Thematic Units - Reptiles & Amphibians

Reptiles & Amphibians

You will find various Web Sites on the top portion of this page.
Further down, you will find Lesson Plans.
At the bottom of the page, you will find Books that you can order directly from Amazon.com!

Web Sites

A Thousand Friends of Frogs
"Project connects students, educators, families, and scientists to the study of frogs and their habitats. Links to frog facts, art, writing, Educator's guide, and more."

All About Turtles
"Brief information about turtles. Hear from the snapping turtle about his own adventures in a Tale of Two Turtles."

Alligator Lizard
"Brief info and drawing of this lizard from the Canadian Museum of Nature."

Amphibians and Reptiles of Fort Matanzas National Monument
"Learn about the creatures that live around this Florida monument. Includes photos and info on frogs, toads, turtles, lizards, snakes, and their habitats."

Chameleon: A Truly Bizarre Lizard
"Learn about these unique lizards known for their ability to change color."

Common Garter Snake
"Brief info and drawing of these harmless snakes from the Canadian Museum of Nature."

Crocodile Communication
"Listen to sounds made by crocodiles, caimans, alligators, and gharials."

Crocodiles and Alligators
"Research online information to answer questions about crocodiles and alligators."

Cyclura.com
"Lots of info and photos for all kinds of lizards."

The EMBL Reptile Database
An online resource.

Friends of Frogs
"Full of frog facts, frog art and writing, student reports, and more."

The Froggy Page
This corner of the net is home to all kinds of virtual frogginess, from the silly to the scientific. Check out the menu below to find more frog fun.

Frogwatch USA
"Find out how you can volunteer to help monitor frogs and toads at a wetland in your own neighborhood and see a list of the species found in your state!"

Frogland
"Filled with facts and pictures of frogs. Includes games, screen savers, and frog doctors."

Nature: Victims of Venom
"This PBS show explores the life of a man who plays with snakes for a living, the use of deep sea venom, and the world of rattlesnakes."

NatureSound Studio
"This site has lots of pictures and sound files of birds, frogs, and other animals."

Ocean Animals
"Learn about the animals which live in the ocean, coral reefs, and estuaries. You can find fish, sea turtles, and seals, as well as invertebrates like sponges and mollusks."

Reptile Related Resources
Alligators, snakes, turtles, and more!

Scientific Amphibian
A great collection of frog resources.

Savannah River Ecology Lab Herpetology
"Meet the reptiles and amphibians that call the Savannah River region their home."

Tadpoles
"See a research experiment conducted on tadpoles by second graders at Avacdo Elementary School."

Tiger Salamander
"Includes info and photos of all kinds of tiger salamanders, including the gray, blotched, and arizona varities."

Venomous Snakes
"Find out what venom is, what venomous snakes eat, and about different species. From the Pelotes Island Nature Preserve."

The Whole Frog Project
Quicktime movie of a frog's anatomy in 3D and an online frog builder game.

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Lesson Plans

All About Frogs Grades 2+
This is a mini unit of frogs. It introduces the life cycle of the frog. The terms amphibian, froglet, and habitat will be introduced to the students. The main emphasis of this mini unit will be to help children broaden their concepts of living things as they learn more about the development of frogs.

Amphibian & Reptile Crafts Grades Any
"Templates and directions for making a paper mache alligator, a crocodile, a dinosaur, frogs, and a frog puppet."

Amphibians & Reptiles Grade 2
Through various Internet sites, books, activities, and videos, students will be able to classify animals as either reptiles or amphibians. They will share characteristics that are unique to amphibians and reptiles, and also characteristics both animals have in common. This will be demonstrated in various ways.

Animal Life Cycles Grades 3-8
The study of the life cycles of different species helps put into perspective many aspects of human development, a topic that is often the subject of youthful curiosity.

Desert Duos Grades 3-5
Students will create their own amphibian or reptile of the Southwest Desert.

Frogs: A Thematic Unit Grade 2
The overall purpose of this interdisciplinary, thematic unit of study is to help young children learn more about the metamorphosis and development of an amphibian species as they become involved in a number of interdisciplinary lessons and activities over a three or four week period.

Frogs and Toads Grades 4-5
Students will understand the fundamental concepts, principles and interconnections of the life, physical and earth/space sciences.

Herps: Reviled and Revered Grades 3-8
Unit examines past and present misconceptions about toads, turtles, snakes, salamenders and other herps. Students compare herp and human bodies and design a herp exhibit.

Reptiles and Amphibians Grade 2-3
Integrated interdisciplinary, thematic unit helps students learn more about the distinct characteristics of reptiles and amphibians.

Saving the Sea Turtles Grades K-8
"Students join an Earthwatch Expedition team studying the migration and behavior of endangered sea turtles in Costa Rica."

Snakes Grades 6-8
Students will understand the following: Snakes thrive in almost every regtion of the world. Different types of snakes have different physical characteristics that help them survived and succeed in their particular habitats.

Tadpole Transformation Grades K-2
Students learn about metamorphosis as they make a paper tadpole puppet that turns into a frog. (PDF file)

The Metamorphosis of Frogs Grades 3-4
Students will learn the lifecycles of frogs through literature and observing live animals.

Turtle Tales Grades K-2
A literature-based unit on turtles.

Virtual Frog Dissection Grade 7
The purpose of this lesson is to introduce a frog dissection to a seventh grade life science class. It is to be used prior to the actual dissection to give students some knowledge before the real dissection experience.

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Books

A Look Inside Reptiles
by June Chatfield

Amphibians (Our Living World)
by Edward Ricciuti

Amphibians: The World of Frogs, Toads, Salamanders and Newts
by Robert Hofrichter

Animal Life : Form and Function in the Animal Kingdom (The New Encyclopedia of Science)
by Jill Bailey

Completely Illustrated Atlas of Reptiles and Amphibians for the Terrarium
by Fritz Jurgen Obst

Crocodiles & Alligators
by Seymour Simon

The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash (Picture Puffins)
by Trinka Hakes Noble

The Enormous Crocodile
by Roald Dahl

From Tadpole to Frog (Lifecycles)
by Gerald Legg

From Tadpole to Frog (Let'S-Read-And-Find-Out Science, Stage 1)
by Wendy Pfeffer