Hello, Guest!

Learning Experience/Unit

Butterfly Life Cycle by St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES


Course, Subject

Biology/Living Environment, Math, Science & Technology, Science (NYS P-12)

Grade Levels

Elementary, 3rd Grade


Learning Context/ Introduction

Third grade students will be introduced to content of a butterfly's life cycle. A K-W-L chart will launch this section of butterfly facts already known, what is to be learned, and then learned. Students will correctly label an example of a butterfly's life cycle.

Essential Question

What is the life cycle of a butterfly?

Duration

Six days (30 minutes per day)

Procedure

Day 1:

  1. Introduce the K-W-L chart and subject to be studied.
  2. Ask the Essential Question: "What is the life cycle of a butterfly?"
  3. Record students' answers on the K and then W part of the chart. Please see the example Butterfly K-W-L 2.notebook. As they study the adult butterfly, more labels will be added to the diagram.
  4. Introduce the vocabulary. See vocabulary words in Butterfly Vocabulary.notebook.


Day 2:

  1. Summarize previous day's discussion from the K-W-L chart.
  2. Review the vocabulary.
  3. Play the Vocabulary Match Game in the Butterfly life cycle pairs game.notebook. Have a vocabulary chart with the these words and meanings visible while playing this vocabulary game.


Day 3:

  1. Introduce butterfly concepts using this site www.thebutterflysite.com/biology.shtml (Note: the teacher should be knowledgeable of the information summary given below before teaching the concepts).
  2. Choose the sections of the butterfly life cycle site mentioned above, and discuss each stage with the class.
Butterfly Life Cycle:
    • The First Stage: The Egg
    • The Second Stage: The Larva (Caterpillar)
    • The Third Stage: Pupa (Chrysalis)
    • The Fourth Stage: Adult Butterfly
Teacher Notes: As each phase/step of the butterfly's life cycle was discussed with the class, we referred to this butterfly site, www.thebutterflysite.com/biology.shtml. Students were especially interested in the different caterpillar photos from www.pbase.com/crocodile/caterpillars2004. They were able to view several species of caterpillars. Zoom to 150% to show caterpillar details. Point out the compound eyes, spinneret, antennae, setae, prolegs and false legs. Mention how caterpillars blend in their surroundings and protect themselves from predators.

Summary for New Teachers:
Female butterflies lay one to hundreds of eggs, depending upon the species. Eggs are usually glued to a protected area on or near the larva's food plant source. The larva sheds or molts its skin up to 5 times, because it grows very quickly. Metamorphosis takes place during the pupa stage, as the pupa is encased upside down in the chrysalis. An adult butterfly emerges. After the wings dry, the adult will eventually fly to its food source sipping nectar from its proboscis. Other species of butterflies seek different food sources. The whole life cycle process starts again after the mating process. * Note that any environmental interference (temperature etc.) during these stages can be fatal to the butterfly.


Day 4:

  1. Summarize the previous day's concepts and record what has been learned on the L section of the K-W-L chart. To review and check for understanding, engage the Butterfly SMART Notebook activities file below. To extend and refine, engage Butterfly life cycle pairs game.nbk below.
  2. Students should generate more questions which we added to the K-W-L chart such as, "What are chrysalises made out of? ", and "Do caterpillars eat other caterpillars?"

Day 5:

  1. In the classroom, model on the SMART Board the activity that will be assessed on day 6.
  2. Hand out the direction sheet.
  3. Open the website: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/butterfly/lifecycle/.
  4. Go over each step as a whole group.
  5. Introduce the rubrics. Answer any questions for clarification of the task involved.

Day 6:

In the computer lab, students will use their direction sheet from Day 5 to complete the assigned task of:

Assessment

Butterfly Lifecycle paper with correctly labeled pictures, Rubrics, observation graphic aids see attached

  • Butterfly Lifecycle Rubric.docx
  • Technology Rubric

    • Student Work

    Using SMART Board activities, and Enchanted Learning, students will complete a Butterfly Lifecycle paper with correct labels.

  • High Life cycle Rubric.pdf
  • Medium Life cycle Rubric.pdf
  • Low Life cycle Rubric.pdf
  • High Life cycle.pdf
  • Medium Life cycle.pdf
  • Low Life cycle.pdf

    • Instructional/Environment Modifications

    Instructional - Lab, extended time, computer with Internet access.
    Environmental - SMART Board with LCD projector, printer.

    Website(s)

    Butterfly Site
    Caterpillars Photo Gallery by Bev Wigney
    Enchanted Learning: Butterfly Life Cycle

    Reflections and Feedback

    The students enjoyed the interaction of working with the SMART Board activities. Next time I will encourage students to bring in more examples of butterfly life cycles from their home computers. One student did bring in an example of another butterfly's egg. Butterfly pictures were also brought in. Also, check to make sure your direction paper is in sync with student access to the Enchanted LEARNING site in your school's computer lab.


    Data is Loading...
    .
    .