Mr. Salsich's Class
Third Grade Explorations in Learning
Jun
01
Catching Frogs, Toads, and Crayfish
This week we went on a field trip to Spellman Pond with our friends Mr. Dewire and Mrs. Sullivan from NatureScapes. They have taught us so much about plants and animals this year, and this was our last visit with them.
A male green frog
It was fantastic! We got to explore a pond habitat and check out all kinds of creatures with special adaptations. Check out the slide show below to get an idea of what we saw.
*
What are some of the adaptations we saw?
What was your favorite part of the trip, or what was the most interesting creature in the slideshow?
Have you ever caught any of these creatures on your own?
What is a toad’s defense behavior?
June 3rd, 2012 at 4:41 pm
Dear Mr Salsich and Grade 3
There seems to be quite a variety of wildlife in that small pond!
We were interested to see the small crayfish, as we have a small native freshwater crayfish here in New Zealand. The Maori word for it is koura.
Sometimes the children in B4 find koura in the local creeks. You can read a little more about them here.
We hope you continue to enjoy the last few weeks of your school year.
best wishes
B4
June 3rd, 2012 at 10:47 pm
Hello,
It is amazing how much wildlife is in the one pond. How big are the nets you caught them in? I wonder how many animals you found on the excursion.
From Ali (Ms. Norton’s 5N class)
June 6th, 2012 at 7:09 pm
Dear Mr. Salsich and class,
I had a great time at Spellman Pond with you! It was fun to see and learn about all the frogs and toads, dragonflies and damselflies. I know some of you wanted to see a snake, but I am happy we didn’t find any! I thought the seine net was especially cool.
You guys were all very brave touching and holding the animals (even when they got you…wet)!
Your friend,
Sage (Braedon’s mom)
June 11th, 2012 at 1:33 pm
Dear Mr. Salsich,
My favorite part of the trip was watching and waiting for the frogs and other animals to pop up. My favorite animal was the newt because he had slimy feet and they were webbed and I think it is cool have special feet. Do you know why they have webbed feet?
The field trip was so fun.
From,
Jackie
June 11th, 2012 at 1:46 pm
Dear Mr. Salsich,
My favorite part of the field trip was when we got to hold the frogs because they felt all slimy in your hand. To me it felt pretty good because we were right next to a pond so we could just go over and wash them in the pond.
Some of the animals we saw are: Green frog ,Pickerel frog, Sunfish, Pickerel fish, Crayfish, Newts, Tad-frogs, Tadpoles, Water bugs, Dragonflies, Damselflies, Spiders and Toads. Some things I learned are that toads pee when they get frightened, that there is such thing as a fish eating spider and that catfish have three spines and if you touch one of the spines it will hurt you for thirty minutes.
On the field trip one animal that we did not see is the water snake. I wish we saw it because it would scare all the girls and they would run screaming. While boys would be right next to it petting it.
Your student,
Luke
June 11th, 2012 at 1:46 pm
Dear Mr. Salsich,
My favorite thing about the trip to Spellman Pond was catching all the frogs and fish. This was my favorite part because the frogs felt so bumpy and the fish were so pretty, the colors on them were so cool. The spiders were so big. One was as big as a magnet. I think a toads defense behavior is either water or pee.
What was the most interesting animal that you saw?
Your Friend,
Shea
June 11th, 2012 at 1:47 pm
Dear Mr. Salsich,
My favorite part of the trip was catching the frogs and looking at them. I think the toads did a good job with their defense behavior because it really makes you let them go! I also liked seeing the dragonflies.
Sincerely,
Maura
June 11th, 2012 at 1:51 pm
Dear Mr. Salsich,
My favorite thing about the field trip to Spellman Pond was the sunfish! This was my favorite part because I have never ever ever seen a fish with blades and I think that it was really cool. Another thing that I thought was cool was the crayfish. It reminded me of a lobster.
Your friend,
Joseph
June 11th, 2012 at 1:52 pm
Dear Mr. Salsich,
my favorite thing about the field trip to spellman park was when I caught a toad because it was surprising to find so many frogs and toads and I liked to to feel its hard slimy lumpy skin.
from your friend
Dylan
June 11th, 2012 at 1:55 pm
Dear Mr. Salsich,
My favorite part about Spellman Pond is that Mr. Dewire found a pickerel frog and I got to hold it with my bare hands! I like the name too! A detail about the pickerel frog is that it was really slimy on its tummy. Another detail about the pickerel frog is that it was a male because male frogs have bigger ears than females.
From,
Hanna
June 11th, 2012 at 1:59 pm
Dear Mr. Salsich,
My favorite part of the field trip was when Carly got peed on by the toad. It was my favorite part because I also got peed on by a toad at some point too. It also is my favorite part because of the look on Carly’s face.
Your friend,
Chris