Frog & Butterfly Life Cycles
Information About This Unit
Description of Learning Unit:
Explore frog and butterfly life cycles in this unit. Hands-on activities include observing tadpoles and caterpillars, creating life cycle crafts, and making a life cycle book. Online activities and printables are included to reinforce the concepts. This unit is designed to last one week, depending on how often you teach science. 
List of Objectives:
- Learn the stages of a frog's life cycle.
- Learn the stages of a butterfly's life cycle.
- Recognize the different stages of the frog and butterfly life cycles.
List of Materials and Supplies Needed for This Pathway:
- Tadpole
- Clear plastic cup
- Pond water
- Eyedropper
- Food coloring
Observe Butterfly Metamorphosis:
- Small aquarium or one-gallon jar
- Cheesecloth and a small rubber band to cover jar
- Caterpillars that you collect
- Leaves from the plant on which you found the caterpillars
- Sugar water or oranges
Life Cycles of the Frog and Butterfly:
- Printer
- Card stock or paper
- Crayons or markers
- Binding supplies: stapler or hole punch and yarn, ribbon or string
- Printer
- Paper or card stock
- Scissors
- Glue
- Blue construction paper
- Foil
- Green construction paper
- Brown construction paper
- Bubble wrap
- Black permanent marker
- Construction paper (various colors), card stock or gift wrap
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Yarn or string
- Glue stick
- Sturdy paper plate
- Markers, crayons or paint
- Stapler or tape
Printables:
- Printer
- Paper
- Crayons or markers
- Pencil
Links to Free Learning Material
Links to Online Lessons:
| Butterfly Life Cycle | (no rating) |
This site explores the butterfly and moth life cycle, which has four developmental stages.
| The Monarch Butterfly | 70% | (1 votes) |
This site provides information about the life cycle of the monarch butterfly. It features many useful resources, including full-color pictures and additional information about how to attract them to your home.
| Discover Cocoons | (no rating) |
Here children can read and learn all about cocoons, including what they are and the roles they play in the lives of some animals.
| Frog Life Cycle | (no rating) |
Learn about the life cycle of frogs.
Reference Websites:
| Attracting Butterflies to Your Yard | (no rating) |
Learn how to plant gardens that will attract butterflies.
| Rearing Monarchs | (no rating) |
Learn how to raise Monarch butterflies.
Hands-On Projects and Activities:
| Observe Butterfly Metamorphosis | (no rating) |
Let your child raise his or her own butterfly in this fun project.
| Observe Tadpoles | (no rating) |
With this activity, children can catch tadpoles and learn how they breathe.
| Life Cycles of the Frog and Butterfly | (no rating) |
Your child will create a booklet about the life cycle of the frog and the butterfly.
| Frog Life Cycle Craft | (no rating) |
Create a 3D poster of a frog's life cycle.
| Butterfly Life Cycle Mobile | (no rating) |
Make a butterfly life cycle mobile.
Learning Tools (worksheets, drills, printables, online games, tests, etc.):
| Life Cycle Game | (no rating) |
Help children learn about animal life cycles with this fun life cycles game. In this game, children are asked to click the pictures and drag them into the right order.
| Butterfly Coloring Page | (no rating) |
Children will enjoy creating their own colorful butterfly with this butterfly printout.
| Monarch Butterfly Coloring Page | (no rating) |
Print the page and have your child color the Monarch butterflies.
| Frog Life Cycle Worksheet | (no rating) |
Print this page and have your child fill in the blanks of this frog life cycle worksheet.
| Monarch Chrysalis Coloring Page | (no rating) |
Have your child color the Monarch chrysalis.
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Free Online Video:
| Butterfly Metamorphosis Video | (no rating) |
Children can watch this video to learn about monarch butterfly metamorphosis.
| Life Cycle of the Red-Eyed Tree Frog | (no rating) |
Children can watch this video to learn about the life cycle of the red-eyed tree frog.
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Free Online Audio: 
Free E-Books (and classics available in most libraries):