Life Cycle Diagrams: Butterfly
Recommended Grade Level:
Type of Resource: PDF
Number of Pages: 10
Coordinating Activities
Butterfly Life Cycle Diagrams
- 4-stage butterfly life cycle diagrams (eggs, caterpillar, pupa and butterfly) in cut-and-paste, label and draw formats
- Color and black and white versions
The diagrams come in a few formats, so kids can cut and paste pictures, label the stages or draw each stage on their own.
Required Materials:
- Paper, printer and ink
- Scissors
- Glue
- Crayons, markers or colored pencils
Standards for Life Cycles and Sequencing
These life cycle diagrams support early learning standards connected to life cycles, sequencing and labeling.
NGSS and Common Core State Standards
- NGSS K-LS1-1: Use observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals (including humans) need to survive. Kids talk about what a butterfly needs as it grows.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.K.2: Use a combination of drawing, dictating and writing to compose informative/explanatory texts in which they name what they are writing about and supply some information about the topic. Kids draw and label each stage of the butterfly life cycle.
Texas Prekindergarten Guidelines and TEKS for Science
- PK4.VI.B.2: Child observes, describes and discusses the life cycles of organisms. Kids put the butterfly life cycle in order.
Virginia Science Standards of Learning
- K.7.b: Plants and animals have life cycles. Kids sequence the butterfly life cycle (eggs, caterpillar, pupa and butterfly).
Butterfly Life Cycle Diagrams give preschool and kindergarten kids hands-on practice putting the stages of the butterfly life cycle in order.
Kids learn the butterfly life cycle (eggs, caterpillar, pupa and butterfly) as they cut, paste, label and draw each stage.
Start with the cut-and-paste diagrams, then move to labeling and drawing as kids learn the stages. The black and white pages let kids color their own diagram.
How to Use Butterfly Life Cycle Diagrams
- Read a book or watch a video about the life cycle.
- Print the diagram that fits each child.
- Kids cut out the pictures or words.
- Kids glue each stage in order and label it.
- Kids tell the life cycle story to a friend.
Small Group: Sequence the stages together and talk about each change.
Science Center: Set out the diagrams during a life cycle unit.
Easy Ways to Differentiate These Life Cycle Diagrams
Every group has a mix of science, fine motor and writing skills. These simple changes keep the activity familiar while meeting each child where they are.
For Children Who Need More Support:
- Start with the 4-stage diagram.
- Pre-cut the pictures.
- Name each stage together.
- Glue one stage at a time.
For On-Level Practice:
- Cut and glue each stage in order.
- Label each stage.
- Color the black and white diagram.
- Tell the life cycle in order.
For an Extra Challenge:
- Use the diagrams with more stages.
- Draw each stage without picture cards.
- Write a sentence about each stage.
- Compare two life cycles.
For Speech, OT, ELL or Special Education Support:
- Name each stage together and give plenty of wait time.
- Accept pointing, gestures, AAC or any communication method the child already uses.
- Cutting and gluing build fine motor strength.
- Use the pictures to build science words.
Butterfly Life Cycle Diagrams Are Perfect For:
- Preschool and pre-K
- Kindergarten
- First grade
- Spring and insect themes
- Science centers
- Small-group instruction
- Special education
- ELL and multilingual learners
- Homeschool
