CONCEPT TO BE INVENTED:
Main Idea- Stages of the life cycle of a butterfly are egg, caterpillar, pupa, and adult.
CONCEPTS THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR EXPANSION:
Characteristics of the caterpillar, including habitat, are important for survival and growth into the adult butterfly.
MATERIALS NEEDED (PER STUDENT)FOR EXPLORTION:
- 2x2 inch square of construction paper (green)
- 3 toothpicks
- crayons or markers
- 5 green styrofoam segments (measuring 1 1/2 x 3 cm)
- glue
- scissors
MATERIALS NEEDED (PER STUDENT) FOR EXPANSION:
- white drawing paper (9 x 12 in.)
- crayons or markers
- twigs and leaves (optional)
- glue (optional)
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS:
Do not poke each other with the scissors; use them only while seated. Be careful not to poke each other with the toothpicks. Remind the students to use crayons and markers properly and not place them in their mouths.
1. EXPLORATION:
Which process skills will be used? Observing, identifying, comparing
What will the students do? Introduce the lesson by reading the students a book like The Butterfly, which illustrates the stages of metamorphosis. Encourage the students to notice what types of changes occur. Also discuss differences in texture of the egg, caterpillar, pupa, and butterfly wings.
After the book and brief discussion about it, provide the students with materials and help each of them make a segmented caterpillar by using the Styrofoam and toothpicks. The students can then trace and cut out a circle shape for the face. The face can be colored with crayons or markers before it is attached to the end of the caterpillar.
2. EXPLANATION/CONCEPT INVENTION:
What is the main idea? How will the main idea be constructed?
Concept: Stages of the life cycle of a butterfly are egg, caterpillar, pupa, and adult. Ask the students the following questions to help invent the concept. How many stages are there to get from an egg to a butterfly? Why do we call this a life cycle? Think of a word that sounds like "cycle." (Yes, it goes around, back to where it started, like a circle.) Ask the students to draw the four stages of metamorphosis in their journals. What does a caterpillar eat when it is first hatched from the egg? How do you think the caterpillar grows bigger? Think of what you do to grow bigger.
A habitat is where an animal lives. An animal may not be able to survive if it is taken out of its habitat. What is in your habitat? Do you need food, water, and shelter? Think of what a caterpillar needs to survive.
3. EXPANSION OF THE IDEA:
Which process skills will be used?
Communicating, problem solving, formulating models
How will the idea be expanded?
Have the students create their caterpillar's habitat on white drawing paper with crayons or markers. The students will include everything that the caterpillar needs for survival. Free expression should be encouraged. The students may gather leaves and twigs to glue onto their paper.
SCIENCE IN PERSONAL AND SOCIAL PERSPECTIVES - What kinds of things do people and animals need to survive? - How are your basic needs similar to those of the caterpillar?
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - How do people create habitats for different creatures? Do you know anyone who has a pet fish? What do fish live in?
SCIENCE AS INQUIRY - Are all butterflies the same? What makes them different? - What is the difference between a caterpillar and a butterfly?
HISTORY AND NATURE OF SCIENCE - Why is it important for people to know what is available in a place before we travel there?
4. EVALUATION:
How will the students show what they have learned?
Upon completing the activities the students will be able to: - Construct a caterpillar when given materials - Explain the four stages of metamorphosis: egg, caterpillar, pupa, and adult. - Design a habitat for a caterpillar that includes its basic needs for survival so that it will grow into an adult butterfly.
