Expected learning outcomes >>
List of Activities for this unit >>
Background for educators >>

Introduction

This module introduces students to the world of amphibians. Few people, especially those living in urban areas, have an opportunity to experience and enjoy the beauty of a wetland. Well-established fears associated with wetlands soon disappear when one has had the opportunity to interact with the wetland ecosystem. Students will develop an understanding of the importance of water to the life cycle of amphibians, and will become more familiar with the twenty-one species that exist in Ontario. Students will examine the basic needs and habitat requirements of amphibians. Students will gain a greater understanding of how important amphibians are in detecting environmental contamination. The emphasis in this module should be placed on both global and local declines of amphibian populations, and the reasons contributing to their decline. (Note: For further background, you may wish to look at Unit 10, Case Studies which includes four case studies: "Global Amphibian Decline", "The Decline of the Leopard Frog", "The Introduction of the Cane Toad to Australia" and "The Puerto Rican Crested Toad: A Species Survival Plan".)

The module continues with the concept of classifying organisms according to similarities. Students will examine the features of a scientific name of an organism, and appreciate why scientific names can be very useful.