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Science lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 60 minutes

Metamorphosis: complete, incomplete or none?

Animals and habitats

CCSS NGSS.3-LS1-1England: KS2 Y5 Living things and their habitats

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Metamorphosis: complete, incomplete or none?.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Animal life cycles

Leads to: Compare life cycles: mammals, birds, amphibians and insects

Materials: Animal picture cards, Habitat maps, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 6 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Animal life cycles). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. In the life cycle of a ladybird (ladybug), what comes straight after "larva"? (egg / pupa / adult ladybird) → pupaPrompt: Picture the animal growing up step by step.
  2. What is metamorphosis? (an animal moving to a new habitat / an animal laying eggs / a big change in body shape as an animal grows up / an animal eating plants) → a big change in body shape as an animal grows upPrompt: Think of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly.
  3. In the life cycle of a butterfly, what comes straight after "chrysalis (pupa)"? (adult butterfly / egg / caterpillar (larva)) → adult butterflyPrompt: The caterpillar makes a hard case before it changes.

Hook · 6 min

  • Show a picture of an unusual animal and ask where it might live and how it survives there.
  • Share the objective: Metamorphosis: complete, incomplete or none?. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 12 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: What kind of life cycle does this animal have: dog?
  • Step 1: The young simply grow bigger.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: no metamorphosis (young look like small adults)
  • Answer: no metamorphosis (young look like small adults)
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 12 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. What kind of life cycle does this animal have: human? (complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult) / incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) / no metamorphosis (young look like small adults)) → no metamorphosis (young look like small adults)Prompt: Does the young animal look like the adult?
  2. True or false? Frogs also go through metamorphosis, from tadpole to adult. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Does the young animal look like the adult, or totally different?

You do: independent practice · 17 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 7 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. What kind of life cycle does this animal have: snake? (complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult) / incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) / no metamorphosis (young look like small adults)) → no metamorphosis (young look like small adults)Prompt: Does the young animal look like the adult?
  2. True or false? Frogs also go through metamorphosis, from tadpole to adult. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Does the young animal look like the adult, or totally different?

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Animal life cycles.
  • Use concrete materials: animal picture cards.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Compare life cycles: mammals, birds, amphibians and insects.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-3.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Metamorphosis: complete, incomplete or none?

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    What kind of life cycle does this animal have: beetle?

    • A. complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult)
    • B. incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult)
    • C. no metamorphosis (young look like small adults)

  2. Question 2

    True or false? All insects have a pupa stage.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  3. Question 3

    True or false? Dogs go through metamorphosis.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  4. Question 4

    What kind of life cycle does this animal have: snake?

    • A. complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult)
    • B. incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult)
    • C. no metamorphosis (young look like small adults)

  5. Question 5

    What kind of life cycle does this animal have: housefly?

    • A. complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult)
    • B. incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult)
    • C. no metamorphosis (young look like small adults)

  6. Question 6

    True or false? Frogs also go through metamorphosis, from tadpole to adult.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  7. Question 7

    True or false? Grasshopper nymphs look like small adults without wings.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  8. Question 8

    What kind of life cycle does this animal have: cricket?

    • A. complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult)
    • B. incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult)
    • C. no metamorphosis (young look like small adults)

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Answer key: Metamorphosis: complete, incomplete or none?

  1. 1. A. complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult)

  2. 2. B. False

  3. 3. B. False

  4. 4. C. no metamorphosis (young look like small adults)

  5. 5. A. complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult)

  6. 6. A. True

  7. 7. A. True

  8. 8. B. incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult)