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Mr. Bullfrog

Elementary, Middle

Description

Students participate in a game in which native frogs and bullfrogs compete for shelter, food, and water (habitat components). This game teaches students about the relationship between an animal and its habitat, and what effect introduced animals can have on that relationship.

The activity begins with the students being grouped into one of four habitat components: water, food, shelter or frogs.  Each habitat component comes up with a gesture for their group. The frogs line up at one end of the play area with their backs to the habitat components who are at the other end.  Play begins with the frogs deciding which habitat component they want and retrieving it from the other group. Once a frog has its habitat component, they return with it to the frog area.  Both students are now frogs. This is repeated for a few rounds.  Next, the teacher will introduce the bullfrogs to the activity.  They will be placed on a side to form a triangle with the other groups and they will be allowed to retrieve their habitat components first. The frogs will follow, and any who are without habitat components become bullfrogs.  Play continues to illustrate how an invasive species take over native species.

This activity also comes with assessment suggestions and extension activity ideas.

General Assessment

Recommendation of how and where to use it

Mr. Bullfrog would be an excellent outdoor activity to introduce the concepts of invasive species and habitat components to upper elementary and middle school Science students.  

Relevant Curriculum Units

The following tool will allow you to explore the relevant curriculum matches for this resource. To start, select a province listed below.

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  • Alberta
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    • Grade 4
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Exploring connections strengthens our understandings of relationships to help us make meaning of the world.
        • Investigating change and the diversity of Earth’s systems helps us to develop understandings of the conditions necessary to sustain life.
    • Grade 5
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Wetland Ecosystems
    • Grade 6
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      • Science
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        • Living Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened through investigating natural systems and their interactions
    • Grade 7
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      • Science
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        • Interactions and Ecosystems
  • British Columbia
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      • Science
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        • Science 4: All living things sense and respond to their environment
  • Manitoba
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    • Grade 4
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      • Science
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        • Habitat and Communities
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      • Science
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        • Interactions Within Ecosystems
  • Newfoundland & Labrador
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    • Grade 4
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Habitats
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Interaction of Ecosystems
  • Northwest Territories
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    • Grade 4
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      • Science
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        • Life Systems: Habitats & Communities
        • Science 4: All living things sense and respond to their environment
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      • Science
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        • Interactions and Ecosystems
  • Nova Scotia
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    • Grade 4
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        • Science 4: Habitats
  • Nunavut
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      • Science
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        • Life Systems: Habitats & Communities
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      • Science
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        • Interactions and Ecosystems
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
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    • Grade 4
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        • Habitats
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      • Science
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        • Interactions Within Ecosystems
  • Quebec
  • Saskatchewan
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        • Habitats and Communities
    • Grade 7
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 7: Life Science: Interactions within Ecosystems
  • Yukon Territory
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    • Grade 4
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 4: All living things sense and respond to their environment
    • Grade 7
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 7: Evolution by natural selection provides an explanation for the diversity and survival of living things.

Themes Addressed

Ecosystems (2)

  • Habitat Loss
  • Invasive Species