By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

•  Identify the growing stages a butterfly goes through before becoming an adult. 
•  Identify the characteristics of a butterfly that allow it’s basic needs to be met. (wings)

NSES Standard: 

Ch.6 Content K-4;  Life Science:  Life cycles of organisms. #1

Materials:

Activity sheets with pictures of the life cycle of a butterfly.

Construction paper

Scissors

Glue

Poster of the butterfly life cycle

Pictures of different butterflies to demonstrate the different patterns in their wings.

Procedure:

Introduction: 

            First we will build upon previous knowledge from our lesson on insects.

Today we are talking about butterflies!  Remember last week we made our insects?  Who made a butterfly?  (kids raise their hands) What makes it an insect? (6 legs, 3 body parts)  Good.   What makes it different than other insects? (wings) 

Extended Lesson only: Show some pictures of different kinds of butterflies to point out that the wings are different to help protect them.  Using guided learning questions on page 38.  Ask them what they look like. 

Think about where a butterfly comes from.  What is it before it becomes a butterfly?  Just like you and me, insects grow, and today we are going to discover all the stages a butterfly goes through to become an adult. 

Activity:

            We will have a poster of the life cycle of a butterfly.  Underneath each picture, we will have the lyrics of “The Butterfly Song.” 

            Here we have the life cycle of a butterfly.  Who can tell me first stage? (call on kid) Repeat for each stage.  Now we are going to learn a fun song to help us remember the stages that a butterfly goes through to become an adult!  

 The Butterfly Song

(in the tune of Up on the Housetop)

 First comes a butterfly and lays an egg

Out comes a caterpillar with many legs,

Oh see the caterpillar spin and spin,

A little chrysalis to sleep in.

Oh,oh,oh wait and see

Oh, oh, oh wait and see

Out of the chrysalis, my oh my

Out comes a pretty butterfly!

We will repeat the song 3-4 times. 

Activity: Butterfly Life Cycle Wheel

Now we will see how much you’ve learned! 

Pass out worksheet and construction paper. 

Explain the project

Cut out the pictures on this sheet and put them in order on this circle.  Make sure to glue  the pictures diagonal so they can be right side up when you spin your wheel!  Before you put the two papers together, let your glue dry so they do not stick together! (show students) On the colored paper, write the 4 stages that a butterfly goes though to become an adult! When you are finished, it should look something like this. (show students)

Students can save their life cycle wheels to help them remember how butterflies grow. 

Assessment:

            We will know whether they comprehend the life cycle of a butterfly by correctly placing each step in order on the life cycle wheel.  We will know whether they understand how the different patterns on butterflies’ wings help them protect themselves from predators by how actively the students participate in discussion.