The Toad Tracking project is the type science that I am interested in getting students involved in. My experience is that students become engaged and learn so much more when they see the science is important. This type of science also gives students the opportunity to apply their reading, mathematics and writing skills. My questions are as follows: Are there grants that will help fund this type of project; How do I find scientist who are willing to work with schools on such projects; What type of professional development is needed for teachers.

I am a retired P.D. specialist (science) from the Omaha Public Schools in Nebraska. I now will begin teaching technology and work with a science club beginning this fall. I understand that the science experiences students have in K-12 education does not show them how exciting research can be. I wish to give the students a St. Richard Catholic School the opportunity to grow in all academic areas through scientific inquiry.

I think toad tracking is cool! I find a lot of large toads at night in Bethlehem. I would like to have a tracker to see if the same ones stay around our yard.
I also have a daughter who is really interested in toads also! So if you can help me please contact me!
Thanks so much!

As a current educator, I take my hat off to someone willing to take a different path not tied to a state or national test. The kids will never forget this experience and will always hold this teacher and the experience in highest esteem. Nice work!

What a great way to get students interested, excited and focused about learning. I am a student getting my Master's degree in elementary education. I have never taught in a classroom setting yet, so seeing things like this gets me so excited and motivated. I know it may not be easy but i cant wait to get my own students engaged in this style of learning some day. Keep it up!

Wow! I got involved in GIS and GPS use in college. I love seeing this technology used at such a young age. I am working on my MEd and Elementary Ed. certification. I look forward to using such technology with my elementary students in the future!

A great idea, but as a biologist I cringed when I saw the kids flipping rocks and not returning them to the position in which they were found. These rocks may be important cover to the lizards, and when moved the characteristics that might make them good cover will be altered. As young biologists, they should be taught that you leave nature how you found it!

I have a question, are horney toads born or hatched?

I'm the teacher in the video. This is a misleading thing in the video. When we go lizard tracking for "real",we do not run and we definitely return things where we found them. Horny toads are not found under rocks normally. we find them by slowly walking across a plowed field and looking very carefully. I think they wanted to show student enthusiasm.

Horny Toads are hatched form eggs.

Pigmy Short-horned lizard (aka Horny toad) give birth to live babies mainly because they live in higher elevation and colder areas than the rest of the horny toad species. The rest lay eggs.