Metamorphosis!

The process of metamorphosis is so amazing! We've had our tadpoles for only 8 weeks and they already look like frogs! And I love that my 3 year old can say the word metamorphosis clear as day. :) How did these clear black dots that you had to use a magnifying glass to see turn into frogs?

4 weeks: no legs or arms yet, but heads are getting bigger.

5 weeks: tiny legs!!!!

Legs are getting longer and more visible and they have whiskers like catfish.

6 weeks: ARMS! They have longer legs and now tiny arms!

Their feet are looking more webbed!

7 weeks: Their feet are getting webbed and their arms are getting longer and you can see fingers. Their heads are getting more of a frog shape to them and their tails are shrinking.

By week 8 some of their tails are getting very short and they have become frogs!

Thanks, God, for these wonderful little creatures you gave us to teach our kids more about You. What a fun way to learn. This whole thing has been amazing. The kids have LOVED it and so has Max. :)  I just can't possibly fathom how someone could not believe in God after watching the wonder of a frog's metamorphosis. This detailed, intricate process could not have happened by accident. God's creativity and sense of humor is so evident in nature. Now that we have done caterpillars and tadpoles I promised the kids we would hatch duck eggs next spring. That was always my favorite when I taught 2nd grade, although we hatched chickens.  Teaching is super hard, but when you can have a little fun and watch a child's eyes light up with wonder and make them want to rush into the classroom to see if the eggs have cracked or the butterflies have hatched or how much the tadpoles have changed, it makes it a little easier and all worth while. You can still teach math, reading, writing, spelling, and science and even empathy with animals in the classroom. It's sad to think that our government has sucked the fun right out of teaching and learning.