Complete Metamorphosis
Supporting
TEKS Objective
The student is expected to describe the differences between complete and incomplete metamorphosis of insects.
Essential Understanding
The student knows that organisms undergo similar life processes and have structures that help them survive within their environments.
Science Background
Insects – Metamorphosis: Utah Education Network (website) - This site describes complete and incomplete metamorphosis stages and provides photos of the stages in several different species such as crickets, fleas, and mayflies.
Insects – Metamorphosis
Utah Education Network, www.uen.org
Insect: Wikipedia (website) – In depth information on insects including the difference in complete and incomplete metamorphosis and life cycles.
Signature Lesson
Butterflies in Space, An Experiment Aboard the International Space Station: BioEd Online (PDF) - Students raise painted lady butterflies and track their life cycle, compare their data to that collected on butterflies raised on the International Space Station, and describe the differences between complete and incomplete metamorphosis. The free teacher’s guide includes all investigation details and explains how to match flight images from the Butterflies in Space Archive with student data.
- Supporting Lessons
- Extensions
- Assessment Ideas
- Literature Connections
- Related
TEKS - Additional Resources
Supporting Lessons
Life Cycles: Iowa State University Entomology Department (website) - Includes activity on caring for and observing mealworms with optional activities on observing life cycles of other insects.
Life Cycles
Iowa State University Entomology Department, www.ent.iastate.edu
Elaboration Lessons and Extensions
The Monarch Butterfly: Kidzone (website) - This site contain information and photos of the monarch and a link to a page where the butterfly and dragonfly life cycles are compared.
Assessment Ideas
Have students select a specific species of insect and create a life cycle chart showing each stage in the metamorphosis of that insect. The charts should include labels that identify stages and how long the insect takes to pass through each stage.
Literature Connections
Insect Metamorphosis. Goor, Nancy and Goor, Ron (ISBN-13: 978-0689821967)
Insects. DK Publishing (ISBN-13: 978-0789495945)
Metamorphosis: Changing Bodies. Kalman, Bobbie (ISBN-13: 978-0778777137)
Metamorphosis: Nature's Magical Transformations. Silverstein, Alvin (ISBN-13: 978-0486423968)
Metamorphosis. Llamas Ruiz, Andres (ISBN-13: 978-0806993256)
Additional Resources
Metamorphosis: NeoK12 (website) - List of videos showing complete and incomplete metamorphosis.
Metamorphosis
NeoK12, www.neok12.com
Butterflies: Florida Museum of Natural History (PDF) - Detailed Guide with information focusing on butterflies.
Butterflies and Moths
Florida Museum of Natural History, www.flmnh.ufl.edu
TEKS Navigation
Grade 5
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