One of the most controversial tasks, when students enter High School, is animal dissection. Kids have strong opinions either one way or another. The most common animal that is dissected at this level is frogs. Frog anatomy does give us a very good idea of how the human anatomy works as well. Understanding the frog’s anatomy helps us understand how organs and tissue relate in a complex body system.
This group of worksheets looks at the anatomy of frogs, earthworms, grasshoppers, starfish, crayfish, bony fish, and birds.
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Lets put everything together an deduce the names of all the labelled parts.
Why Do We Dissect Frogs in School?
Perhaps you remember as an adolescent in school that you had the chance to dissect a frog in one of your classes. Maybe you remember the process of dissecting a frog but can't remember what the purpose was for dissecting the frog or why you used one.
We dissect frogs in school as an exploration of the anatomy of animals. Such experiments provide us with a more robust understanding of our bodies' organs and internal functions. Also, frogs are good examples of systems that have adaptations and are relatively complex.
The rest of this article will explain a few topics related to this question, such as what subject matter refers to frog dissection, why we use frogs, and what students learn from this experience. Keep reading.
Dissection Helps Students Understand the Human Body
If you’re dissecting a frog in school, then you’re most likely doing it in middle or high school. Dissection is an activity that typically corresponds to biology classes.
In biology class, students study how human cells and internal organs work—they explore the functions of the body systems and how these systems help humans adapt and survive. Dissection is a great way to explore these topics in greater detail.
Specifically, dissection helps students to see the internal organs in real life. Students can go through the activity of identifying organs such as the heart, lungs, and muscles. By exploring the internal organs hands-on, students will be more likely to retain knowledge about these concepts.
Students may also be asked to complete a dissection project in an anatomy class. They can learn about internal organs and the function of external body parts, such as the skin.
Why Do We Dissect Frogs?
There are several reasons teachers choose to use frogs for dissection instead of other animals.
We dissect frogs because they have complex internal systems—they have hearts, lungs, skin, and organs similar to humans. While it’s not entirely the same, a frog's internal system is similar to a human's, making it an excellent option for dissection.
Using a frog for dissection allows students to study similar organs to those they have learned about in human biology.
Aside from their complex internal systems, frogs also have many fascinating adaptations to study when you dissect them. Students can explore how these creatures’ body adaptations, such as their skin, help them survive in the wild.
Frogs Don’t Live Long and Aren’t Endangered
Another reason why frogs are popular to use in the classroom is that they have relatively short lifespans. Some frogs only live for two to three years, making them relatively plentiful and easy to access for dissection purposes.
Also, frogs are common species in many areas and are not an endangered species. Frogs usually die from natural causes. Furthermore, frogs are small enough that they’re easy to transport to classrooms.
Frog Dissection Encourages Students To Explore Biology Further
Students can learn a variety of things from the experience of dissecting a frog. The main learnings they take away involve the biological systems inside the animal and human bodies. However, this dissection experience may also spark their interest in future learning opportunities with the body.
Students may become further interested in biology, even considering options within the medical field. A hands-on experience such as dissection is sure to ignite a student's passion for continuing to study our body systems.
Conclusion
Whether students dissect frogs for biology or an anatomy class, they’ll learn a lot. This type of hands-on learning experience allows students to explore their curiosity regarding biological systems in bodies.
The physical size and accessibility of frogs and the similarity in frog and human body systems make them an excellent option for a school dissection activity.
