Introduction

When someone says the word frog, what do you think? A million different things could come to your mind and the chances of them being the same as your partners are very small. There is so much out there that you can do to learn about these amazing creatures, who are more like humans than we think.
Frogs have always been friendly creatures presented to us in every form. From the Teenage Mutant Nija Turtles, to Kermit the frog, they're almost a part of our daily lives. However, how would you describe a frog to someone who has never seen one before. What colors would your frog be? What sounds would your frog make? Would your frog be in any fairy tales?
Using some sites from the internet, we need to decide how to look at all different aspects of what makes up a frog and figure out how we would present this amazing creature to someone who had no idea what a frog was. Good Luck and Have Fun!

The Quest

You need to explain what a frog can look like, or sound like,some of the things that a frog is a part of in human lives, and how they effect the environment and everything around them.

The Process and Resources

You and your group will find as much information as you can, and play with as many interactivities as you can, to learn everything there is to know about frogs. Each of you will have your own specific area in which you must become an expert, but everyone must have a basic knowledge about these amazing creatures!
You'll begin with everyone in your group getting some background before dividing into roles where people on your team become experts on one part of the topic.

Phase 1 - Background: Something for Everyone

Everyone in the group should explore this site thoroughly. It has many pictures, sounds, songs, stories, and activities that you can visit to learn tons about the Amazing Frog!

• The Froggy Page - This page is jammed packed full of activities, information, songs, stories, sounds, pictures, and frogs frogs and more frogs!

Phase 2 - Looking Deeper from Different Perspectives

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Individuals or pairs from your larger WebQuest team will explore one of the roles below.

2. Read through the files linked to your group. If you print out the files, underline the passages that you feel are the most important. If you look at the files on the computer, copy sections you feel are important by dragging the mouse across the passage and copying / pasting it into a word processor or other writing software.

3. Note: Remember to write down or copy/paste the URL of the file you take the passage from so you can quickly go back to it if you need to to prove your point.

4. Be prepared to focus what you've learned into one main opinion that answers the Big Quest(ion) or Task based on what you have learned from the links for your role.

Frog Picture Expert

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Frog Picture Expert:

1. Look through the pictures and pick out two frogs that you think are cool looking.

2. Pick out two pictures you think are kind of ugly.

3. Pick out two frogs that you think are interesting enough to show your group.

4. None of these frogs should be dupilicates. There are more than 50 frogs on this site to chose from and it should be easy to find 6 different frogs.

• Frog and Toad Photo Gallery - More than 50 pictures and names(both scientific and common)of frogs and toads of different species.

Frog Sound Expert

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Frog Sound Expert:

1. Choose some sounds and names to show the group. Make sure you can put the names with the sounds.

2. Write up a list of what you think the sounds sound like.

3. Have your group put the labels with the sounds.

• Exploratorium: Frogs - This is a very interactive site about Frogs. It explains some myths and some realities about them. It also has some very interactive ways to get into the lives of frogs by listening to some of their sounds and seeing how they can 'disappear!'

Frog Story Expert

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Frog Story Expert:

1. What are some stories you know about frogs from the Froggy page?

2. What is your favorite?

3. Pick one or two to share with the group.

Phase 3 - Debating, Discussing, and Reaching Consensus

You have all learned about a different part of Frogs. Now group members come back to the larger WebQuest team with expertise gained by searching from one perspective. You must all now answer the Task / Quest(ion) as a group. Each of you will bring a certain viewpoint to the answer: some of you will agree and others disagree. Use information, pictures, movies, facts, opinions, etc. from the Webpages you explored to convince your teammates that your viewpoint is important and should be part of your team's answer to the Task / Quest(ion). Your WebQuest team should write out an answer that everyone on the team can live with.

Phase 4 - Real World Feedback

You and your teammates have learned a lot by dividing up into different roles. Now's the time to put your learning into a letter you'll send out for real world feedback. Together you will write a letter that contains opinions, information, and perspectives that you've gained. Here's the process:

1. Begin your letter with a statement of who you are and why you are writing your message to this particular person or organization.

2. Give background information that shows you understand the topic.

STATE THE TASK / QUEST(ION) AND YOUR GROUP'S ANSWER.

3. Each person in your group should write a paragraph that gives two good reasons supporting the group's opinion. Make sure to be specific in both the information (like where you got it from on the Web) and the reasoning (why the information proves your group's point).

4. Have each person on the team proofread the message. Use correct letter format and make sure you have correctly addressed the email message. Use the link below to make contact. Send your message and make sure your teacher gets a copy.

Your Contact is: Rainforest Reptile Shows!

Conclusion

So did your friend understand what a frog was? Do you think you did an adequete job of describing it to them? Great! Now you ALL know a lot more. Nice work. You should be proud of yourselves! How can you use what you've learned to see beyond the black and white of a topic and into the grayer areas? What other parts of Frogs could still be explored? Remember, learning never stops.