1. Big Idea 16: Heredity & Reproduction
Life Cycles of Insects:
Complete & Incomplete Metamorphosis
Life Cycles of Amphibians
Ahead of time open Discovery Education

2. Benchmarks
SC.4.L Compare and contrast the major stages in the life cycles of Florida plants and animals, such as those that undergo incomplete and complete metamorphosis…(Cognitive Complexity Rating: Moderate)
SC.4.N.1.1 Raise questions about the natural world, investigate them in teams through free explorations, and generate appropriate explanations based on those explorations. Cognitive Complexity: High

3. What are Characteristics of Insects?
Insects are small animals with a head, a
thorax, an abdomen, and six legs.
All insects start their lives as eggs.
Their eggs can be different colors, shapes, and sizes.
All insects go through metamorphosis after birth.
Engage/Explain: Ask students to write down the names of as many insects they can name in 30 seconds. Have students share their lists. Ask what they have in common. Say lets watch a video clip to learn more about what insects have in common. Have students take notes.

4. What do you know about the Life Cycles of Insects?
The life cycle of an animal is a sequence of body changes it goes through to become an adult. Insects have some of the most unusual and varied life cycles.
Most insects completely change their size, shape, and color as they grow from egg to adult. These changes are called metamorphosis. Insects have three basic kinds of life cycles.
Many have a four stage life cycle called complete metamorphosis. Butterflies, ants and moths are examples.
Others such as the grasshopper have a three-stage cycle called incomplete metamorphosis. Some have like
the silverfish have no metamorphosis.
Butterflies and Metamorphosis
Explore/Explain: Play the Discovery Ed. hyperlink Life Cycles . Discuss. Ask what we call the stages animals go through when they change their appearances during growth. (metamorphosis) Do all insects go through metamorphosis? (no, some have none) For those go do how is the metamorphosis the same and also different?

5. What are two types of metamorphosis?
1. Incomplete
Complete
Explore/explain: Ask the question. Then play each type and discuss how they are alike and how they are different.
How are these two types alike?
How are they different?

6. Insect Metamorphosis Review
Incomplete Example
An adult grasshopper lays eggs.
In 2-3 weeks eggs hatch into nymphs. A nymph looks like a small adult with no wings.
Over the next 4 weeks, the nymph will molt (change its skin) several times as it grows.
Complete Example
An adult housefly lays hundreds of eggs.
In 8-12 hours, an egg hatches into a tiny larva eats and grows a very large amount.
After 4-5 days, a larva develops a hard shell to become a pupa.
Five days later an adult fly emerges.
Explain/Evaluate: Play the hyperlinks Insect Metamorphosis Review and review.
Have students create a foldable display the main characteristics of complete and incomplete metamorphosis. Students should name at least three examples for both.

7. Create models of Insect Metamorphosis
Complete Metamorphosis
Incomplete Metamorphosis
Characteristics of
Extend/Elaborate: students create models of metamorphosis. Click and share additional links: metamorphosis and Butterflies and Metamorphosis Discuss.
One example is to make a Lifecycle using pasta:
Use pasta to show the lifecycle of a butterfly. Use cavatelli or a similar pasta for
the caterpillar, small circles for the eggs, shells for the chrysalis and bow ties for the butterfly. Glue them onto a piece of construction paper folded into 4 parts.
Draw arrows to define the stages of the lifecycle. Have students label each phase.

8. What are Characteristics of Amphibians ?
Have a Backbone
Have skeletons inside their bodies
Undergo metamorphosis
Live on land and water
Have moist skin
Lay jelly coated eggs in water
Explore/Explain: Ask students what they know about amphibians . Then tell students we will watch a video on amphibians to see what else we can learn about amphibians. Have students share characteristics that all have in common. Ask what do amphibians have in common with many insects.

9. Read Growth and Metamorphosis Then Compare and Contrast Butterflies to Frogs
Evaluate: Ahead of time open the hyperlink, download and print the DE article Growth and Metamorphosis . Then use a VENN diagram to Compare and Contrast butterflies (insects) to frogs (amphibians).

10. Resources Growth and Metamorphosis reading
Metamorphosis Achieved(butterfly):
Life Cycle of Bees video clip: