LIFE CYCLE OF A BUTTERFLYBy Avery Gurell

LEARNING OBJECTIVE – SCIENCE GRADE 2SPECIAL EDUCATIONIII. Students will develop an understanding of their environment

IlIa. Observe animals at different stages of their

lifecycle. This can be, but does not have to be, a

metamorphic lifecycle.

LO: Student will be able to identify the four stages of metamorphosis of a butterfly.

STAGES IN THE LIFE CYCLE OF A BUTTERFLY

1st stage - egg 2nd stage- caterpillar 3rd stage - pupa 4th stage - butterfly

1ST STAGE THE EGG

The egg is the first stage in the butterfly life cycle. Butterfly eggs are very small and round or oval. Many have ribs or other tiny features.

Butterfly eggs are found on leaves.

2ND STAGECATERPILLAR

The caterpillar hatches from the egg.

Caterpillars spend most of their time eating.

Butterflies do all of their growing when they're caterpillars, and food gives them the energy and body-building materials they need.

WHAT DO CATERPILLARS EAT?

Caterpillars are always hungry.

They mostly eat leaves.

Different kinds of caterpillars like different food.

Some like flowers, celery, caraway, trees, dill, and parsley. YUM!

3RD STAGEPUPA (CHRYSALIS)

When a caterpillar has finished growing, it forms a pupa.

From the outside, the pupa looks as if it's resting.

But inside, every part of the caterpillar is changing

This change is called metamorphosis.

WHAT IS METAMORPHOSIS?

Metamorphosis means change. Caterpillars change into butterflies.

Most of the caterpillars organs and other body parts dissolve and re-form or change into the organs, tissues, limbs and wings of a butterfly.

WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF METAMORPHOSIS?

When the caterpillar has finished changing, it comes out of the chrysalis.

The butterflies wings are folded up against its body.

The butterfly pumps blood into the wings to expand them.

4TH STAGEBUTTERFLY

The butterfly flies to different flowers looking for food called nectar.

If its too cold the butterfly will move to a place that is warmer.

The butterfly will find a leaf to lay her eggs on.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

Name the four stages in the life cycle of a butterfly.

What is metamorphosis?

BUTTERFLY SONGS AND POEMS The Butterfly Song

(Tune:  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 beautiful butterfly!

The Life of a Butterfly (Tune:  Skip to My Lou)

I'm a caterpillar, wiggle with me, I'm a caterpillar, wiggle with me, I'm a caterpillar, wiggle with me, What'll I be my darlin'?

A chrysalis, now sleep like me, A chrysalis, now sleep like me, A chrysalis, now sleep like me, What'll I be my darlin'?

A butterfly, come fly with me, A butterfly, come fly with me, A butterfly, come fly with me, What'll I be my darlin'?

Now all together, let's do all three!

A caterpillar, a chrysalis, a butterfly, three! Move your body like this with me, The life of a butterfly, darlin'!

BONUS: EXTRA CREDIT

METAMORPHOSIS OF OTHER LIVING THINGS

Other animals and insects go through metamorphosis.

The metamorphosis of a frog is similar to the stages of a butterfly.

Lets look closer at the life cycle of a frog.

TADPOLE

A frog begins its life as a tadpole.

Tadpoles look like fish. But soon they begin to grow teeth and skin over the gills.

Then the tadpole will grow longer and develop a little bit of a head and some legs.

FROGLET

At the end of the 9 weeks, the tadpole will look more like a frog than a fish, but with a long tail. The tadpole will also start to eat things like tiny insects.

FROG Frogs have very good eyesight.

They bulge out the sides of their heads in order for the frog to see in nearly all directions.  

Frogs have very powerful back legs and webbed feet that help them jump great distances, as well as, swim. Frogs even use their legs to dig, or burrow, underground for hibernating.

Certain frogs can jump up to 20 times their own body length in a single leap. 

Every different species of frog has his or her own look. They come in many colors, patterns and sizes.

FROG SONGS AND POEMS

 Five Green and Speckled Frogs

Five green and speckled frogsSat on a speckled log,Eating some most delicious bugs.Yum, Yum!One jumped into the poolWhere it was nice and cool,Then there were four green speckled frogs.Ribbit, ribbit, ribbit!(Continue rhyme until all frogs jump into the pool)

Five Little Tadpoles (Poem)Five little tadpoles swimming near the shore.The first one said, “Let’s swim some more.”The second one said, “Let’s rest awhile.”The third one said, “Swimming makes me smile.”The fourth one said, “My legs are growing long.”The fifth one said, “I’m getting very strong.”Five little tadpoles will soon be frogs.They’ll jump from the water and sit on logs.