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e-Journal

Meet Darrel Frost (pp. 96–97)


Step 1. Questions

Question: Why did the lizard go on a diet?

Answer: He weighed too much for his scales!

That joke is funny, especially if you are a herpetologist, as Darrel Frost is. A herpetologist studies lizards and other reptiles.

Write a summary about Darrel and his work with lizards. Before you write, you will need to research lizards and Darrel's work. Here are some questions to guide your research:
  • How are all lizards alike?
  • In what ways do lizards differ from one another?
  • Why did Darrel become a herpetologist? What skills does a herpetologist have?
  • How does a herpetologist study lizards?
Are you ready? Begin by visiting the Web sites listed in Step 2. Look for answers to the questions above. Write down what you learn in the boxes.

With teacher supervision, you may use search engines to find other Web sites. You also can learn more about lizards at the library. When you are ready, follow Steps 3 and 4 to write your summary.


Step 2. Research

Research answers for the questions you were asked in Step 1. Visit these Web sites. Take notes about them on this page, too!


Toolbox Tip: Click here to learn how to move or change the size of a browser window.


Careers in Herpetology
You can read about the job of a herpetologist on this Web page. Read the first two paragraphs and read the section "What Do Herpetologists Do?" Think about the different kinds of research that herpetologists can do. On which type of research does Darrel focus?
Take Notes:



Lizards at the Fort Worth Zoo
Click each category to see photographs of lizards of all shapes and sizes. Some of the photos have the lizards' names underlined and in color. Clicking on these names will reveal information about these lizards. As you study the lizards, think about the steps Darrel Frost might take to compare them.
Take Notes:



Australian Lizards
Visit this Web page from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation to learn about the blue-tongued lizards that live in Australia. Can you guess why they are called blue-tongued lizards? See how these lizards are alike and different.
Take Notes:



Additional Sites

Saint Louis Zoo: Lizards
The Saint Louis Zoo cares for several different lizards. Click the name of each lizard to see pictures and learn more about these creatures. Click the pictures to make them larger.
Take Notes:



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