Froggy Science

The Middle School science classroom was a bit stinky last week as students in grades 6 and 8 collaborated on dissecting a frog.

While dissections are usually reserved for students in grade 8 and Upper School, the younger students had the opportunity to take a peek at the innards of the slimy grass frog.

Prior to the dissection, both grades learned about a frog’s lifecycle and the educational purpose behind dissection – frog organs are very similar to how human organs are laid out so it’s a good way to learn about how the students’ insides look. The boys were then invited to assist with the opening of the stomach and removed what was inside – some saw flies and hornet stingers!

“I learned that frogs are very similar to humans with their respiratory system and their stomachs,” said grade 6 student Rowan Kimmens.

The students had to identify the organs and muscles, placing little pin placards in areas such as the small intestine, gallbladder, liver, and pancreas. The dissection was part of the grade 8 curriculum on organ and cell systems. The boys also dissected the leg to identify muscles and tendons.

“It was pretty cool,” said Anthony Simpson, grade 6. “All of their muscles and organs are in the same spot as ours!”

Following the dissection, the grade 6 students wrote a memorial for the frog in Language Arts.

Story by Nicolette Fleming