Thousand Oaks : Frogs Make Leap Into Lesson Plan

While politicians battled for office in Tuesday’s primary election, a group of frog and toad contenders took part in their own runoff at Thousand Oaks’ Westlake Elementary School.

About 45 amphibians were entered in races and some were outfitted in tiny clothes for Susan Boyce’s fifth-grade class as part of a science lesson.

Students learned what frogs eat, how they reproduce, why they take on protective coloration and the myths and fairy tales surrounding frogs.

The race, Boyce said, was also in homage to Calaveras County, which hosts an annual frog-jumping contest.

In writing assignments, Boyce’s students have waxed poetic about their green friends.

“They’ve written odes to frogs . . . basically talking about what frogs are all about,” Boyce said. She said she hopes the frog lessons will teach her students more than just scientific facts about the web-footed creatures.

First-place honors in Tuesday’s bullfrog division went to student Jarod Nygren’s pet, Flyin’ Orion. In the midget division, student Keith Cochran’s tiny tree frog, Bubba, won first place. The prize for the funniest-dressed frog actually went to a toad belonging to student Danya Sawyer. The toad, named Thin Mint, sported a straw hat and a tutu.

After all the fun and games, Boyce was asked whether there would be a quiz. “Of course,” Boyce said. “This is a lesson.”