Teacher Candidate: Emily O’Donohue

Grade Level: 4
Date: February 9th, 2022
Subject: Science
Students: 30
Lesson Plan Title: The Life Cycle of a Butterfly

Essential Question: How do butterflies benefit nature and how does their life cycle connect to
human beings?

Lesson Rationale: It is important to understand the life cycle of a butterfly because all living
things have their own life cycle. Butterflies help to pollinate flowering plants. About one third of
the food people eat depends on the work of pollinators such as butterflies. Butterflies benefit
many living things in nature, including humans.

Learning Standards:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.SL.5
Make strategic use of digital media and visual displays of data to express information and
enhance understanding of presentations.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.L.4
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases by using
context clues, analyzing meaningful word parts, and consulting general and specialized reference
materials, as appropriate.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.7
Integrate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text with a version of that
information expressed visually (e.g., in a flowchart, diagram, model, graph, or table).

Lesson Objective:
 Describe the life cycle of a butterfly using the notes in your Science Journal from the
website and videos to make a diagram of the four stages of a butterfly’s life cycle.

Materials:
Notes from https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/butterflies/metamorphosis website (from
yesterday’s class)
Informative Review video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kZD6rlSLUw
Introduction National Geographic video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVm5k99PnBk
iPads
Science journals
Pencils
Pens
Markers
Blank diagram for butterfly life cycle activity
Mini Quiz
Language Demands:
 Academic Vocabulary:
RED Co-operative Learning Groups: Established groups meant for discussion activities
BLUE Co-operative Learning Groups: Established groups for hands-on activities
Identify, describe, review, discuss, summarize, assess, synonym, brainstorm
 Key Vocabulary:
life cycle, process, metamorphosis, egg, larva, caterpillar, molt, pupa, cocoon, chrysalis,
adult butterfly

Lesson Introduction: “1, 2, 3, eyes on me. I am going to show you a National Geographic video
showing the life cycle of a butterfly. This video doesn’t use any words, so pay close attention
and try to draw your own conclusions about what you are seeing. We will have a short group
discussion after the video.”

Instructional Procedures:
I Do: Students Do:
Ask students to silently recall what we’ve Quietly take out their Science Journals and take
learned about life cycles this past week and to a few moments to review to themselves.
take out their Science Journals with yesterday’s
notes from the amnh.org website.
Divide the students into their RED co-operative Students have been getting in their co-operative
learning groups and give them a couple minutes learning groups all year so they know how to
to share ideas about what they saw in the quickly assemble together and get to work!
introduction video using their notes and They talk amongst each other and decide who
knowledge from the past week’s lesson. will be the speaker for their group.

“1, 2, 3, eyes on me.” Call on each group to Some may write down in their Science Journals
share one or two things they’ve come up with. I what’s being written on the board, others may
write it on the board for everyone to see. just observe and listen.
Praise the students for working together so May or may not ask questions
effectively and for coming up with such great
information together. Ask if there’s any
questions before diving deeper into the life
cycle of a butterfly.
Show the class one more review video on the Take out Science journals and face forward to
life cycle of a butterfly before starting the watch the 2nd video.
activity. Encourage students to take notes in
their journals because this video is very
informative.
Ask the students to think (brainstorm) of Students take a few moments to brainstorm
something else that has a life cycle. (wait-time) independently then can raise their hand and
Then, ask the class why they think learning respond.
about the life cycle of a butterfly is important.
Call on students and write their responses on the
board clearly for everyone to see.
Praise the students for their responses and if Write other’s responses in their Science journal
students don’t mention that humans, insects, and
frogs have life cycles—tell them.
If students don’t mention that butterflies
pollinate flowers and plants, which humans and
other organisms need to survive—tell them.
Review key vocabulary from this lesson Review vocabulary with teacher as a class
(students already have definitions in their notes
from previous day)

Show the class my completed life cycle diagram Listen to each definition and wait for teacher to
on the overhead and review the four stages. look up at them for a classroom response for the
Cover the name of each stage and point to the name of the correct stage.
picture and read the definition and have the
class say the name of each stage all together.
Tell the class that they will be creating their Get into their BLUE groups.
very own butterfly life cycle diagrams. Students
will be divided into their BLUE co-operative
learning groups to work on this activity but
everyone will be required to make their own.
Stress that everyone’s diagram in the same
group cannot be identical. Encourage creativity
and using your own words.
Pass out the materials to each group and walk Each student completes their own and have the
them through the steps of creating the diagram group for support if needed. They also can use
by showing mine. their Science Journals for vocabulary,
definitions, spelling, etc.
Directions:
1. Draw pictures of the four stages using
life cycle template. Start with the egg at
the top and work clockwise following
the arrows until you get to the last stage,
the butterfly.
2. Write the name of each stage above the
corresponding picture.
3. Write at least two complete sentences Students are given individualized instruction
describing and summarizing what occurs sheets to follow.
during each stage (see differentiated
instruction)
4. Color your pictures with markers. Use
your creativity! (:
Monitor the classroom by walking around and Complete the diagrams in the given time frame.
looking for either verbal or nonverbal cues from Review notes for the mini quiz if finished early.
students that need further guidance.

(Closure) Divide students into RED co- Get into their RED groups for a short wrap up
operative learning groups to take a couple discussion and write one fact that they learned
minutes to come up with one interesting fact today on the board.
learned in today’s lesson. When I say “1,2,3,
eyes on me!” have one volunteer from each
group come up to the whiteboard to write it.
Praise the class for how hard working they were Ask questions
today. Tell them rationale for today’s lesson and
ask if they have any questions or comments.

Direct students to put everything away besides a Put away everything besides a pencil and take
pencil and distribute the mini quiz. Inform the the quiz.
students that this will be graded and must be (Quiz is differentiated for EL, LD, and gifted—
completely independently. They will have 10 see below)
minutes to complete the quiz and must turn it in
to me when they are finished. Remind them of
the rules set in place for testing.

Differentiated Instruction:

*The purpose of pairing students in their Co-operative Learning Groups is to make each group
member a stronger individual. The groups were carefully designed to equally distribute diverse
learners for a more equitable learning experience for all.

o Gifted: Encouraged to write more complex sentences on their butterfly life cycle diagram
describing what occurs during each stage. Instead of just explaining what happens during
each stage, challenge them to compare each stage to another organism’s life cycle.

o EL: Use clear and simple directions and repeat myself, speak slowly, avoid idioms, and
use synonyms or images to explain vocabulary. I will also paraphrase and use gestures
and realia throughout the lecture portion encouraged to write at least one complete
sentence for each stage during the diagram activity (using proper English grammar).
They are allowed to use their English dictionaries throughout the lesson.

o LD: Students with IEPS will be supported in this lesson through written repetition of new
vocabulary words and multiple representation of vocabulary words through printed
images. Students will be able to use their vocabulary cheat sheets during the butterfly
diagram activity. I will increase wait-time to give LD students a chance to recall
information (or review their notes) so that they participate.
Closure: Get in your pre-arranged groups and take a couple minutes to come up with one
interesting fact you learned in today’s lesson. When I say, “1, 2, 3, eyes on me!” have one
volunteer from each group come up to the whiteboard and write it. The students are now
prepared to take the quiz to assess mastery of the learning objective.

Differentiated Assessment:

There are four different quizzes: General Education, EL learners, LD learners, and Gifted. Any
student who scores in the “Unacceptable range” will be required to meet with me for a review
session and then a chance to re-take the quiz. The quiz is worth 20 points and they have 10
minutes to complete it independently without any notes.

EL: Differentiation is in highlighted in yellow to make language more simplified

LD: Two questions are eliminated, grading scale is different, and have 15 minutes to complete
the quiz (instead of 10 minutes)

Gifted: Some questions require higher level critical thinking skills (highlighted in blue)

Butterfly Life Cycle Mini Quiz

Name:_(1 point!!)_______________________________________________________________

1. The butterfly begins its life as a(n) (2 points)

a. Pupa
b. Baby
c. Egg
d. Caterpillar

2. The butterfly ____ spends most of its time eating, digesting its food, and growing.
(2 points)
a. Larva
b. Egg
c. Pupa
d. Adult

3. What is a synonym for caterpillar? (2 points)

a. Butterfly
b. Worm
c. Pupa
d. Larva

4. Which of the following goes through a life cycle? (2 points)

a. Butterflies
b. Plants
c. Humans
d. All of the above

5. The butterfly neither feeds nor moves during the… (2 points)

a. Pupal stage
b. Larva stage
c. Adult stage
d. All four stages

6. What is another name for the cocoon? (3 points)

a. Butterfly
b. Shell
c. Caterpillar
d. Chrysalis

7. A process that butterflies go through to become adults (hint: It involves a series of

physical changes!) (3 points)
a. Growing up
b. Metamorphosis
 c. Chrysalis
d. Transformation

8. What is the correct order of the life cycle of a butterfly? (3 points)

a. Egg, larva, pupa, adult
b. Egg, baby, cocoon, adult
c. Adult, pupa, larva, egg
d. Egg, worm, adult, flower

Grade Scale:

Target: 20-18 pts. Acceptable: 17-15 pts. Unacceptable: 14-below

Butterfly Life Cycle Mini Quiz (EL)

Name:_(1 point!!)_______________________________________________________________
1. The butterfly begins its life as a(n) (2 points) What does a butterfly start as? (Think, we
start as babies)

a. Pupa
b. Baby
c. Egg
d. Caterpillar

2. The butterfly ____ spends most of its time eating, digesting its food, and growing.
(2 points) What stage does the butterfly spend a lot of time eating and growing (getting
big)?
a. Larva
b. Egg
c. Pupa
d. Adult

3. What is a synonym for caterpillar? (2 points) Remember: synonym=same. What is

another word for caterpillar?
a. Butterfly
b. Worm
c. Pupa
d. Larva

4. Which of the following goes through a life cycle? (2 points) What has a life cycle?
a. Butterflies
b. Plants
c. Humans
d. All of the above

5. The butterfly neither feeds nor moves during the… (2 points) The butterfly does not eat
or move during what stage?
a. Pupal stage
b. Larva stage
c. Adult stage
d. All four stages

6. What is another name for the cocoon? (3 points)

a. Butterfly
b. Shell
c. Caterpillar
d. Chrysalis
7. A process that butterflies go through to become adults (hint: It involves a series of
physical changes!) (3 points) Another name for a butterfly’s life cycle
a. Growing up
b. Metamorphosis
c. Chrysalis
d. Transformation

8. What is the correct order of the life cycle of a butterfly? (3 points) From beginning to end
a. Egg, larva, pupa, adult
b. Egg, baby, cocoon, adult
c. Adult, pupa, larva, egg
d. Egg, worm, adult, flower

Grade Scale:

Target: 20-18 pts. Acceptable: 17-15 pts. Unacceptable: 14-below

Butterfly Life Cycle Mini Quiz (LD)

Name:_(1 point!!)_______________________________________________________________

1. The butterfly begins its life as a(n) (3 points)

a. Pupa
b. Baby
c. Egg
d. Caterpillar

2. What is a synonym for caterpillar? (3 points)

a. Butterfly
b. Worm
c. Pupa
d. Larva

3. Which of the following goes through a life cycle? (3 points)

a. Butterflies
b. Plants
c. Humans
d. All of the above

4. The butterfly neither feeds nor moves during the… (3 points)

a. Pupal stage
b. Larva stage
c. Adult stage
d. All four stages

5. A process that butterflies go through to become adults (hint: It involves a series of

physical changes!) (3 points)
a. Growing up
b. Metamorphosis
c. Chrysalis
d. Transformation

6. What is the correct order of the life cycle of a butterfly? (4 points)

a. Egg, larva, pupa, adult
b. Egg, baby, cocoon, adult
c. Adult, pupa, larva, egg
d. Egg, worm, adult, flower
Grade Scale:

Target: 20-17pts. Acceptable: 16-12 pts. Unacceptable: 11-below

Butterfly Life Cycle Mini Quiz (Gifted)

Name:_(1 point!!)_______________________________________________________________

1. ______ are laid on plants by the adult female butterfly. These plants will then become
food for the hatching ______. (2 points)
a. Pupas, caterpillar
b. Babies, butterfly
c. Eggs, caterpillar
d. Seeds, caterpillar

2. The butterfly ____ spends most of its time eating, digesting its food, and growing.
(2 points)
a. Larva
b. Egg
c. Pupa
d. Adult

3. What is a synonym for caterpillar? (2 points)

a. Butterfly
b. Worm
c. Pupa
d. Larva

4. Which of the following has a life cycle the most similar to a butterfly? (2 points)
a. Humans
b. Plants
c. Fish
d. Beetles

5. Pupas are often camouflaged to.. (2 points)

a. Look beautiful on a tree
b. Match the color of the larva
c. Hide from predators
d. Attract mates
6. A quiescent (inactivity or dormancy) insect pupa, especially of a butterfly or moth. (3
points)
a. Butterfly
b. Shell
c. Caterpillar
d. Chrysalis

7. The process of transformation from an immature form to an adult in two or more distinct
stages (3 points)
a. Growing up
b. Metamorphosis
c. Chrysalis
d. Transformation

8. What is the correct order of the life cycle of a butterfly? (3 points)

a. Egg, larva, pupa, adult
b. Egg, baby, cocoon, adult
c. Adult, pupa, larva, egg
d. Egg, worm, adult, flower

Grade Scale:

Target: 20-18 pts. Acceptable: 17-15 pts. Unacceptable: 14-below

 Works Cited

American Museum of Natural History. (n.d.). Butterfly Metamorphosis.

https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/butterflies/metamorphosis

ClickView. (2017, September 27). The Life Cycle of a Butterfly-Science for Kids [Video].

Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kZD6rlSLUw

National Geographic. (2010, October 15). Butterfly: A Life/ National Geographic [Video].

Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVm5k99PnBk