I have seen a pasta butterfly life cycle created on a paper plate divided into fourths (similar to the one I shared in class that used other materials) which helps to emphasize the cyclical nature because next to the adult section is the egg section which starts the process all over again.
More advanced students can make a detailed book with observations of what they see happening everyday with the worms. Students who are farther behind can create a book with pictures of what they see happening.
This activity could be connected to language arts by having students write an essay about the steps of the metamorphosis process.
There's no better way to learn about metamorphosis than to observe the life cycle of a living creature up close. This activity allows students to see the life cycle of mealworms.
Make sure to add taking measurements in metric units to this activity in order to fully meet the standard. This unit could be connected to a social studies unit on the plants that are important to the local community and humans in general.
2.3.1
Observe closely over a period of time and then record in pictures and words the changes in plants and animals throughout their life cycles-including details of their body plan, structure and timing of growth, reproduction and death.
Differentiation:
Have ELL students keep a picture journal of drawings of their compost 2 times a week. Observe the changes over time.
This activity is an awesome life science experiment that students can use for the rest of their lives- making compost!
Compost is a great way to deal with waste that often ends up in landfills. In this activity students will watch different kinds of vegetation decompose and turn into rich, useful soil!
This could even be used for a class or school garden!
2.3.1: Observe closely over a period of time and then record in pictures and words the changes in plants and animals throughout their life cycles - including details of their body plan, structure and timing of growth, reproduction, and death.
Modification to activity: Students will create a journal to log all data from start to finish. Building the terrarium will occur at the beginning of the project, and notes will be kept as the plants grow.
ELL: Easily explained through modeling and pictures
Higher Ability: Students could be class photographers and be responsible for uploading photos and printing them for the journals.
I just loved this craft activity. It would be the perfect activity to do after you talked about the life cycle of a butterfly. This gives the kids who need more hands on activity the ability to explain what happens to a butterfly. After they make it have the students talk about the cycle in their own words.
Adaptions: You can adapt this activity for ELL and special needs by doing an into to the bufferfly lifecycle, you can include books, do drawings charting the life cycle. While you are doing this you can have the students make a vocabulary journal identifying vocabulary used in the butterfly life cycle.
Extensions: I think ALL grades would love this activity, you would want to add things to the activity depending on the grade level. For example, for 2nd graders you can have them journal and write stories about their butterflies, 3rd grade you can have them define different types of butterfies and then see which type they have from their habitats, 4th graders can identify different locations you may find different types of butterflies, and for kindergarten you can identify differences between butterflies and moths....etc!
1.3.4 Describe how animals' habitats, including plants, meet their needs for food, water, shelter and an environment in which they can live.
1.3.5 Observe and describe ways in which animals and plants depend on one another for survival.
1.3.2 Observe organisms closely over a period of time in different habitats such as terrariums, aquariums, lawns and trees. Draw and write about observations.
1.4.3 Construct a simple shelter for an animal with natural and human-made materials.
Adaptions: be sure to go over vocabulary. Also, you can chart and draw picture step by step of how the students are to put together their "greenhouses"
Extensions: You can extend this to higher grades by discussing the water cycle and demonstrating how the water cycle created moisture in the greenhouses in order to water the seeds. Also, if possible you can plan a fiend trip to a greenhouse, (a lot of times these are FREE and they will do demonstrations and age appropriate activities with the students!)
K.3.3 Describe and compare living plants in terms of growth, parts, shape, size, color and texture.
K.3.1 Observe and draw physical features of common plants and animals.