Thursday, August 4, 2022

Tad the Tadpole Project 2022

 


Books by the Bushel has added a new section to our website called "Interactive Literacy Activities" to encourage a learning experience along with some of our great titles. Our latest addition to the butterflies is "Tad," the tadpole. Originally BBTB had purchased two tadpoles, and over a couple weeks, we learned that one was not going to progress the way the other tadpole was. And then there was only Tad. 


The BBTB tadpole project was underway as we patiently waited for something called metamorphosis to take place. Originally, Tad would have started as a tiny clear jelly-like egg. Found floating in ponds or rivers. This would have been stage one of the life of a tadpole.

Next, the tadpole grows into more of a fish with gills and a tail. Tad will hatch and swim along the pond edge, looking for algae and plants to eat. Making this stage two of the life of a tadpole.



Within three weeks of having Tad, the tadpole had grown in length and started to take shape more of a frog with a tail. Still no sign of legs. Research said that Tad would develop the back legs first. This would be the first sign that Tad was becoming a "froglet." Once Tad has grown back legs, it can leap around instead of just swimming. Tad will also grow lungs and prepare to breathe outside of the water.

The BBTB team had upgraded Tad's habitat to a larger tank with a bubbler. Added a faux rock and branch for Tad to climb up on when the time was needed to take a break and breathe. Tad really enjoys the bubbler! We watch Tad swim up to the bubbler and let it twist and twirl his body around. 



The Time Had Come, And Tad Has Legs!

The day had come that Tad had finally grown a start of a leg! Every day for several weeks, the BBTB team would check on Tad and observe for physical changes. What seemed like forever. One day a team member noticed Tad starting to grow a clear camouflage leg. It was small and tough to see. According to research, Tad was between 6 and 9 weeks old and officially was in the metamorphosis stage. Over the next 4 to 6 weeks, we will observe Tad becoming more like a frog. Stay tuned!