News

Second graders learn about frogs and toads the fun way

By Scott Wagar

09/09/2014

Friday afternoon was the annual Frog Races for Arliss Fugere’s second grade class which was filled with laughter, screams and excitement while they watched their frogs and toads jump and the students learned all about these fun loving amphibian species.

Each year, Fugere spends a week teaching her students about frogs and toads. At the end of the week, she holds frog races where her students face off with each other to see if their frog or toad can travel the farthest in the race with their jumping ability; or, in the case of toads, their hopping ability.

Fugere said that her students learned a lot of about frogs and toads, some of which included:

● Frogs eat their skin when they grow out of it

● Frogs use their eyes to swallow their food

● Frogs have 159 bones with 80 of them in their feet

● Frogs don’t have a rib cage and that is why they are hard to catch and hold on to

● Frogs’ breathe and drink through their skin

● Frogs are wet and slimy and need to be near water, but toads are dry and bumpy and do not need to be near water

The students also created frog art and a frog booklet during the week before the big race day.

When it came to the competition, Jocelyn Jungling took first place in the race with her frog which traveled 35 feet. However, Levi Emmel’s toad hopped 26 feet and six inches for second place. Isabel Chavez placed third with her frog going the distance of 25 feet. The shortest distance in the contest was a frog that went one foot. “The kids really enjoy the races,” Fugere said.

The race ended with the students having treats that included an amusing version of frog eyes and juice.  

Although “Frog Week” is over, no doubt the students will remember their week with their jumping and hopping friends for a very long time. Perhaps at their 50th School Reunion some of the students just might show up with a frog or toad and want a rematch from their days with Fugere.