Davis Creek Elementary's 4th Grade 
1998 West Virginia Nongame Wildlife and Natural Heritage Program Amphibian Cooperative Project 

This project is in cooperation with the Division of Natural Resources and Project WILD. Mrs. Reichenbecher, our fourth grade teacher, applied and was chosen to participate in this exciting and rewarding project on West Virginia's amphibians. The students had to first find some frog eggs and tadpoles in the area. Next, we collected some samples from home and from our creek behind the school and housed them in our classroom. Some of the sample eggs and tadpoles have to be put in alcohol to send into the project manager to be examined and identified. The examination of the samples will also yield results in water purity. The eggs and tadpoles were then left to develop into frogs. Fresh algae has to be brought in to replenish the aquarium where the frogs are developing. The students have also been incorporating frog material into other disciplines. They have been writing about frogs, making frog art, researching frog facts, surfing the Internet for "froggy" information and sites, collecting frog pictures, and taking care of their frog nursery. On May 14, 1998 excitement ran amuck in the classroom when one student discovered that one of the tadpoles had lost its tail and become a baby toad! Students were hugging and jumping and congratulating each other on becoming parents. The fourth graders hope that the remaining tadpoles will develop into brother and sister toads.

 
Two toads mating by fertilizingfrog eggs. This couple will have, perhaps, 3,000 eggs to fertilize.  Toads have three mating seasons per year producing many, many toads. 
The fourth grade is ready to release the toad couple into the wild to completetheir life cycle peacefully.


 
4th Grade says "'Bye!"
to the toad couple.

In small ponds of water
they also look for more
frog eggs and tadpoles.
Don't look now, but 
there IS a very, very
tiny TOAD in that pond
water.

The rocks provide a 
place for the baby toad
to rest as he learns to
breathe and live on land.
The baby toad is quite
active in his pond water
and algae environment.
The other tadpoles are
also getting ready to
turn into toads!

Mrs. Reichenbecher's 4th
Grade has been invaded
by all manner of frogs 
and toads!

 
 
Here is the baby toad now! 
Look at those legs!

This tadpole is almost ready
to "sprout" legs. 

The 4th graders will continue to watch the baby toad and tadpoles develop into healthy adult amphibians. They will care for their growing family until it is time to set them free to continue their lives. This project provides valuable information to scientists about our water and the watershed environment in our state. Watch here for updated pictures and information about our "frog nursery". If you would like more information about this project you may email Mrs. Reichenbecher at:  mreichen@access.k12.wv.us

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Created 5-15-98 S. Simon