Educator Guide: Bird Behavior and Fluorescing Frogs

About this guide

Use recent news articles from the September 9 Science News issue to have students evaluate hypotheses made by scientists based on evidence gathered about defensive bird behaviors and to light up your class with applications of light and atomic structure in newly identified fluorescing frogs.

This Guide Includes:

A ‘Perfect Comeback’

In a “perfect comeback” move, birds may be fortifying their nests with anti-bird spikes plucked from rooftops and eaves. Learn about the new findings and foster healthy skepticism by inviting students to evaluate evidence used in the article to support claims.

Fluorescing frogs

Light up your class with examples of fluorescence, including recently found biofluorescence in many frog species. Learn about the discovery of fluorescing frogs, discuss the potential evolutionary advantages of fluorescence, answer questions about the chemistry behind fluorescence and perform a demonstration of fluorescence from common objects.