Cycles of Life

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Students learn about metamorphosis by watching one or more insects change from egg or larva to pupa to adult. They record the process and make a life cycle picture.

OBJECTIVE
Students Will:

1. Observe the eating habits of insect larva.
2. Compare and contrast the larva and adult insect.
3. Record the insect's metamorphosis.
4. Sequence the life cycle of an insect.

MATERIALS

1. I like to use the book The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. You may use another book that demonstrates metamorphosis. Photographs of the four stages of butterfly’s life-cycle or draw your own: egg, larva, pupa, adult
2. Magnifying glasses for each student
3. Live insect eggs or larva (mealworms, silkworms, caterpillars, or ladybugs work well) for each student
4. A cup or larva container for each student
5. Student Recording Sheets printable
6. Two white paper plates for each student
7. A large brass brad for each student
8. Pens, crayons, and markers

SET UP AND PREPARE

1. Order live insect larva or eggs from commercial distributor or purchase from a pet store. (Allow plenty of time for delivery)
2. When gathering photographs of a butterfly’s life cycle, visit Going Bug-gy.
3. Draw two intersecting lines to form four equal parts on paper plates for each student.
4. On the back of a second paper plate for each student, draw the same intersecting lines, trace around a quarter in the center, and then cut out a ¼-quadrant to act as a window.
5. Make multiple copies of the Student Recording Sheets (PDF) printable.
6. Place insect larva in a cup or container for each student.

REPRODUCIBLES

1. Student Recording Sheets (PDF)
   

DIRECTIONS
When ordering the live insect larva or eggs, be sure to allow enough time for delivery. Avoid beginning the process near school breaks, so the metamorphasis doesn't occur when students are gone! I have used mealworms, silkworm eggs, and monarch butterfly caterpillars in the past. Mealworms can be purchased at pet stores. I have silkworm eggs that moths laid last year that I kept in the refrigerator. Tiny caterpillar larva with individual plastic cups for each student can be purchased from educational supply catalog companies.

DAY 1

Step 1: Begin the lesson by reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Tell students that some insects change completely during their life cycle. This is called metamorphosis. Just like the tiny caterpillar in Eric Carle’s story, some insects go through four stages: egg, larva, pupa, adult. In the story, the first stage is an egg. Show the photograph of an egg or show the picture from the book. Continue by describing the second stage: the larva or caterpillar. The third stage is the pupa, which is inside the chrysalis. The fourth step is the adult butterfly.

Step 2: Distribute the paper plates with the four equal quadrants. Guide students in drawing the four stages in the butterfly life cycle:

Upper right quadrant: egg
Bottom right quadrant: larva or caterpillar
Bottom left quadrant: pupa inside the chrysalis
Upper left quadrant: adult butterfly.

Remind students that the butterfly is an insect and must have the correct amount of legs and body parts. Encourage them to label their pictures by the stage.

Step 3: Distribute the second paper plate and a brass brad to each student. Ask students to put the cut plate over the first and push the brass brad through the hole.

Step 4: Bring students together and them to show — by moving the plate with the window cut out — each of the four stages.

DAY 2

Step 1: Remind students about the four stages. Distribute the Student Recording Sheets printable. Explain that students will be observing their own insect eggs or larvae. As scientists, they will record their observations of the developing insect. They should list the day, draw a picture of their insect, and write about it on the Student Recording Sheet. At the end, these will be collected and made into an observation journal.

Step 2: Distribute the insect eggs or larvae and magnifying glasses to the students. Instruct them to write Day 1 at the top of their Recording Sheet. Ask them each to draw a picture of the insect and write their observations. Even if the insect is not a butterfly, the four stages are still the same. You may want to include craft sticks if you are using meal worms so that students can move them around.

Step 3: Gather students to share their observations

DAY 3 and beyond

Step 1: Every few days, distribute a new recording sheet and have students draw and record notes about their insect.

Step 2: Gather students to share their observations

SUPPORTING ALL LEARNERS
Where appropriate, help students to label the stages. Take dictation for those students who aren't yet writing on the Recording Sheets.

LESSON EXTENSION

1. Dramatize the four stages of the insect metamorphosis.
2. Discuss other life-cycles.

ASSESS STUDENTS
Observe how students record the changes in their insect. Note emergent writing and spelling patterns.

ASSIGNMENTS

1. Make a life cycle plate.
2. Keep an observation journal.

HOME CONNECTION
Encourage students to discuss their own life cycle thus far with their parents or guardians: from infant to crawler to toddler to child. Discuss the different foods they ate at each stage and their changing needs.

EVALUATE THE LESSON

1. Did students notice all stages of the life cycle in their observation journal?
2. What would you do differently?

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