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Session 12: Life Cycles 🦋

Overview

Grades: 3-4 | Duration: 40 minutes | Session: 12 of 17

Students explore various animal life cycles, discovering patterns in God's design for growth and transformation.

Session 12: Life Cycles

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, students will:

  • Compare different animal life cycles

  • Understand complete and incomplete metamorphosis

  • Create life cycle models

  • Connect transformation to resurrection themes

Session 12: Life Cycles

Materials Needed

  • 📸 Life cycle diagrams (various animals)

  • 🎨 Model creation materials

  • 📓 Engineering journals

  • 🦋 Butterfly specimens or images

Catholic Integration

Saint Connection

Easter Theme — Life cycles remind us of resurrection: death leads to new life, transformation brings glory!

Scripture

"Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." — John 12:24

Opening Prayer

Dear God, you designed life to grow and transform. Thank you for the miracle of life cycles. Help us see your resurrection power in all of creation. Amen.

Lesson Procedure

Opening Circle (6 minutes)

  1. What is a Life Cycle?
  2. "The stages a living thing goes through from birth to death"
  3. Pattern repeats generation after generation
  4. Two Types of Metamorphosis:
  5. Complete: Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult (butterfly)
  6. Incomplete: Egg → Nymph → Adult (grasshopper)
  7. Transformation:
  8. Caterpillar → Butterfly
  9. "Completely different creature!"
  10. Easter Connection:
  11. Death → New life
  12. Old passes away, new comes!

Main Activity: Life Cycle Exploration (26 minutes)

Part 1: Compare Life Cycles (8 minutes)

Complete Metamorphosis:

  • Butterfly: Egg → Caterpillar → Chrysalis → Butterfly

  • Frog: Egg → Tadpole → Froglet → Frog

  • Total transformation!

Incomplete Metamorphosis:

  • Grasshopper: Egg → Nymph (small adult) → Adult

  • Dragonfly: Egg → Nymph → Adult

  • Gradual change!

Other Cycles:

  • Mammal: Birth → Youth → Adult → Parent

  • Bird: Egg → Chick → Adult

  • Fish: Egg → Larva → Adult

Discussion:

  • What patterns do you notice?

  • What's similar? Different?

  • Why do you think God designed these patterns?

Part 2: Create Life Cycle Model (14 minutes)

Choose an Animal:

  • Butterfly (most dramatic)

  • Frog

  • Chicken

  • Or another approved animal

Create Your Model:

  • Options:
  • 3D stages from clay or paper
  • Circular diagram with arrows
  • Flip book showing transformation
  • Digital slideshow

Include:

  • All stages clearly shown

  • Labels for each stage

  • Arrows showing progression

  • Time information if known

Part 3: Share & Compare (4 minutes)

  • Gallery walk or presentations

  • "What did you discover?"

  • Compare different animals

Engineering Journal (5 minutes)

  1. Draw your animal's life cycle (label stages)
  2. Write: "Metamorphosis means..."
  3. Write: "Life cycles show God's design because..."
  4. Write: "This reminds me of Easter because..."

Closing Circle (3 minutes)

  1. Transformation Wonder — "What amazes you about metamorphosis?"
  2. Easter Preview — "How is resurrection like metamorphosis?"
  3. Closing Prayer — "God, thank you for transformation and new life. As Easter approaches, help us be transformed by your love. Amen."

Assessment

Observation Checklist:

  • Compared life cycle types

  • Created accurate life cycle model

  • Explained metamorphosis

  • Connected to resurrection theme

Differentiation

For Students Who Need Support

  • Focus on one animal (butterfly)

  • Template provided

  • Partner work

For Advanced Students

  • Compare multiple animals

  • Research unusual life cycles

  • Create comparison chart

Wonder at Home 🏠

Family Activity: Observe life cycles around you! Watch tadpoles or caterpillars if available. Research animal life cycles online. Discuss: How does transformation connect to our faith journey?

Teacher Notes

  • Consider raising butterflies or tadpoles

  • Great timing before Easter

  • Life cycle kits available online

  • Connect to resurrection celebration

Previous: Session 11 — Lenten Service
Next: Session 13 — Easter Creation