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Each spring volunteers tramp through the woods searching out vernal pool in order to record the numbers of frogs for the annual frog count. Data are collected using a calling survey technique, in which volunteers identify local amphibian species by their unique breeding vocalizations or calls. <br /><br />You can go to <a href="http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/naamp" title="NAAMP home page">The North American Amphibian Monitoring Program </a> <!-- END USGS Header Template --> to sign up. According to the <a href="http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20100321/LIVING09/100319021/Get-out-and-listen-to-the-frogs">Burlington Free Press</a> volunteers are especially needed to Count Frogs in Northern Vermont.Evelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04839884466037714350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647392868531770115.post-36109298275834528392010-03-28T08:15:00.000-07:002010-11-27T22:27:19.103-08:00Volonteers needed to Count Frogs in Northern Vermont!<a href="http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/naamp/">The North American Amphibian Monitoring Program</a> is having a trouble finding volunteers in northern Vermont to help with the annual survey of frog populations.<br /> <br />Volunteers learn to recognize about a dozen different frogs by their spring calls, then go out on three evenings over three months to listen for the amphibians.<br /> <br /><a itxtdid="18598765" target="_blank" href="http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20100321/LIVING09/100319021/Get-out-and-listen-to-the-frogs#" style="font-weight: normal ! important; font-size: 100% ! important; text-decoration: underline ! important; border-bottom: 0.075em solid darkgreen ! important; padding-bottom: 1px ! important; color: darkgreen ! important; background-color: transparent ! important; background-image: none; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt;" classname="iAs" class="iAs">Scientists</a> have been worried for a number of years about the global decline of frogs, salamanders and other amphibians — a puzzle that has been blamed on habitat destruction, disease, pesticide use and other possible causes.<br /> <br />Collecting background data on populations is an essential element in tracking species decline (or recovery) — the grunt work of science to which trained volunteers can contribute.<br /> <br />I’ll bet there are few Vermonters who can’t identify a spring peepers, but for the rest, the U.S. Geological Survey has excellent recordings of frog calls on line.<br /> <br />To learn more, go to <a href="http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/naamp/index.cfm" target="_blank">www.pwrc.usgs.gov/naamp/index.cfm</a> . If you’d like to enlist, <a itxtdid="19152657" target="_blank" href="http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20100321/LIVING09/100319021/Get-out-and-listen-to-the-frogs#" style="font-weight: normal ! important; font-size: 100% ! important; text-decoration: underline ! important; border-bottom: 0.075em solid darkgreen ! important; padding-bottom: 1px ! important; color: darkgreen ! important; background-color: transparent ! important; background-image: none; padding-top: 0pt; padding-right: 0pt; padding-left: 0pt;" classname="iAs" class="iAs">send email</a> to Vermont’s coordinator, Joe Przypek, <a href="mailto:jjprzypek@yahoo.com">jjprzypek@yahoo.com</a>. Among the routes still available are ones in Starksboro, St. Albans, Barre, Ryegate and Topsham.Evelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04839884466037714350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647392868531770115.post-86246682794618230622010-02-28T14:21:00.000-08:002010-02-28T14:53:43.797-08:00Save The Frogs Day!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.savethefrogs.com/day/images/Save-The-Frogs-Day-2010-icon.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 328px; height: 209px;" src="http://www.savethefrogs.com/day/images/Save-The-Frogs-Day-2010-icon.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>April 30, 2010 has been declared <a href="http://savethefrogs.com/day">Save the Frogs Day!</a><br /><br />Amphibians around the world are threatened with extinction. <a href="http://savethefrogs.com/day">Save the Frogs Day</a> will help to promote awareness of the plight of amphibians.<br /><br />We encourage you to show your appreciation of frogs and all other amphibians by joining in celebrations all around the world.<br /><br />In 2009, events took place in 15 countries, and <a href="http://savethefrogs.com/day">Save The Frogs Day</a> was legally recognized by the Governor of Virginia, the Mayor of Vancouver, British Columbia and the Chairman of Prince William County, Virginia.<br /><br />You could suggest <a href="http://savethefrogs.com/day">Save the Frogs Day</a> Celebrations to your Boy or Girl Scout Troop, School Class, Homeschool Group, Science Club, Museum, Library or zoo. Please let us know how you will celebrate and who you will celebrate with.<br /><br />It's time to <a href="http://savethefrogs.com/day">Save the Frogs!</a><br /><br />You will find dozens of frog related activities to get your children in the mood for Save the Frogs Day at <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/frogunitstudy/">Frog Unit Study: Hopping to Learn...</a>Evelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04839884466037714350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647392868531770115.post-88850639292987969782010-01-22T05:43:00.000-08:002010-01-22T12:40:30.697-08:00The Frog Pond in Winter<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ibCmdJoLBiE/S1m5m8HhonI/AAAAAAAAADs/yJ0aS_t0yfc/s1600-h/Walking+Down+to+the+Frog+Pond+in+Winter+from+Gramma%27s+Graphics.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 138px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ibCmdJoLBiE/S1m5m8HhonI/AAAAAAAAADs/yJ0aS_t0yfc/s320/Walking+Down+to+the+Frog+Pond+in+Winter+from+Gramma%27s+Graphics.jpg" alt="Walking down to the Frog Pond in Winter" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429574904395702898" border="0"/></a>It's the middle of the winter and the frogs are all tucked in beneath a blanket of mud. The frog pond is frozen over and the children wonder if the frogs could be frozen as well. Some children believe that the ice goes all the way to the bottom. Some believe that ice forms at the bottom of the pond first. Others believe that ice forms on top first. We decide to do an experiment.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ibCmdJoLBiE/S1m7JiZ33uI/AAAAAAAAAD0/HuaD-PStM58/s1600-h/Frog+Pond+Experiments+-+from+Gramma%27s+Graphics.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 284px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ibCmdJoLBiE/S1m7JiZ33uI/AAAAAAAAAD0/HuaD-PStM58/s320/Frog+Pond+Experiments+-+from+Gramma%27s+Graphics.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429576598300384994" /></a>1. Fill a clear shallow dish with water and place it in the freezer.<br />2. Set a timer to check it ever 1/2 hour. Check to see if it is starting to freeze. If so where is it starting to freeze?<br />3. I made a paper with an outline drawing of the bowl and a place to record the time when checked.<br /><br />We discovered that ice formed around the edge first. We then noted that the ice covered the top of the water before it finally froze on the bottom. Would that be true of the frog pond?<br /><br />We then decided to go down to the frog pond to check the ice there.<br /><br />NOTE: I went over the safety rules for going out onto ice covered ponds.<br /><br />We used a crowbar to make a hole in the ice. We discovered that the ice was 12 inches thick but that the water was not frozen below that.<br /><br /><a href="http://wfs.sdstate.edu/wfsdept/Pond%20Web%20Page/Articles/The%20Story%20of%20Bremer%20Pond%20September.October%202009.pdf/">The Story of Bremer Pond</a> is an article about caring for fish in a pond during the winter. The children loved listening to the article and had many questions as well as suggestions for scientific experiments.<br /><br />Be sure to check out lots more frog related activities from our <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/frogunitstudy/">Frog Unit Study</a>.<br /><br />When we came back from the pond each day, the children would write letters or notes to their penpals about their discoveries. Writing about their discoveries gives the children a purpose for writing. Receiving responses to their letters creates motivation for more observation and discovery.<br /><br />Be sure to check out the new Frog Stamps on Zazzle.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/frog_stamps_postage-172027793252201198?gl=evelynsaenz&rf=238291857217942921"><img src="http://rlv.zcache.com/frog_stamps_postage-p172027793252201198anr9r_325.jpg" alt="Frog Stamps stamp" style="border: 0pt none ;" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/frog_stamps_postage-172027793252201198?gl=evelynsaenz&rf=238291857217942921">Frog Stamps</a> by <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/evelynsaenz*">evelynsaenz</a><br />Design <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/custom/stamps?rf=238291857217942921">custom postage stamps</a> using zazzle.com</div><br /><br /><p align="center"> Disclosure: I earn money from the sale of items on this page</p><br /><br /><br /><embed wmode="transparent" src="http://www.zazzle.com/utl/getpanel?tl=My%20Zazzle%20Panel&at=238291857217942921&cn=238291857217942921&st=date_created" FlashVars="feedId=0&path=http://www.zazzle.com/assets/swf/zp/skins" width="450" height="300" TYPE="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed><br/><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/">create & buy custom products</a> at <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/">Zazzle</a>Evelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04839884466037714350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647392868531770115.post-89570117047970247742009-10-01T10:29:00.000-07:002009-10-01T11:11:01.921-07:00Going Down to the Frog Pond<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2618/3947704980_e00aa2e060.jpg" height= "350" hspace="10" vspace="7" align="center" alt="Frog Pond"/> <br /><p style="http://www.flickr.com/photos/g-dzilla/3947704980/in/set-72157622179234831/">Photo Credit: <a href="link to photo's page">Dick, Jane and Sally Go Down to the Frog Pond</a> <br />on Flickr, Creative Commons.</p><br /><br />There is nothing that children like more than to head down to the frog pond. We bring clear plastic jars, fish nets, eye droppers, magnifying glasses and guidebooks. We run and sing frog songs as we go but when we are approaching the pond we begin to tiptoe, hush our voices and look all around.<br /><br />Sometimes we only see water striders on the surface and minnows swimming near the edge. But on special days we have seen wood ducks with their ducklings, tadpoles by the thousands and bullfrogs puffing out their throats calling out their deep-voiced Chug-a-rum!<br /><br />We scoop up jars of water, catch a minnow or tadpole, sit down on the bank and start to observe. No matter how many times we go down to the frog pond there is something new to see. By careful observation we discover something we have never seen before.<br /><br />That is the time that we begin to record our observations. We take photos with the digital camera, make carefully detailed drawings and write a through and detailed report of what we have seen.<br /><br />These recordings are later made into books, poems, calendars, or card games so that we can share our information with others.<br /><br />What do you do when you go down to the frog pond?<br /><br />For lots more froggy activities go to <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/frogunitstudy/">Frog Unit Study</a>Evelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04839884466037714350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647392868531770115.post-49569661836106003552009-09-11T02:25:00.001-07:002009-10-01T03:15:38.245-07:00Review of My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41667.My_Side_of_the_Mountain" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="My Side of the Mountain (Mountain, Book 1)" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1169750416m/41667.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41667.My_Side_of_the_Mountain">My Side of the Mountain</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/23509.Jean_Craighead_George">Jean Craighead George</a><br/><br/><br />My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/70817046">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.squidoo.com/my-side-of-the-mountain">My Side of the Mountain </a> is one of the first books I remember reading as a child. Reading this book made me feel powerful. I made me feel that I was in control of my life and that I too could survive if I decided to go out into the woods on my own. All I needed was a few more survival skills.<br /><br />My sister and I tried out many of the techniques that Sam Gribley mentions in My Side of the Mountain. I remember trying to make a rabbit snare. We spent hours and days trying to find a path in the grass where rabbits run. When we couldn't find that we decided to just try making the snare in preparation for the day that we found the rabbit run.<br /><br />Time went on. We tried out many of Sam's ideas. We learned a lot about the woods and fields near our home. We never actually stayed out over night. When we were tired, home always seemed the best place to find a bed and hot food but we always knew that someday we could run away like Sam Gribley in My Side of the Mountain.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.squidoo.com/my-side-of-the-mountain">Read my expanded review of My Side of the Mountain>></a>Evelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04839884466037714350noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647392868531770115.post-51067509523864278372009-09-03T09:35:00.000-07:002009-09-03T10:24:25.793-07:00Communication in the 18th Century<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ibCmdJoLBiE/Sp_xfqiyBEI/AAAAAAAAADQ/WSi5CpQ-xXU/s1600-h/P7270574.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ibCmdJoLBiE/Sp_xfqiyBEI/AAAAAAAAADQ/WSi5CpQ-xXU/s200/P7270574.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377282006402073666" border="0" /></a><br />When you sit on the porch on the <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/1780/">Garner Rix</a> Farm you see the hay field and the flower beds, the hillside covered in trees and swallows swooping back and forth searching for insects on a warm summer day.<br /><br />There are no houses in sight.<br /><br />Though this may see isolated, the cell phone tower across the way provides excellent service, the mailbox is at the end of the five and a satellite dish points to the sky from the back of the woodshed.<br /><br />But what was it like for Garner Rix when he was first clearing the land? I had always imagined that communication was difficult to impossible but when I took a second look I found evidence to the contrary.<br /><br />My first hint was when I was talking with my next door neighbor. We were discussing what life was like before the Interstate came through. You see, the mountains form a valley that makes sounds easily carry. My neighbor says that at one time you could be working out in the hay field and listen to voices down in the village. You might not be able to understand what they were saying but you could hear them.<br /><br />Intrigued, I listened for breads in the traffic to see if that was still possible.<br /><br />Once a year the Royalton Town Band plays down in the village. I had planned to go down but was running late when there was a break in the traffic and all of a sudden I heard the band playing. Then there was the sound of clapping.This tells me that Garner Rix too was able to hear his neighbors.<br /><br />He must have been able to hear his neighbors chopping down trees, splitting wood, calling to their oxen or the women calling the men in to dinner.<br /><br />Another day I began reading a wonderful book, Look to the Mountain, by LeGrand Canon. This is a book about a young couple,k Whit and Melissa, who got married and moved from Connecticut to New Hampshire in about 1767 or around 20 years before Garner Rix's family moved up to the Grants, later know as Vermont.<br /><br />Whit and his neighbors often walked 20 miles or more to help eachother during the pioneering process. By working together they got to know eachother's ways while exchanging news from the neighbors or from distant places such as Boston or England.<br /><br />One day Whit could hear someone cutting trees. He knew form the direction of the sound which place it came from. By paying attention to the rhythm of the chopping he determined which of the three men living on that homestead we doing the chopping, another form of communication.<br /><br />There was a time when letters traveled quickly in this country. Around 1900 you could put a letter in the mail with a message that you would be up to visit in the afternoon. What amazed me when I read postcards from this time period was that these messages traveled so quickly that the people who you planned to visit received it in time to prepare before the visitor arrived.<br /><br />The mail system is now reverting back to what it was like in Garner Rix's time. A first class letter now takes 7-10 business days. The difference is that now it costs much more. In Garner Rix's time, anyone who traveled expected to carry letters that were going in his general direction. They would be passed from person to person, left at houses or stores when the traveler took a different direction and be picked up by the next person headed in the right direction.<br /><br />If the message was urgent, neighbors might make a special trip to get the message through. Many forms of communication have changed since Garner Rix's time. Compare and contrast the various form of communication. Which time would you prefer to live in?<br /><br />To learn more about Garner Rix, be sure to check out <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/1780/">Garner Rix and the Royalton Raid</a>.<br /><br />This photo, <a href="http://www.redgage.com/photos/pFloydean/strong-guy-losing-his-pants.html#rf:/photos/evelynsaenz/looking-out-across-the-field.html">Looking Across the Field</a> can also be seen on <a href="http://www.redgage.com/?refby=evelynsaenz">RedGage</a>Evelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04839884466037714350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647392868531770115.post-2429988865690640002009-06-23T11:10:00.000-07:002009-06-23T11:19:02.587-07:00Looking for Frogs in Vermont<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ibCmdJoLBiE/SkEbRIt-r6I/AAAAAAAAADI/rvIU9hhT-kA/s1600-h/Frogs.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 144px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ibCmdJoLBiE/SkEbRIt-r6I/AAAAAAAAADI/rvIU9hhT-kA/s200/Frogs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350587813504921506" /></a> You might have noticed that I have been a bit absent from the Internet lately. I am in Vermont searching for <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/frogunitstudy">Frogs</a>. Though I have been searching the streams and pools around my farm I have not found any yet. It is still cold here and has been rainy most of the time so maybe that is why but as soon as I find some I will be sure to post pictures.<br /><br />Be sure to tell me of your adventures in searching for frogs this summer.<br /><br />The frog pictures is believed to be in the public domain.Evelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04839884466037714350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647392868531770115.post-35980171834457130312009-05-29T02:11:00.000-07:002009-05-29T03:19:09.584-07:00Frog Calls around the Frog PondWhen learning about <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/frogunitstudy">frogs</a>, children need many hands-on learning experiences to make their learning come alive. One day we were reading about the way that male frogs call to their mates in the early spring. We talked about how the male frog fills his vocal sac with air and then lets the air out like air being released slowly from a balloon. This discussion developed into the following game....<br /><br />Male frogs call in the spring as they search for mates. Each species has it's own <a href="http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/topics/frogCalls.html">call</a>. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ibCmdJoLBiE/Sh-yRSy_rdI/AAAAAAAAADA/Hw7Zc-dyl88/s1600-h/Down+by+the+Frog+Pond.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 262px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ibCmdJoLBiE/Sh-yRSy_rdI/AAAAAAAAADA/Hw7Zc-dyl88/s320/Down+by+the+Frog+Pond.JPG" border="20" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341183693257944530" /></a><blockquote>...Frogs call with the help of a patch, or two patches , of skin called vocal sacs. These fill with air and act as echo chambers as that air passes over the vocal cords. The males do most of the calling, and the louder the sound, the farther it will carry to lure in females... -Discovering Amphibians by John Himmelman</blockquote><p style="text-align: left; font-size: 8pt; font-style: italic;">Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.grandmasgraphics.com/graphics/elson/elson092.jpg">Down by the Frog Pond</a> <br />in the Public Domain.</p><br /><br />1. Divide the class into two groups, male and female frogs. <br /><br />2. Pass out balloons to the male frogs.<br /><br />3. The female frogs scatter throughout the playground, close their eyes and listen for the sound of the male frogs.<br /><br />4. The the group of frogs with the balloons gather near water, blow up their balloons and start to make sounds by letting the air out of the balloons while stretching the neck of the balloons.<br /><br />5. As soon as the females hear the males they hop over to the loudest one they can hear, tag that frog.<br /><br />6. As soon as the male frog is tagged he stops calling.<br /><br />7. The activity ends went all the frogs are paired and quiet.Evelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04839884466037714350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647392868531770115.post-48086133192822535762009-05-04T03:29:00.000-07:002009-05-04T04:41:43.280-07:00Tadpole Lenses Spawned by Frog Unit Study<img src="http://static.squidoo.com/resize/squidoo_images/250/draft_lens1526662_1238302827frog_unit_study.jpg" height= "100" hspace="10" vspace="7" align="left" alt="Frog Unit Study"/> The <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/frogunitstudy">Frog Unit Study</a> has grown so large that it is beginning to grow tadpole lenses.You will find links to my other frog and frog related lenses throughout this page. Each one will have even more ideas and activities to extend your <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/frogunitstudy">Frog Unit Study</a>. Enjoy your hop back and forth throughout the frog pond of ideas.<br /><br />This frog unit study has hundreds of ideas to make your study of frogs fun, creative and hands-on. Children will be creating a frog pond in the sensory table, discovering the plants and animals who live in the frog's habitat, learning the anatomy of frogs and how frogs hop and jump. Throughout the unit there are suggestions for books, ideas for teaching reading and writing skills as well as projects to extend their knowledge of social studies, music and art. <br /><br />Often teachers and homeschoolers find it difficult to connect math with their unit studies. This Frog Unit Studies offers dozens of frog related math activities and games to make a fully integrated unit study.<br /><br /><img src="http://static.squidoo.com/resize/squidoo_images/-1/lens4333682_1240996909Frog_Drawing.jpg" height="100" hspace="10" vspace="7" align="left" alt="Frog Tale"/> Newest tadpole lenses that have been spawned by the Frog Unit Study include <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/frog-pond-tale">Industrial Waste in the Frog Pond</a> and <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/frogs-endangered">The Frog Report</a>. <br /><br />We have all heard of the pollution that is plaguing our planet. <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/frog-pond-tale">Industrial Waste in the Frog Pond</a> is a short story of <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/groups/woods">A Walk in the Woods</a> to look for tadpoles in vernal pools. Read this story to the children and encourage them to write their own suspenseful stories of their adventures as you progress through your Frog Unit Study.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://static.squidoo.com/resize/squidoo_images/-1/lens4372292_1241172122Frog_Reporter.jpg" height="200" hspace="10" vspace="7" align="right" alt="Frog News"/> The second is a collection of news articles about the disappearance of frogs around the world, the studies scientists are doing to try to understand the situation as well as information on monitoring frogs and the ways you can join in the effort. This is a collection of stories that I have collected since 2008. I use them to help children get a broad perspective on the plight of frogs and other amphibians throughout the world and to see what others are doing to monitor and try to help the situation. Frog these reports we write our own reports of what we learn in our area and publish it in our own classroom or homeschooling newspaper, The Frog Report.Evelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04839884466037714350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647392868531770115.post-1082766378174870392009-05-01T06:40:00.000-07:002009-05-04T05:31:16.336-07:00Robin in the Rain was just awarded a Purple Star!<p align="left"><img src="http://static.squidoo.com/resize/squidoo_images/-1/draft_lens3642832module30712352photo_1241182537small_robin_purple_star.GIF" border="0" height="150" hspace="10" vspace="7" align="left" alt="Purple Star"/><a href="http://www.squidoo.com/robins/">Robin in the Rain!</a> <br /><br><br />just received a Purple Star !</p><br /><br /><br />Thank you Purple Star Squids for the honor of receiving a Purple Star!<br /><br />Only a few purple stars are given out each week, to exceptional NEW lenses created by Giant Squids. <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/purplestar/">Read all the goods and news about purple stars</a>.<br /><br /><br><br /><br /><br><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.squidoo.com/robins/">Robin in the Rain!</a><br /><br /><br />Robins are a Sign of Spring!<br />It's springtime and one of the most popular signs of spring is the robin. Robins, with their cheery tweets and bright red breasts stand out against the disappearing snow.<br /><br />Cheerio, calls the robin as the rain starts to fall.<br /><br />This lens is a unit study of robins that will get kids reading and writing, adding and investigating robins. Make up a robin dance or recite a robin poem. Put on your robin wings and fly on the wings of learning...Evelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04839884466037714350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647392868531770115.post-47755066203088470162009-01-28T04:51:00.000-08:002009-01-28T07:13:05.146-08:00Frame Your Valentine in Adjectives<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ibCmdJoLBiE/SYBYP-5DH3I/AAAAAAAAAC4/YCCdtNN9gqQ/s1600-h/Construction+Paper+Hearts.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 136px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ibCmdJoLBiE/SYBYP-5DH3I/AAAAAAAAAC4/YCCdtNN9gqQ/s200/Construction+Paper+Hearts.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296330193391263602" border="0" /></a><br />Get out some construction paper and cut out a lot of hearts. Now ask your child to find a picture of someone that they love. Ask him or her to describe that person or by filling in the blank, "I love your because your are..." . Each adjective that your child uses can then be written on a heart.<br /><br />Now glue the picture onto the center of the paper and glue all the hearts around it. You might label this picture "I love you because you are..." and send it as a Valentine.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.fun2make.co.uk/Foam-Heart-Photo-Frame-Magnet-Craft-Kit_0_0_115K8.jpg" alt="Valentine Frame" align="right" vspace="7" height="200" hspace="10" />This is a fun and easy project for children of many different ages and would be wonderful to do as a homeschooling project.<br /><br />One year we make Adjective Framed Valentines for each of the members of our family. We posted them around the mirror in the bathroom. As we brushed our teeth we reread each of the adjectives and soon even our preschooler was able to point to the adjectives and read them.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.squidoo.com/adjectives/">Adjectives: A Valentine's Day Unit Study</a> has many more hands-on learning ideas.Evelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04839884466037714350noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8647392868531770115.post-9900509730256144582009-01-21T07:38:00.000-08:002009-01-21T07:43:24.746-08:00Skip Counting in the Woods<a class="APCTitleAnchor" href="http://affiliates.allposters.com/link/redirect.asp?item=3949992&AID=254689856&PSTID=1<ID=1&lang=1" target="_blank" title="Purple Trillium, Port Huron, Michigan, USA"><img src="http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/DANPOD/US23_CAD0008_M-FB_a.jpg" alt="Purple Trillium, Port Huron, Michigan, USA" border="0" height="250" /></a><br /><img src="http://tracking.allposters.com/allposters.gif?AID=254689856&PSTID=1<ID=1&lang=1" border="0" height="1" width="1" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a class="APCTitleAnchor" href="http://affiliates.allposters.com/link/redirect.asp?item=3949992&AID=254689856&PSTID=1<ID=1&lang=1" target="_blank" title="Purple Trillium, Port Huron, Michigan, USA<br />Photographic Print">Purple Trillium, Port Huron, Michigan, USA<br /><br />Photographic Print</a><br /><br /><a class="APCAnchor" href="http://affiliates.allposters.com/link/redirect.asp?c=c&search=81908&AID=254689856&PSTID=1<ID=1&lang=1" target="_blank" title="Adams, Claudia<br />Photographic Print">Adams, Claudia<br /></a><br /><br /><a class="APCTitleAnchor" href="http://affiliates.allposters.com/link/redirect.asp?item=3949992&AID=254689856&PSTID=1<ID=1&lang=1" target="_blank" title="Purple Trillium, Port Huron, Michigan, USA">Buy at AllPosters.com</a><br /><br /><br />One day we were walking in the woods and saw a patch of Trilliums. We used that opportunity to practice <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/counting/">Skip Counting</a>. We counted each flower and in the end had discovered how many petals there were.<br /><br />As you look for flowers this spring, don't forget to practice skip counting.Evelynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04839884466037714350noreply@blogger.com0