Juan Daniel’s Futbol FrogExploring a Frog’s Membrane

By: Katherine NorvellKatelyn Gaskins

About Our Book

• Juan Daniel is a young soccer player– Finds a lucky frog in the hot, dry environment at

soccer game– Worries about the life expectancy of frog– Begins to care for animal – Creates a membrane– Frees frog back in natural environment

Overview

• Frog skin and human skin is a membrane– Membranes protect harmful things from getting

inside the body– Allow oxygen and water to get in

Overview, Continued

• Frogs drink through this membrane – Absorb water through their skin

• Some frogs have anti-microbial properties – Skin can fight bacteria and viruses

Overview Continued

• Membrane must allow water to drip just enough to keep the frog moist– Showered vs. Flooded

Try It!

• Design a Model Membrane– Resembled a frog’s skin

Materials• Clear Plastic Wrap• Small Plastic Bowl• Piece of Wire Mesh• Rubber bands• Tape• Scissors• Sponges• Cotton Balls• Duct Tape• Small Plastic Cup

Engineering Design

• The Try It! Activity was very interesting for an early elementary classroom.

• Could be done whole group not small groups

Try It!

• Membrane Modeling would allow older elementary students to use more of the Engineering Design independently

• Instructions difficult to follow• Spanish language introduced

The Engineering Process

• Ask: How can a frog’s membrane stay moist?• Imagine: How can we create a frog membrane using

household items?• Plan: Brainstorm a list of items needed to create a

successful frog membrane• Create: Create experiment in back• Improve: – Substitute Cotton Balls in bottom– Add a sponge in the clear plastic cup– Rewrite instructions to clarify misconceptions