The Life Cycle of a Butterfly

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The Life Cycle of a Butterfly
By Robin Roberts Second Grade
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NCSCS Science Objectives 1.01 Describe the
life cycle of animals including
birth, developing into an adult,
reproducing, aging and death. 1.03
Observe the different stages of an insects
life cycle.
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Essential Question How do butterflies change
as they grow?
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Little Butterflies Beautiful, little
butterflies Flying all around, Sailing through
gardens Without a sound, Fly, little
butterflies Around the flowers bright, Sipping
sweet nectar Such butterfly delight! Quiet wings
of color I could watch you all day. Fly, little
butterfly I know you cant stay. Spread your
wings For your garden flight. Then rest, little
butterfly All through the night.
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Butterflies are one of the most beautiful insects
on earth. They fly quietly and gracefully from
flower to flower drinking nectar. They are
beautiful to watch!
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Have you ever wondered where butterflies come
from? Baby butterflies do not look like their
parents. They change in four growth stages.
These four stages make up the life cycle of a
butterfly. What are these stages and what
happens during each one?
1.
2.
3.
4.
?
?
?
?
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Lets take a look at each stage in the life cycle
of a butterfly.
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Stage 1 The Egg
A female butterfly lays an egg on a plant. She
lays the egg safely on the underside of a leaf.
The tiny egg hatches in about five days.
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Stage 2 The Caterpillar
The egg hatches and out comes the larva, or
caterpillar. At first, the caterpillar is so
small it can hardly be seen.
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The caterpillar is very hungry. It eats and
eats. As it eats, the caterpillar grows and
grows. It grows so large, the skin splits and is
shed. A new skin in underneath.
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The hungry caterpillar eats, grows, and sheds its
skin four or five times! The caterpillar is much
larger and is ready for a change.
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Stage 3 The Chrysallis
When the caterpillar is fully grown, it makes a
silky patch on a leaf or twig. Then it attaches
itself to the patch. The caterpillars skin
splits one more time. It begins to form a hard
outer shell called a chrysallis.
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The caterpillar rests safely inside the
chrysallis.
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The chrysallis stage lasts 10 to 14 days. In the
beginning, the chyrsallis is a milky green color.
Over time, it becomes clear, or transparent.
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During this stage, changes occur inside the
chrysallis. Wings, legs, and a body are formed.
The caterpillar is changed into a butterfly!
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Stage 4 The Adult
The chrysallis splits open and a butterfly
emerges.
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At first, the new butterfly cant fly because its
wings are too wet. It sits and waits until its
wings are dry.
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Now the adult butterfly is ready to spread its
wings and fly away. A new butterfly has been
created!
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Life Cycle of the Butterfly
egg
caterpillar
butterfly
chrysalis
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Can you put each stage in the butterflys life
cycle in order?
1.
2.
4.
3.
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Birth of a Butterfly Tune Hush Little
Baby Mama butterfly lays all her eggs, Out pops
a caterpillar, crawling on its legs. The
caterpillar first is rather thin, But then it
eats till it bursts through its skin. After
growing nice and big, The caterpillar climbs on a
leaf or twig. It makes a chrysalis and hangs
inside. The chrysalis cracks and the parts
divide. Inside the chrysalis change was going
on. The form of the caterpillar now is gone.The
chrysalis opens, what comes out? A beautiful
butterfly fluttering about!