Listen to the songs of the frogs and toads?

Croak and Ribbit

This activity is ideal for any age group. Spring and early summer is the best time to listen to the songs of the frogs and toads. It’s a great activity on any camping trip or if you live near a wetland.

The objective is: to identify frogs and toads by their song

Background:	The croaking sound is a familiar frog sound. But, just like birds, each species of frogs and toads have a different sound. After a while, you can distinguish one from the other.
Skills:	The children should be able to listen for 5 to 10 minutes without speaking and be able to differentiate the sounds.
Age:	Grades 1 – adult
Activity:	Explain to the children that different frogs and toads make different sounds. If possible, play a tape or CD with frog and toad sounds. Have the children imitate the sounds. Select different areas in the outdoors to listen for frogs and toads. If the children are very young, only concentrate on one sound. Older children should be able to identify the different sounds.
Discussion:	After 5 to 10 minutes, have the children identify the sounds that they heard. They may have heard other evening sounds, like a screech owl, too. Was any one sound more distinguishable than the others? Did any one species out-sing the others?
Adaptations:	Take the children on a night walk. Often the frogs and toads will stop singing if you get too close to them..
Brownie Try It!	Animals (Animal Sounds)
Junior Badge:	Outdoor Creativity #10

Resources:

Frogs of the Lower Great Lakes Region

Since I live in Michigan, this tape is very useful. I found it at an Audubon bookstore. The insert identifies the frogs in the order that they are heard.

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