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Overview:
Have you ever watched a tadpole morph into a frog? National Geographic Emerging Explorer Tyrone Hayes says that, as a child, watching this animal—an animal that is really two animals—led him to his career in biology and herpetology. He didn't know it at the time, but watching tadpoles metamorphose into frogs may help us find causes of—and maybe even cures for—cancer. Hayes uses a combination of laboratory and field study on frogs to study their developmental changes related to chemical contamination of water. In addition to this exciting area of research, by studying how low-level chemical contaminants in water affect the development of frogs, Hayes hopes to spur better water conservation and environmental control efforts worldwide.
Connections to the Curriculum:
Geography, social studies, science
Connections to the National Geography Standards:
Standard 6: "How culture and experience influence people's perceptions of places and regions"
Standard 14: "How human actions modify the physical environment"
Standard 18: "How to apply geography to interpret the present and plan for the future"
Time:
Two to three hours
Materials Required:
- Computer with Internet access
- Writing paper and pens
Objectives:
Students will
- learn about the life and work of Tyrone Hayes;
- explain how Hayes's cultural and life experiences influenced his career choice and locations of study; and
- explain how studying animals' development may provide insight into environmental hazards for humans.
Geographic Skills:
Acquiring Geographic Information
Organizing Geographic Information
Answering Geographic Questions
Analyzing Geographic Information
S u g g e s t e d P r o c e d u r e
Opening:
Ask students if they have ever considered how much like frogs they are. Ask for volunteers to offer examples of how that might be true. Take a few examples, and then tell students that they will be learning about a scientist, Tyrone Hayes, who is using the study of frogs to make significant contributions to humans' health and development.
Development:
Closing:
Ask students to reflect on the possibility of using frog populations as detection devices for environmental contaminants. What are the implications, both positive and negative, for science and health? Suggest that students consider the consequences of raising frog populations specifically for this purpose (amphibian population would increase, thwarting the current decline, but the exposure of these new populations to the various scientific research tests could be detrimental to frogs in general).
Suggested Student Assessment:
Student papers should reflect a clear understanding of the information they have studied. While there is not necessarily one "right" answer for any of the issues, students should demonstrate their awareness of the importance of the studies.
Extending the Lesson:
- Have students visit National Geographic Explorer magazine's Freaky Frogs to learn more about extinct and declining populations of frogs, the causes of those declines, and what can be done to improve frogs' condition in the world. Students may also wish to visit these sites for more information:
NBII: FrogWeb—Amphibian Declines
Australia National Parks and Wildlife Service: Threats to Frogs
Vanishing Frogs
- Suggest that students learn more about water conservation and health issues by visiting the Earth Day Network's Water for Life action pages. What's in Your Water has a comprehensive guide to water quality, with suggestions for citizen action on a local and global scale.
- Have students learn more about frogs and their natural v. unnatural habitats in these two articles about "leaping" frogs, frogs that have moved from their natural locations to new areas. Have students find out what problems can be caused for the areas where these frogs have landed.
National Geographic News: Invading Bullfrogs Appear Nearly Unstoppable
Amphibian Conservation Alliance: FROGS.org—Stowaway Frogs Raise Fears
- Have students read about National Geographic's Strange Days on Planet Earth, a four-part PBS series in which both Tyrone Hayes and Tierney Thys, two of National Geographic's Emerging Explorers, participate. The series uses storytelling to explore new discoveries about the health of the planet.
Have students visit Sea Studios' online summary of the series, in particular "Episode Four: Troubled Waters," to learn about the interaction between marine life and one of the industries presented (farming, agriculture, fishing). Ask students to conduct further research into one of the issues discussed—bycatch or waterway contamination—and present a brief summary.
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