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Primary Science · Year 5Chapter 2 · Life cycles of animals
Year 5 Science · Life cycles of animals · Lesson 2.3

Year 5 Science: Life cycle of an amphibian

Part of the Year 5 Science life cycles of animals chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page

2.3

Life cycle of an amphibian

Year 5
LH1: the life cycle of an amphibian, such as a frog
Story. Mia finds a clump of jelly in her school pond. Her teacher says: “That is frog spawn. Each dot is an egg. In a few weeks, the eggs will become tadpoles that breathe through gills.”

A frog is an amphibian. Many amphibians start life as eggs laid in water. Frog eggs are laid together, as spawn.

The egg hatches into a tadpole. A tadpole has a tail, and no legs. It breathes through gills, and it lives in water.

Over time, the tadpole grows legs and develops lungs for breathing air. It becomes a froglet, and then an adult frog. An adult frog can live on land and in water.

Amphibian (frog)eggin spawntadpolegillsfrogletlegsadult frogthe life cycle goes round
The life cycle of a frog: egg in spawn, tadpole with a tail and gills, froglet with legs, and an adult frog.

Key ideas

  • Frogs lay their eggs in water, as spawn.
  • A tadpole breathes through gills, and has a tail but no legs.
  • A froglet grows legs and lungs, and then becomes an adult frog.
  • An adult frog can live on land and in water.
Worked example 2.3.1
Look at the amphibian life cycle in section 2.3. Which stage comes after the egg? Write the word.

Method. Read the pictures in order.

  1. Read the first stage. The first stage is the egg, in spawn.
    egg
  2. Read the next stage. The egg hatches into a tadpole.
    tadpole
  3. Write the answer.
    tadpole

Check. A tadpole hatches from the egg. ✓

Worked example 2.3.2
What does a tadpole breathe with, at first? Write the word.

Method. Read the description of the tadpole.

  1. Read the description. The tadpole breathes through gills, and lives in water.
    gills
  2. Name the breathing organ. So the answer is gills.
    gills
  3. Write the answer.
    gills

Check. The gills take oxygen from the water. ✓

Worked example 2.3.3
Which stage of a frog has legs and lungs, and is becoming an adult? Write the word.

Method. Read the stages in section 2.3.

  1. Find the stage with legs. The froglet grows legs and lungs as it becomes an adult.
    legs and lungs
  2. Name the stage. So the answer is froglet.
    froglet
  3. Write the answer.
    froglet

Check. A froglet is a young frog that is nearly ready to live on land. ✓

Watch out

Watch out: the tadpole is not a small adult frog. It has a tail and gills, and it does not have legs at first.

Try it (with your teacher or a grown-up). With your teacher, look at frog spawn or tadpoles in a school pond or a clear tub of pond water. Draw one tadpole, with its tail and gills if you can see them. Never take spawn from the wild. Wash your hands after touching pond water, and return any animals to the water.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask: “What is the stage before the frog? How does a tadpole breathe?” Keep children well away from deep water.

Exercise 2C  Life cycle of an amphibian

1
FWhere are frog eggs laid? Write the word: water or land.
2
FWhat is the name for a frog’s eggs laid together in water? Write the word.
3
FWhich stage of a frog breathes with gills? Write the word.
4
FWhat do tadpoles breathe with at first? Write the word.
5
FWhich stage of a frog grows legs and lungs? Write the word.
6
FHow many stages are shown in the amphibian life cycle in section 2.3? Write the number.
7
FLook at the amphibian life cycle in section 2.3. Which stage comes after the tadpole? Write the word.
8
FDoes a tadpole need water to live? Write yes or no.
9
FTrue or false: an adult frog can live on land and in water. Write true or false.
10
PSRuby says a tadpole looks like a small adult frog with a tail. Is she right? Write yes or no.
11
PSWorking scientifically. Plan how to observe. Which stage comes first in a frog’s life cycle? Write the word.
12
RExplain why frog spawn should be left in its own pond, rather than moved to a classroom tank. Write one sentence.

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