Butterfly Life Cycle – 3D Model

Click here to download a preview of the Butterfly Life Cycle – 3D Model

Did you know that when your students are developing and using models, they are engaging in the practices of the Science and Engineering Process focused on in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)?

Not only does the NGS Magnified Butterfly Life Cycle 3D Model make use of the NGSS Science and Engineering Process, it also supports the following targeted performance standards from the NGSS:

3-LS1-1. Develop models to describe that organisms have unique and diverse life cycles but all have in common birth, growth, reproduction, and death.
3-LS3-1. Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence that plants and animals have traits inherited from parents and that variation of these traits exists in a group of similar organisms.
Modeling can begin in the earliest grades, with students’ models progressing from concrete “pictures” and/or physical scale models to more abstract representations of relevant relationships in later grades. (NRC Framework, 2012, p. 58)

Along with the model activity, the following is included in this download:

• Background of developing and using models in the science classroom
• Teacher Guide (with colored photos) of building the NGS Magnified models
• Template for optional pocket to hold brochure/model key
• Template for correct sizing of brochure and model key
• Two options for models – one with and one without labels
• A fully labeled Spanish version of this 3D model is also included in this product, making it ideal for bilingual learning or Spanish-speaking students

The following are featured in this model:

• Eggs
• Larva (Caterpillar)
• Pupa (Chrysalis)
• Adult emerging from chrysalis
• Adult butterfly

Related terms: complete metamorphosis, diverse life cycles, series of orderly changes

Materials needed:

• Two pages of cut-outs (three if you want the pocket for the key) - all which are included in this download
• Colored pencils
• Scissors
• Glue