A LESSON OF NATURAL SCIENCE AND HERPETOFAUNA FOR CHILDREN GRADES ONE TO SIX

For a variety of societal reasons, including an increase in the proportion of people living in suburban or urban areas, many children have little contact with the natural world. Native flora and fauna are foreign to them. Herpetofauna offers a great opportunity for children to be exposed and become comfortable with the natural environment. Frogs, snakes, turtles and salamanders are readily accessible, mostly benign and quite entertaining. For these reasons herpetofauna can be an excellent tool to introduce and educate children while instilling a life long love of nature as well as respect for the world that surrounds us.

 This lesson plan is designed to be presented in one or two lessons with a field trip following. Classroom instruction as well as outdoor experience will provide well-rounded lessons. It includes power-point presentations of various frogs and salamanders with introductory information to convey to students in the classroom. There is a worksheet for students to fill out after the lecture portion and a short treasure hunt hand out to focus children’s attention on the fieldtrip.  It may be helpful to bring a common frog or salamander or a preserved to the classroom for observation in order to get the children’s attention quickly. Depending on the age of the children it is also suggested that Legos or clay be used to have tactile and imagination stimulation in the classroom before or after the lesson. Children may be encouraged to create a frog or salamander or an aspect of habitat.  Handling guidelines are included as outlined through USGS (United States Geological Survey). The goal of the lesson(s) is to introduce children to nature through common herpetofauna to encourage a life-long enthusiasm for the natural world.

 FIELD TRIP TREASURE HUNT

Find one thing a frog or salamander would eat

Find one thing that would eat a frog or salamander.

Find a place, besides the stream, that we might find herp eggs.

Identify an area where we would not likely find herpetofauna.

 LECTURE WORKSHEET

Define indicator species.

Why are frogs and salamanders more sensitive than some other types of animals?

What term is used to describe the process that frogs and salamanders go through from egg to adult?

Define amphibian.

Define herpetology.

What is one of the most abundant salamanders in New York State?