The Life Cycle of Annabella the Butterfly

To educators and parents:

Life cycles are important because students develop an understanding of the world and it helps students understand life, death, and birth. This unit is designed for a third grade classroom. In this unit, students will learn the life cycle of Annabella the butterfly. The students will see the life cycle model of Annabella the butterfly. Analyzing the life cycle of a butterfly will help them understand and model animal life cycles.

Includes: specific steps of the life cycle of a butterfly, images, videos, flash cards, worksheet, and discussion questions

Learning Objectives:

After this lesson, students will be able to:

• Understand the specific steps for the life cycle of a butterfly
• Understand that the butterfly has its own special and distinct life cycle
• Create a sketch of the butterfly’s life cycle in order

What is a Life Cycle?

A life cycle is a sequence of events about life in an organism.

Stage One: Egg 

The very first stage of Annabella the butterfly’s life is an egg.  Annabella’s first stage of life is in a very small, oval, round egg.

Stage Two: Caterpillar 

After Annabella’s egg hatches, a “caterpillar” emerges. Caterpillars grow very quickly and eat continually.

Stage Three: Chrysalis 

After Annabella reaches her full size, she forms into a “chrysalis.”Chrysalis is a hard protective case. Inside of Annabella’s body, she is going through a transformation called metamorphosis. Now Annabella is forming into her true beautiful self, a butterfly.

Stage Four: Butterfly 

Annabella emerges from the chrysalis and turns into a beautiful butterfly with wings onto her body. After Annabella stretches her wings, she pumps blood into her wings and begins to fly.

Overview of the Life Cycle of a Butterfly

Life of Annabella the Butterfly Review:

1. Annabella starts off as a small, oval egg.
2. Annabella then hatches and Annabella turns into a caterpillar.
3. Annabella next reaches her full size and forms into a chrysalis. She performs metamorphosis during this stage.
4. Annabella’s last stage is the transition into a beautiful butterfly.

Discussion Questions: 

1. What are the four steps of the life cycle of Annabella the butterfly?
2. What step does Annabella turn into a butterfly?
3. What step is Annabella a caterpillar?
4. Draw the life cycle of Annabella the butterfly.
5. What is a chrysalis?
6. What is a life cycle?

Flash Cards:

https://quizlet.com/_a960qy?x=1qqt&i=9j9w5