Background

Frogs belong to the group of animals called amphibians. Frogs are unique in their ability to live on both land and in water, and to metamorphose during their life cycle. Frogs can breathe through their moist skin and through their lungs. Australia has a fascinating and spectacular variety of frogs, over 240 of the world’s 5,000 species.

There are 36 species of frog known to occur in Victoria, but many have declined or are currently in decline. Many species are classified as endangered, including the Growling Grass Frog, which was once common around parts of Melbourne. There are many reasons for the decline in numbers including habitat loss, introduced species, pollution and diseases. Students can assist in the conservation process by being involved in frog surveys and creating suitable habitat to allow local frogs to naturally colonize an area.

The Growling Grass Frog was discovered in the Ecolinc wetland in 2007.

Key Learning Question

What features do frogs have and where do they live?

Learning Intentions

In this activity students will:

• Learn about the frog lifecycle and habitat requirements
• Learn that frogs eat macroinvertebrates
• Understand how to identify macroinvertebrates
• Use frog calls to identify a range of frog species

Activities

Students will:

• Explore a frogs habitat in the Ecolinc wetland
• Search for and identify macroinvertebrates
• Listen to frog calls and identify frog species
• Observe live frogs including the endangered Growling Grass Frog
• Discover adaptations that help frogs to survive in their habitat

Victorian Curriculum

Science – Biological sciences

• Living things have a variety of external features and live in different places where their basic needs, including food, water and shelter, are met (VCSSU042)
• Living things grow, change and have offspring similar to themselves (VCSSU043)

Learning Continuum

The following Learning Continuum is a guide for teachers to show the links between the programs. Ecolinc offers onsite, online and through outreach. The Learning Continuum can be used to access Ecolinc resources to support the development of units of work.

Ecolinc Learn Online is an online learning management system offering interactive online courses for students and teachers. These courses can be undertaken either as a pre-visit, post-visit or stand-alone. Students are encouraged to do the pre-learning course before coming to Ecolinc for an onsite program.

Outreach programs are conducted by an Ecolinc education officer at your school. They are available to moderately disadvantaged primary schools in the Geelong, Ballarat and western suburbs areas (or within 100km radius from Bacchus Marsh)