Since 1995, when the first deformed frogs were documented, there has been considerable scientific concern about these bio-indicators. In 1998, a large group of scientists expressed concern about the worldwide significant decline in amphibian populations. The North Central Math/Science Education Collaborative and the Clarion County Conservation District launched the Frogs, Frogs, Frogs project in March, 2000 at the Beaver Creek wetland area.

	Dr. Pete Dalby, Clarion University Biology Dept., helping teachers learn types and identification characteristics of frogs found in Western Pennsylvania.

Teachers gathered to discuss frogs of Pennsylvania. Dr. Pete Dalby, Clarion University of Pennsylvania Biologist, shared his frog collection and helped teachers recognize markings and calls of Pennsylvania frogs. Dr. Dalby discussed the preferred habitats of the various frogs and presented each teacher with an audio tape of various frog calls.

As part of the Science Technology Society by Green Design program the Collaborative guides teachers to relate learning to real world issues for relevance and teaching in context. Therefore the frog project enables teachers to lead their students through a real world problem and activities for research. Each teacher receives an ultra-violet ray meter to enable his/her classroom students to measure the intensity of UV rays daily. Scientists are now looking at UV rays as a possible cause for the frog population decline.

Students measure the length of an American Toad before returning it to the pond.

Students will record data, note cloud conditions, describe location and time and enter the data into a national database. Participating teachers have taken students on field trips to Beaver Creek wetland area, Cook Forest State Park and other local streams and wetlands in search of frogs.

Our challenge is to webcast field activities and to assist teachers in the development of classroom learning modules for publishing on the Department of Environmental Protection website. This project is long-term and involves teachers and students surveying and studying frogs, compiling data and reporting via Internet to the National Thousand Friends of Frogs database.

If you would like to participate in the Frogs, Frogs, Frogs project, contact North Central Math/Science Education Collaborative.

© 2000-2011 North Central Region Math/Science Education Collaborative. All rights reserved.