Vickie Driskell
Science Learning
Center
Grade: 1st
March 18, 2008
a). Theme: Butterfly Life Cycle
b). State
Standards / Benchmarks:
Strand II: Content of Science
Standard II (Life
Science): Understand the properties, structures, and
processes of living things
and the interdependence
of living things and their environment.
K-4 Benchmark
I: Know that living things have diverse forms, structures,
functions, and habitats.
Performance Standard
1 (4): Observe that living organisms (e.g., plants,
animals) have predictable but varied life cycles.
c). Content:
Activity 1:
Take A Look…
Students can pick
up and look at the 4 models of the life cycle.
(Ordered from http://www.insectlore.com)
Activity 2:
Puzzle Fun
The six-sided blocks
allow students to put together a puzzle showing the four stages of the butterfly life cycle. Students are also encouraged
to EXPLORE putting the other five life cycles together. (Ordered from http://www.insectlore.com)
Activity 3: Stages
of the Life Cycle
A small poster to
show the metamorphosis stages of a Monarch Butterfly. Each stage is labeled with a brief facts and descriptions.
(www://httpenchantedlearning.com)
Activity 4:
Life Cycle Wheel
Provided in the
learning center notebook are the supplies needed to make the life cycle wheel. Students can use the life cycle stamps
or draw the four stages of the life cycle. The students should place the stages in the correct order and name them.
(http://teacher.scholastic.com/essonrepro/lessonplans/profbooks/butterwings.pdf)
Activity 5:
Research
For this activity
students had to identify pictures – sorting them into columns. One column represented animals, insects, plants
that go through metamorphosis and the other was for what does not go through metamorphosis. If they did not know which
column to put the picture in they could research most of the pictures from twelve life cycle books on plants and animals that
I put in the center. I provided an answer key in the learning center notebook.
Activity 6: Diagram
The diagram of the
butterfly life cycle identified the metamorphosis of a Monarch Butterfly. Each picture is labeled with the name of the
stage with arrows pointing to the stage that will take place next. ( HYPERLINK "http://www.enchantedlearning.com" http://www.enchantedlearning.com).
Activity 7:
Booklet – Butterfly Life Cycle
This activity is
a booklet that I made from a picture of the four stages of the butterfly life cycle (http://www.butterflysite.com).
I used the picture and scanned it into my computer to make the cover of the book. I then put each picture on a half
a sheet of paper and created a text box that the students could record what they have learned about each stage.
**Learning Center
Library
I went to the Farmington
Library and checked out an assortment of different reading level books on the Butterflies. I also provided twelve life
cycle books from my own collection.
d). Science
Unit: Mrs. Sapp’s first grade students started
the life cycle unit this week. The teacher was very excited for me to bring in my learning center since it would reinforce
what the students were learning. There reading lesson was also on butterflies so if fit perfectly into the curriculum
for the week.
e). Materials
models of the four
stages of the butterfly life cycle.
six-sided block
puzzle.
pre-cut cardstock
circles, braids, life cycle stamps, stamp pads, crayons, map colors.
Diagram of the four
stages of the butterfly life cycle.
Variety of pictures
to use for sorting on the resource card.
Booklet –
pre-made for “What I have learned about…”
Library books
Science board to
display learning center activities.
f). Management
When I took the learning center to the classroom, I explained
each of the activities to her.
The teacher said she let different groups go to the learning center each day. Mrs. Sapp said
she would introduce the students to the center and tell them the order to do the activities. I
made a rubric with each students name and each activity. I asked Mrs. Sapp to have the
students put a star sticker that I provided by the activities they completed.
I think the center will be easy to manage. I included a learning notebook that held all the
supplies and answer key to the activity. I also provided an example of the life cycle wheel
on the science center board so the student could see how to put it together.
When I picked the center up, Mrs. Sapp did say that she had to do some advising on the life
Cycle wheel because the students were using the stamps and having a great time stamping
everything. She said she told them to look at the example of what they were to be doing.
g). Resources:
French, Vivian.
(1993). Caterpillar, caterpillar, Cambridge, Massachuetts.
Frost, Helen. (1999).
Butterfly eggs. Mankato, Minnesota: Capstone Press.
Gibbons, Gail (1989).
Monarch butterfly, NY: Holiday House.
Lerner, Carol. (2002).
Butterflies in the garden, Hong Kong: Harper Collins Publishers.
Neye, Emily. (2000).
Butterflies. NY: Grossett & Dunlap.
Norsgaard, Jaediker.
(1996). Butterflies, butterfly magic for kids, Milwaukee, Wisconsin:
Garreth Stevens Publishing.
Owen, Oliver. (1994).
Lifewatch, the mystery of nature: Caterpillar to butterfly,
Edina, Minnesota: Abdo
& Daughters.
Schwartz, David
M. (1999) Life cycles: Bean; Chicken; Fighting Fish, Green Snake; Horse;
Hummingbird; Jumping spider;
Lady bug; Maple tree; Monarch butterfly; Sunflower;
Wood frog. Hunting Beach,
CA: Creative Teaching Press.
