As we face winter’s cold, the PBS Learning Media’s captivating short video on wood frogs, adapted from NOVA scienceNOW, shows how these small creatures found in the northern United States and Canada survive freezing cold temperatures for parts of the year.  For their special adaptation — they are able to freeze solid without damaging their cells — sugar acts like a natural antifreeze in their bodies, allowing them to spend the winter frozen and then resume function in the spring.

To help integrate the video into the classroom, you’ll find a background essay and discussion questions as well as National Science Education Standards and Benchmarks for Science Literacy.

Related content that’s also available to you includes:

Adaptive Radiation:  Darwin’s Finches, an image for grades 9-12,

Cell Membrane:  Just Passing Through, an interactive for grades 6-12,

Evolution of Camouflage, a video for grades 3-12.