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JSD AMPHIBIAN CURRICULUM
Science Activity: Hands-On Frog Dissection
Objectives:
1. Students will learn the different body systems and organs of the frog
2. Students will practice a method of scientific investigation known as dissection
3. Students will learn and utilize safe dissection techniques and tools.
Materials:
1 Preserved frogs (look for mail order sources at the end of this activity)
2. Frog Dissection Lab Key (included)
3. Dissection trays, and kits with scissors, pins, scalpels, tweezers and probes
4. Rubber gloves, goggles, plastic bag aprons
5. Frog Dissection Lab Vocabulary worksheet (included)
6. Your school may have a digital microscope that can be used with a computer and projector to
provide a more detailed view of organs.
Suggested Procedure:
1. The day before dissection, make dissecting aprons with students. Using completed Frog Sand-
wiches for reference, have students draw a system of their choice onto white garbage bags (with the
open end at the bottom). Cut holes for head and arms on sealed edges to use bags as lab coats or
aprons during dissection.
2. Using Frog Sandwiches and a virtual dissection website, review frog organs, anatomy, systems
and their functions, with students.
3. Review and model appropriate handling of dissection tools. Encourage students to work carefully
and respectfully of one another and their specimens.
4. Distribute frogs and Frog Dissection Lab Key to student groups (groups of 2 or 3 students work
best). Review the instructions with class.
5. Monitor and observe student groups as they work through dissections.
6. If you have a dissecting microscope and projector, take a closer look at internal organs as a class.
