Big Night (amphibians)

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/big-night--amphibians-

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is Big Night for frogs and salamanders?Big Night is a yearly event when many frogs and salamanders leave their winter homes and hop to special pools to meet friends and start families.
2. Why do frogs hop to vernal pools during Big Night?Vernal pools are temporary wetlands that stay dry later in the year, keeping fish away and giving frogs a safe place to lay eggs and grow.

Phenology: The study of cyclic and seasonal natural phenomena, especially in relation to climate and plant and animal life.
Ephemeral Wetlands: Water bodies that exist only seasonally, filling with water for part of the year and drying out at other times.
Torp or Hibernation: Physiological states of dormancy and reduced metabolic activity to survive unfavorable environmental conditions, typically winter.
Larval Stage: The immature, aquatic form of an amphibian that undergoes metamorphosis to reach adulthood.