Life Cycles

Objective: Plants and animals have life cycles that include the beginning of life, growth and development, reproduction and death. The details of a life cycle are different for different organisms.

Let’s see what you already know about life cycles…

Word Bankadult death tadpole eggs pupa

larva egg nymph hatching

1. Most animals come from ______________.

2. When an animal breaks out of an egg, that is called ________________.

3. What are the three stages of growth of a grasshopper?   A.___________________   B.___________________   C._______________ 

4. Name the stages of butterfly growth.   A.___________________   B.___________________   C.___________________    D.___________________  

5. The second stage in the life cycle of a frog is called a _______________.

6. The final stage in the life cycle of all animals is _________________.

Vocabulary

• life cycle• metamorphosis• stages of the life cycle• pupa• larva• egg• adult• chrysalis• nymph

• molting• maturity• tadpole

Essential Vocabulary• Life cycle – the stages a plant or

animal goes through from egg to adult

• Metamorphosis – the process of change during the life cycle

• Simple metamorphosis – the process of change during the life cycle where the young resembles the adult

• Complete metamorphosis – the young does not look like the adult

• Life cycle stages– Birth– Growth/change– Maturity– Death

3 Phase Insect Life Cycle

Simple MetamorphosisInsects

• Cockroaches• Grasshoppers• Dragonflies

4 Phase Insect Life Cycle

Complete Metamorphosis Insects

• Beetles• Butterflies/moths• Flies• Ants, wasps, bees• fleas

• Identify the following life cycles as - simple (3 phases)- complete (4 phases)

Life Cycle of a Butterfly

Dragonfly Life Cycle

Mosquito Life Cycle

Grasshopper Life Cycle

Now, let’s try that test again and see what you have learned!

Word Bankadult death tadpole eggs pupalarva egg nymph hatching

1. Most animals come from ______________.

2. When an animal breaks out of an egg, that is called ________________.

3. What are the three stages of growth of a grasshopper?   A.___________________   B.___________________   C._______________ 

4. Name the stages of butterfly growth.   A.___________________   B.___________________   C.___________________    D.___________________  

5. The second stage in the life cycle of a frog is called a _______________.

6. The final stage in the life cycle of all animals is _________________.