Challenge Questions for Week 4

Try these questions for Week 4 of International Frog Month. Good luck and remember to tell us where you are from when you send in an answer!

1. Deformed frogs have been found in Minnesota and in other places. Why do you think that deformed frogs are being found?

A. I think that more frogs are being born with problems like having more than one leg because of pollution. Some factories or warehouses or even families dump dangerous chemicals either outside in streams or down the drain without thinking anything about it. I think that we should be more careful with how we treat the enviorment. Frogs play an important role because they help to keep the insect population down. (Laura, 8th grade Mastricola Middle School)

A. Because there are some problems with the environment.

A. We pollute places, places where the frogs live and now they are having problems.

A. Because some thing is changing how the frogs appear.

A. Is it because of the sunlight or pollution?

2. Why are frogs used as characters so much in books and on television?

A. They are cute and cuddly and I love frogs.

A. Because frogs are fun, they hop and hop and hop and they are easy to get along with.

3. Are there frogs where you live? Ask your parents/teachers if they remember frogs where they grew up. Do they remember more frogs now or when they were younger? Why?

A. No, there are no frogs where I live, because I live in a city! But I wish there were some frogs here, so I could see them hop.

A. Yes, there are some frogs, but not as many as when my parents lived here. Although some years there does seem to be lots around, but I think there are less than in the past.

A. I do not hear frogs as often anymore, which is a pity, especially in spring, I like hearing frogs call in spring because it tells me that summer will soon be here and I love summer.

Challenge Questions for Week 3

Try these questions for Week 3 of International Frog Month. Good luck and remember to tell us where you are from when you send in an answer!

1. Should we care about declining frog populations around the world? Why or Why not?

A. Yes. We should care about declining frogs. I believe that every thing has its purpose on this Earth. Frogs are just one of the coller species! (Kelli Martin, Age 14, 8th Grade, Delaware)

2. In recent years, some medicinal uses for frogs have been discovered. Research one of these and tell us what you find. Also answer this question: should we only maintain the frog populations that can be medically useful? Defend your position.

A. No. I don't believe that we should save the frogs for just their medicinal value. They are a special part of the food chain. If you destroy all of the them, you might destory us always down the road!! (Kelli Martin, Age 14, 8th Grade, Delaware)

3. Why are frogs found in some types of habitats and not in others? What are these areas and are they adequately protected?

A. Frogs are found in some places and not in others because of the climate and the population of people in that area. (Kelli Martin, Age 14, 8th Grade, Delaware)

Challenge Questions for Week 2

1. How does a frog attract a mate?

A. Frogs attract a mate by singing a song. Each species has its own song. (Flora Moir, 7th grade, New York, NY)

A. Frogs sing to attract a mate.

A. Don't frogs call? (Patrick Himmerman, 5th grade, MN)

A. I believe that frogs call, but I wonder if color has anything to do with it? (Joanne Maybury, 7th grade, IL)

2. Can you give any reasons why scientists believe that frogs are getting more difficult to locate around the world?

A. Because we are destroying their homes. (Brandon Lang, 6th grade, OH)

A. Frogs all over the world are mysteriously disappearing. I believe it is because of the sun's ultraviolet rays being let in through the holes in the ozone layer. (Flora Moir, 7th grade, New York, NY)

A. Frogs are having problems like other species because their habitat is under pressure. (Fred Andersen, 9th grade, MA)

A. Some frogs get squashed by cars when they cross roads, I think this is a problem for them!! (Monica Sullivan, 6th grade, WI)

3. Why is it fun to watch frogs?

A. Because they are interesting things to watch and play with and they don't bite. (Zachary Brink, 6th grade, Hilliard Station Sixth Grade Building, Hilliard, OH)

A. Because they are cool and it's neat to see them eat flies and jump from lily pad to lily pads. (Trey Warrix, 6th grade, Hilliard Station Sixth Grade Building, Hilliard, OH)

A. You never know what they will do next. (Jon Emmet, 6th grade, Hilliard Station Sixth Grade Building, Hilliard, OH)

A.They're really neat. I like them. (Heather Streets, 6th grade, Hilliard Station Sixth Grade Building, Hilliard, OH)

A. Because frogs can jump high. (Sam Baker, 6th grade, Hilliard Station Sixth Grade Building, Hilliard, OH)

A. Because frogs are cool and I like them. (Daylene Daud, 6th grade, Hilliard Station Sixth Grade Building, Hilliard, OH)

A. Because they are very unique to watch, and different. You never know what they are going to do. (Elise Smith, 6th grade, Hilliard Station Sixth Grade Building, Hilliard, OH)

A. I like to watch frogs because I think it would be neat to be amphibian. I like imagining a frog lifestyle with lots of bugs. (Brittany Hoover, 6th grade, Hilliard Station Sixth Grade Building, Hilliard, OH)

A. Frogs are very interesting creatures. I love to watch them because they do funny things. I love the way they swim, hop and breath. I am in 7th grade and in biology we studied the frog's respiratory system. Don't worry we did not dissect any frogs. Thank God!!! (Flora Moir, 7th grade, New York, NY)

A. Does there have to be a reason....frogs are just fun!! (Monica Sullivan, 6th grade, WI)

A. I like watching them hop and catch their food....what a great sticky tongue (Mary Joy, 6th grade, WA)

A. They seem to be happy (or maybe hoppy) and enjoy life!! (Patrick Himmerman, 5th grade, MN)

A. Because frogs are so much fun and they enjoy hopping around the place!

Challenge Questions for Week 1

1. Would you like to be a frog for a day? Describe what you would do that day.

A. "I can jump on my teacher's lap and she'll scream. Travis can put me in the water." (Jerry Harper, 3rd grade, Beacon Elementary in Hilliard, Ohio)

A. "Yes, so I don't have to eat my Mom's cooking." (Travis Helmuth, 3rd grade, Beacon Elementary in Hilliard, Ohio

A. "I'd jump on my sister's Brownie vest. I'd be an experiment for a scientist more famous than Benjamin Franklin." (Ryan Gill, 3rd grade, Beacon Elementary in Hilliard, Ohio)

A. "No, Because I don't want to be dissected by fifth graders." (Grant Carpenter, 3rd grade, Beacon Elementary in Hilliard, Ohio)

A. "I'd hop around in school and read books." (Nick Miller, 3rd grade, Beacon Elementary in Hilliard, Ohio)

A. "No because all you do usually is hop around and you'd be slimy. You'd have to eat worms and bugs." (Michelle Hudak, 3rd grade, Beacon Elementary in Hilliard, Ohio)

A. "Yes, because I could jump higher and swim better. (Haley Dubois, 3rd grade, Beacon Elementary in Hilliard, Ohio

A. "Yes, I'd hop to Florida or Hawaii and and eat flies or bugs." (Tyler Stevens, 3rd grade, Beacon Elementary in Hilliard, Ohio)

A. "Yes, I would like to be any kind of frog. I'd eat insects, jump around. I'd check out where I was and look around alot." (Tony Katko, 3rd grade, Beacon Elementary in Hilliard, Ohio)

A. "No, because I might get eaten." (Greg Brown, 3rd grade, Beacon Elementary in Hilliard, Ohio)

A. "I would not like to be a frog because I do not like bugs...But I do like frog legs. Frog legs are so delicious!" (Tabitha Clark, 3rd grade, Beacon Elementary in Hilliard, Ohio)

A. No, I would not like to be a frog because they are disgusting and gross. And they are said to give warts. They make weird noises with their throats. (Hilary Miller, 6th grade, OH)
Actually, frogs or toads do NOT give warts and the weird nosies are used to attract mates. Sometimes people also do some strange things to attract attention!!

A. "I'd be like Green Wilma and jump over my mama to get to school [Green Wilma is a book by Tedd Arnold] (Alex)
"I'd jump around the woods and eat bugs." (Liza)
"At snack and lunch time I'd hop around looking for bugs." (Emily D.) (All answers from Burleigh Elementary first graders, Lisa Mattes' class, Brookfield, WI 53005)

A. "If I were a frog for a day, I think I would sit on my lily pad and watch the world go by. Sometimes, I might catch a fly for food and take a short swim!"

A. "Being a frog for a day would be fun, I would hop all over the place and then go for a swim to cool down!!"

A. "I'd hop and hop and hop and then after a rest hop some more."

A. "Life is good when you are a frog, it is fun to hop and swim, I can't wait for summer so I can hop and swim!!"

A. "Don't know if I would like being a frog for a day, what about the snakes or fish that might eat me!!!!"

A. "Hop, hop hop....what a fun way to spend your day!!!"

A. "Being a frog, how boring....I would like to be a snake and eat a frog!"

A. "A whole day as a frog....WOW..I would swim and hop and eat bugs all day....it's cool being a frog....ribbet, ribbet!"

2. Why are frogs found in some types of habitats and not in others? What are these areas and are they adequately protected?

A. "Frogs are found in wet ares, like the pond next to my house and sometimes I find frogs on my porch. I keep my pond clean and our house has an alarm so it is safe."

A. "I always find frogs near the lakes that I walk around and these are owned I think by the county or state, so I think they are safe."

A. "I know someone who found lots of frogs in their long grass once and then cut it all, I don't think the frogs liked that very much!"

A. "Some areas are protected by laws and so frogs that live in those areas--ponds, lakes, wetlands--are safe as they are also protected."

A. "I think it is sad that we need to protect frogs, we should all be friends to the frogs...they help us a lot by eating bugs!"

A. "Frogs live in lots of different places, bogs, wetlands, marshes, lakes. I found them on a trip to the Boundary Waters, I am glad that that is still protected."

Here is the complete list of questions used during the month. If you want to answer any, please go ahead and send in your answers to us!

1. Why is it fun to watch frogs?
2. Are there frogs where you live? Ask your parents/teachers if they remember frogs where they grew up. Do they remember more frogs now or when they were younger? Why?
3. Can you give any reasons why scientists believe that frogs are getting more difficult to locate around the world?
4. Would you like to be a frog for a day? Describe what you would do that day.
5. Deformed frogs have been found in Minnesota and in other places. Why do you think that deformed frogs are being found?
6. Why are frogs used as characters so much in books and on television?
7. Should we care about declining frog populations around the world? Why or Why not?
8. In recent years, some medicinal uses for frogs have been discovered. Research one of these and tell us what you find. Also answer this question: should we only maintain the frog populations that can be medically useful? Defend your position.
9. Why are frogs found in some types of habitats and not in others? What are these areas and are they adequately protected?
10. How does a frog attract a mate?