FLIGHT OF THE BUTTERFLIES

Kimberly Callicutt

Content Area: Science

Grade Level: 1st Grade

Summary: The students will learn the four different stages in the life cycle of a butterfly. They will watch a short video, learn a song, and play an interactive game involving a butterflies life.

Learning Objective: The students will be able to name the four stages of a life cycle of a butterfly with 100% accuracy.

Content Standard: 0107.4.1 Observe and illustrate the life cycle of animals.

Accomplishment: The students will be able to understand the four stages in a butterfly’s life.

LIFE CYCLE Before a butterfly can flap its wings , they must go through a process called metamorphis.

METAMORPHIS - the process or transformation from an immature form to an adult form in two or more distinct stages.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8sAHQYvVf0

STAGE 1

THE EGGA butterfly starts out life as a small, oval

egg. The egg shape depends on the type of

butterfly it will become. You can find the eggs usually laid out on

leaves. The female will attach the eggs near the

intended caterpillar food.The caterpillar spends 1 to 2 weeks inside

the egg.

STAGE 2

THE LARVAOnce the caterpillar has hatched, its main mission

in life is to EAT!Caterpillars eat the very same leaf they were

hatched upon.A caterpillar is born extremely small, once they

begin to eat they immediately start growing and expanding in size.

A caterpillar’s skin does not stretch or grow, they grow by shedding their skin several times through out this stage.

This stage usually lasts 3 to 4 weeks.

STAGE 3

THE PUPA Once the caterpillar is done growing, they

form themselves into a pupa, also known as a chrysalis.

Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar is changing at a rapid speed.

This is the transformation stage where the caterpillar’s tissues are broken down and the adult insect’s structures are formed.

This stage can lasts up to 1 to 3 weeks.

STAGE 4

THE BUTTERFLY Once the butterfly emerges from the chrysalis,

its wings will be soft and folded against the body.

Once the butterfly has rested, the butterfly will spend 3 to 4 hours learning to master to fly.

Butterflies are constantly on the lookout for a mate to be able to reproduce and start the butterfly life cycle all over again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YVqHnw0W-Q

LIFE CYCLE ACTIVITY

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/scienceforkids/life_cycle/butterfly_lifecycle.htm

REVIEW

What are the four stages involved in the life cycle of a butterfly?

Is the butterfly able to fly as soon as it leaves the chrysalis.

What is metamorphosis? What is another word for pupa? How long does a caterpillar usually

spend inside of the egg?