The life cycle and metamorphosis

General

In this lesson, students are introduced to a simple timeline of the human life cycle, before learning about the metamorphosis of both butterflies and frogs. They will learn how these creatures’ bodies undergo a complete change of form and discuss the different functions of each part of their life cycle.

Standards

NGSS:
3-LS1-1

Learning Objective

Students will be able to describe the life cycles of butterflies and frogs. They will also be able to identify other metamorphic animals.

Introduction

The lesson begins by explaining that all living things have a life cycle, including humans. Students will drag to place the life cycle of a human in the correct order from a baby to a kid, to a teenager, to a young adult, an adult, and finally, a senior.

Instruction

Students will be introduced to the term, metamorphosis, and learn about the life cycle of a butterfly from its start as an egg to its emergence as a butterfly. Next, they will learn about the life cycle of a frog and its metamorphosis from a tadpole, to a froglet, and into an adult frog. Students will drag images to check for understanding and place them in the correct order in the life cycle.

Quiz

Students respond to ten questions to check for understanding. These include true/false, multiple-choice questions, and fill-ins which include answers like, “pupa,” “larva,” and “eggs.”

Closing

To conclude, students drag descriptions of butterflies and frogs at different stages in their lives, either before or after undergoing metamorphosis. For example, a frog has no legs before metamorphosis but has four legs after.

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