Frog Lab Project 

For our last project in the first semester we did a frog lab where we cut open frogs and learnt about their anatomy. The purpose of this lab was to learn about frogs and do a basic introduction to dissection, as well as to learn about ourselves. Frogs have a very similar body system and organs to humans, so learning about frogs and their internal organs can help with learning about humans and their own internal organs. This project took about two weeks and took us right up till finals week. I missed the last day due to illness but I was present for the rest of the lab. 

This was a project done in pairs, and relied heavily on collaboration and communication. 

Every morning we took the frogs out of the freezer and took them out of their bags and used the many dissecting instruments to cut them open and learn more about them on the dissecting table. Besides the frog itself, we also had to fill out a packet with observations and critical thinking about our lab. 

This project wasn't that bad in the end, mainly because I had already done this in sixth grade and was simply reliving a memory. I do think a lot of people didn't like it because it seemed gross and disgusting.

CONTENT :

Here is a scan of the worksheet we filled out alongside our frog work.

Terms and Definitions : 

integumentary system - This is the biggest system of organs that we have on our bodies, and takes up around 15-20% of our total body mass. ( source ) Our skin helps protect us against temperatures and pain, as well as diseases and infections trying to enter our bodies.  

skeletal system - the skeletal system provides support and structure for the rest of our organs as well as protection ( ex: ribcage protects our heart and lungs) for our organs. It connects muscles together and allows for movement. 

muscular system - The muscular system is what provides movement alongside our skeletal system. It provides posture, strength, and maintains heat within our bodies. 

lymphatic system/immune system - this system is made up of many cells and antibodies that provide protection against viruses and illnesses within the body . 

respiratory system - the respiratory system is what provides the air for our whole body 9 and all the cells in it) it's main component is the lungs. It also works to get the Co2 out of our bodies ( when we breathe out) . 

digestive system - The digestive system is what helps us get our nutrients from the foods we eat and eliminating waste. 

nervous system - The nervous system controls the rest of our systems and our body by using the spinal cord and the brain to send messages and information through neuron cells. 

endocrine system - The endocrine system is made up of different glands that release different type of hormones when instructed to do so. These help with changes in the body and responses to other stimuli. 

cardiovascular system - The cardiovascular system consists of the heart and many many blood vessels. It carries oxygen, nutrients ( for muscles ) , and blood to our whole body. 

urinary system - The urinary system is responsible for getting rid of the extra waste in our bodies and regulating the fluid levels accordingly. 

reproductive system - The reproductive system is mainly to hold other organs up and to create another human life itself when needed.

Reflection: 

I think this project went quite well overall. Our lab went well and the instructions and teacher help were just enough to get us through the last two weeks before the school finals. I think we ( Me and my teammate Parinaz ) worked really well on our collaboration. We worked with a "Divide and conquer" formula on the questions and agreed on playing different roles during the dissection of the frog whom we named "Brick Replace". For future dissections and projects, I could have paid attention a bit more to the reasoning behind certain parts and evolutionary adaptations of the frog ( Better conscientious learner) and I am interested in learning more about the different and bigger roles that frogs play in the ecosystem and habitat they live in ( Cultural competence) .