LESSON PLAN
Unit topic: Science
Grade level: 3rd grade
Lesson topic: Life Cycle of a Butterfly
Lesson objectives:
The student will be able to list the chronological stages in a butterfly's life cycle and be able to apply the correct terminology (metamorphosis, cocoon, larva, chrysalis, pupa)
The student will be able to identify a picture and know which stage of the life cycle it corresponds to.
Instructional technique:
Introduce website to the students and see if they have any prior knowledge about the life cycle of a butterfly.
Lecture on the terminology of metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly
Select willing students to read the attached sheet that lists the four stages of a butterfly life cycle
Direct students to cut, color, and paste each picture with its corresponding stage
Instructional materials:
Website: http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/scienceforkids/life_cycle/butterfly_lifecycle.htm
Guide for website
Worksheet: Simple Science- Butterfly Life Cycle
Live Butterfly Habitat
Theoretical Perspective:
Metamorphosis is an important concept to be learned by students because they should understand how an insect changes its habitat and appearance. Students should know that all living things experience some level of growth over a period of time. It is important that students identify living from nonliving things for later topics such as photosynthesis.
Procedure:
Teacher passes out computers to each student and shows them how to navigate to the website.
As the students are pulling up the activity, the teacher passes out the guide for the website.
The students will drag the appropriate picture with the life cycle stage, at the end of the five stages the student will receive a score.
As they are manipulating on the website the student will be expected to fill out a website guide.
Teacher begins the lesson by handing out a Butterfly Life Cycle worksheet to each student.
Teacher explains to students the process a caterpillar undergoes to become a butterfly.
As a class, each stage on the worksheet is read and analyzed.
The students then color the pictures on the worksheet, cut them out, and paste them onto the life cycle chart.
Teacher walks around the classroom to check the progress of each student and to make sure they are doing the worksheet correctly.
Class goes over their answers as a group and teacher calls on students to share their answers.
At the end of the lesson students should be able to see and understand each stage of the life cycle. The teacher will bring out the butterfly habitat.
As the caterpillars grow students should be able to identify and explain in a brief journal entry what is happening to the caterpillar.
The lesson was created to ensure that children who struggle with learning, whether it be poor reading skills, non native speakers, or children with disabilities, are able to have several different ways of learning about the topic instead of a traditional lecture. Multiple forms of visuals are included so that the student isn’t relying solely on reading. They are able to cut and color pictures of the stages, as well as using the website to identify which stage the caterpillar is in beforehand. Most importantly, by including the butterfly habitat, students are able to physically see the stages and engage in the process while the caterpillar grows.
Evaluation
How/when will you determine if you have met your objectives?
The student will be able to list the chronological stages in a butterfly's life cycle and be able to apply the
correct terminology (metamorphosis, cocoon, larva, chrysalis, pupa)
The students should be able to identify and explain which stage of the life cycle the caterpillar is in
as they watch it grow in the habitat.
The student will be able to identify a picture and know which stage of the life cycle it corresponds to.
Through the worksheet the students should be able to correctly place the stages of the life cycle in
order.
Concerns or questions you have about teaching this lesson?
Will students lose interest in this lesson since it will be ongoing over a couple of weeks?
Will the students fully understand the vocabulary post lesson?