KYRA RICCI
Educational Resources
Feel free to use and share! Please credit Kyra Ricci and additional authors as noted in each resource.
Graphic Novel
Amphibian Adventurers: Beyond the Vernal Pool
Free pdf of the original graphic novel developed by my team in the Hua Lab. Join the curious and courageous Wood Frog on a journey of self-discovery through the wild wetlands! Designed for 3rd grade but appropriate for all ages. By Nora Hines, Christina Jacob, Apurva Singh, Kathleen Lu, Emma Glembocki, and the Hua Lab.
Children's Book
Phoebe's First Forage: Ant-Plant Mutualisms on the Forest Floor
Developed in collaboration with the Prior Lab at Binghamton University. It's Phoebe's first day out of the nest! Will she be able to find food for the colony, avoid predators, and navigate the forest floor? This is the story of how one little ant can make a big impact! By Kyra Ricci, Nora Hines, Kathleen Lu, Emma Glembocki, Christina Jacob, Carmela Buono, Rosebelle Ines, and Kirsten Prior
Lesson Slides
Amphibian Species ID: Identifying Larval Frogs, Toads, and Newts of Upstate NY
Lesson for 3rd grade students to learn how to identify larval amphibians (frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts) that are common to Broome County, New York. DISCLAIMER: Used for a specific location and project; species and morphological features will vary by location. By Kyra Ricci, Cathy Chen, Emily Low, Apurva Singh, Kathleen Lu, and Jessica Hua
Protocols
Friends of Amphibians Protocols: Community Wetland Monitoring
Check out our protocols for identifying calls of adult frogs & toads, surveying pond invertebrates, and collecting water quality data. Get involved with the Friends of Amphibians project in Madison below:
Friends of Amphibians Website
Lesson Plan
Biodiversity Lesson Plan for Amphibian Adventurers (3rd Grade)
Lesson plan associated with Amphibian Adventurers graphic novel. Designed for 3rd grade teachers to teach their students about biodiversity, especially amphibian biodiversity, following New York State Science Learning Standards.
Lesson Activity
Animal Info Sheets for Amphibian Adventurers Lesson (3rd Grade)
Additional activity associated with the biodiversity lesson plan and Amphibian Adventurers graphic novel. Students should follow along in the graphic novel and list wetland organism habitat, diet, adaptations, and predators or ecological interactions.
Identification Key
ID Key for Larval Amphibians
Key for kids to use when trying to identify larval amphibians. Use alongside Species ID Lesson slides. DISCLAIMER: Used for a specific location and project; species and morphological features will vary by location. By Kyra Ricci, Cathy Chen, Emily Low, Apurva Singh, Kathleen Lu, and Jessica Hua.