The Turning Pointof the Frog-Prince

Dr. Joann KeytonDr. Joann Keyton

With assistance from With assistance from

Dr. Christi MossDr. Christi Moss

The background

• Was looking for V-day gifts for friends . . . Was looking for V-day gifts for friends . . . Saw this frog-prince toy at Borders.Saw this frog-prince toy at Borders.

• Looked interesting . . . hmmm . . . Better as Looked interesting . . . hmmm . . . Better as a research project than a gifta research project than a gift

• So my sharing these findings is my V-day So my sharing these findings is my V-day gift to you.gift to you.

Research Questions

1.1. Can a frog be Can a frog be turned into a turned into a prince?prince?

2.2. If so, what kind If so, what kind of prince would of prince would he be?he be?

Method

• Followed Followed instructions on instructions on boxbox• Take off pull-tabTake off pull-tab

• Put in cold water Put in cold water to cover frog’s to cover frog’s headhead

• Prince should Prince should arrive in 72 hoursarrive in 72 hours

Out of box; Sunday 2:38 pm

With water

Process

• Frog starts to Frog starts to bubble, bubble, according to according to directions on directions on boxbox

• Back of frog Back of frog turns light turns light yellowyellow

Back of frog turning yellow; Sunday 2:41 pm

Frog bubbling, like Alka Seltzer dissolving;Sunday 2:58 pm

Frog back starts to disappear

Frog back dissolving; starts on back side; Sunday 3:02 pm

Frog dissolving; 50% back gone; 80% frog front gone; Sunday 3:17 pm

95% frog front & back gone; prince fully visible; frog skeleton remains; Sunday 3:34 pm

Additional Method

• As instructed by box, As instructed by box, water is changed.water is changed.

• Prince is visible, but Prince is visible, but frog skeleton (where frog skeleton (where frog back was joined frog back was joined to frog front) remainsto frog front) remains—hanging limply —hanging limply around prince’s waistaround prince’s waist

• Sunday 3:58 pmSunday 3:58 pm

Prince and Frog are rejoined

• Sunday, 5:10 pmSunday, 5:10 pm• Frog skeleton remains, Frog skeleton remains,

but now floats above but now floats above prince’s head.prince’s head.

• Provides new metric Provides new metric for measurementfor measurement

The boring part

• SundaySunday• 5:34 pm; 5:34 pm; • no visible changeno visible change• 6:14 pm; 6:14 pm; • no visible changeno visible change• 7:31 pm; 7:31 pm; • no visible changeno visible change

Finally, something happens

• Sunday, 9:24 pmSunday, 9:24 pm• Prince is fatter, not Prince is fatter, not

tallertaller

Boring part II--Monday

• 8:59 am8:59 am• Prince slightly taller, but still in frog shadowPrince slightly taller, but still in frog shadow• 5:04 pm 5:04 pm • Prince slightly Prince slightly taller and fattertaller and fatter

Final findings--Tuesday

• 8:47 am; Prince is slightly taller and fatter8:47 am; Prince is slightly taller and fatter• Finally!!!!Finally!!!!; Noon; Prince is tall enough to ; Noon; Prince is tall enough to

“see” over frog skeleton“see” over frog skeleton• 4:10 pm; experimental period of 72 hours is 4:10 pm; experimental period of 72 hours is

officially over; prince has not having officially over; prince has not having changed since first observation on Tuesdaychanged since first observation on Tuesday

Final observation

Results

• RQ1: Yes, a frog can turn into a prince.RQ1: Yes, a frog can turn into a prince.

• RQ2: He’s not much of a prince. He’s short RQ2: He’s not much of a prince. He’s short and fat. His crown looks like a baseball cap and fat. His crown looks like a baseball cap with twigs in the front.with twigs in the front.

Interpretation

• Don’t buy into the Don’t buy into the fairy tale. The frog fairy tale. The frog was more of a frog was more of a frog than the prince was a than the prince was a prince. Frogs are just prince. Frogs are just sometimes better.sometimes better.