Butterfly & Frog Life Cycle Observations

When teaching about butterfly and frog life cycles, there’s no better way for children to grasp the concept then getting to see the process in action! We like to teach these life cycles one after the other. We do this while encouraging our kids to make connections between the different life cycles so that they understand the “big idea” that all living things grow and change. So, if you can actually bring in live butterfly larvae or tadpoles into your classroom that’s an added bonus but it’s not necessary. Our butterfly and frog life cycle units can be used alone or while seeing the process play out live. The following activities will help your students understand this concept while keeping them fully engaged and most importantly, having fun! 

Butterfly Life Cycle Pasta Book

Teach the stages a butterfly goes through using dried pasta! The following pasta shapes are perfect representations for the various stages in a butterflies’ life:

• Orzo – eggs 
• Rotini – caterpillar 
• Shells – pupa 
• Bowtie – adult butterfly 

Add these pasta shapes to the cover of our our life cycle mini book for a fun 3D effect! Next, have students color the pages for each step in the cycle. Finally, staple the book together in the correct order and read it together as a class. 

Life Cycle Observation Journals

If you are observing the life cycle process live, then use our journal pages to track the development of your growing caterpillars and tadpoles. First, print out as many pages as you need per child. Then, have students regularly keep a record of the changes they are seeing. Logging in their observations will help students see just how much change is taking place week to week.

Frog Life Cycle Book Craft 

We have created a life cycle mini book about frogs that students just love to make! First, have your little learners create the mini book by coloring the stages and putting them in the correct order. Staple the book together and place it in the middle of their adult frog template. Next, students can color and decorate their frog. Lastly, display these in your classroom for everyone to see! They really do make the cutest classroom decorations while studying animal life cycles. 

Label the Parts of a Frog and Froggy Tongue Craft 

While teaching the frog life cycle, we also like to go over animal anatomy by having students label the parts of an adult frog. Discuss why each part is important and how it helps the frog survive in the wild. After students complete the labeling activity, you can celebrate a job well done by having them create a frog tongue craft using party blowers! To start, they will color the frog and create a hole near the mouth section. Then, the pink or red party blower should be placed through the hole, and now you have a frog craft that actually showcases how they use their tongues to catch food. We can’t tell you enough how much our students love demonstrating this over and over again! 

Alternatives to using live animals:

1. Have students watch videos that show the life cycle process in detail!

These videos are great because instead of using animation, they use real footage of each stage! The text and vocabulary that is used is also easy enough for children to understand. 

2. Read books together as a class!

Science Vocabulary Readers Set: Life Cycles: Exciting Nonfiction Books That Build Kids’ Vocabularies (Scholastic Science Vocabulary Readers) by Elizabeth Bennett (2013-05-03)

This set is especially great because it not only includes the butterfly and frog life cycles but also plants, ladybugs, chickens and horses! They are super-engaging readers packed with fascinating facts and eye-popping photos! 

3. Use realistic toy models as you learn about the changes an animal goes through during their life cycle.

Mbrain Life Cycle Learning & Education Toys,Montessori Toys Figurines for Frog, Butterfly, Ladybug,Plants Kit,Gift for Girl & Boy for 3 4 5 Year Old

Our students go absolutely wild for realistic looking figures! These model toys are perfect for showing the life cycle of each species and even includes wonderful guide cards. If you’re looking for a set of life cycle cards to use in your class now, download our FREE butterfly and frog sequencing cards.

Ready to begin your own butterfly and frog investigations? We have them all planned and ready for you to get started with your students today! Check out our life cycle activities available in our shop and on TPT.