This is a lesson plan on the life cycle of butterflies produced through www.lessonwriter.com for the TICs seminar

1. Which words are
the hardest?
Focus on the
tough ones!
Student:
Date:
Class:
Teacher:
THE LIFE CYCLE OF BUTTERFLIES
By: Juan Schiel
Source: https://www.kidsbutterfly.org/life-cycle
Pronunciation: AE
Directions: Practice by saying the word pairs and example sentences, then speak the words from this
reading.
Word Pairs bat-bet, cat-pet, sad-said, rack-wreck, mat-met
Example sentence: That cat spat at Matt.
Examples from this reading: Habitats - Transformation - Attaches -
Vocabulary
Directions: Study the following keywords and definintions.
1. microscopic -(adj) - Very tiny.
2. courtship -(n) - Romantic period before deciding to marry.
3. intended -(v) - Plan to.
4. attaches -(v) - Connect to.
5. mating -(v) - The action of a male and a female to make a baby.
6. broken -(v) - To split something into pieces.
7. undergo -(v) - To go through a process.
8. reproductive -(adj) - Related to making creating new life (i.e., in humans, having babies).
9. formed -(v) - To make something.
10. egg -(n) - The cell in females that takes part in reproduction.
11. habitats -(n) - An area in which a certain species lives.
12. transformation -(n) - A complete change in looks or character of someone or something.
13. completely -(adv) - Totally
Reading
Directions: Read the following passage carefully.
Life Cycle of Butterflies and Moths
As advanced insects, butterflies and moths have a "complete" life cycle. This means that there are four separate stages, each of which
looks completely different and serves a different purpose in the life of the insect.
This is the life cycle of the Monarch (link is external) (Danaus plexippus).
The egg is a tiny, round, oval, or cylindrical object, usually with fine ribs and other microscopic structures. The female attaches the egg
to leaves, stems, or other objects, usually on or near the intended caterpillar food. (Note: photograph is a Snowberry Clearwing egg.)
The caterpillar (or larva) is the long, worm-like stage of the butterfly or moth. It often has an interesting pattern of stripes or patches, and

2. it may have spine-like hairs. It is the feeding and growth stage. As it grows, it sheds its skin four or more times so as to enclose its
rapidly growing body.
The chrysalis (or pupa) is the transformation stage within which the caterpillar tissues are broken down and the adult insect's structures
are formed. The chrysalis of most species is brown or green and blends into the background. Many species overwinter in this stage.
The adult (or imago) is colorful butterfly or moth usually seen. It is the reproductive and mobile stage for the species. The adults undergo
courtship, mating, and egg-laying. The adult butterfly or moth is also the stage that migrates or colonizes new habitats. The butterfly
pictured here is a Monarch, which is fairly large in size. The Monarch's wingspan is 3 3/8 - 4 7/8 inches (8.6 - 12.4 cm).
Adult Anatomy
Comprehension Questions
Directions: Read the following questions and answer each to the best of your ability.
1. Suggest a different title for this text. Why do you think that this would make a good title?
2. What part of the text is hard for you to understand? What do you think it means?
3. Imagine that you are the teacher, what three questions would you ask your students to see if they understood this text?
4. If you could interview the person who wrote this text what two questions would you want to ask? Explain why each question is
important.

3. 5. What connections can you make between the text and other texts, information, or experiences?
Identify 3 important supporting
details that contribute to the
main idea of the passage.
1)
2)
3)
Identify 2 details that are not
very important to the main idea
of the passage.
1)
2)
Write 1 brief paragraph
summarizing the main idea of
the passage. Use the important
details to support your
discussion of the main idea.
Focus on Grammar
The simple present is used in 3 cases.
1. General truths: "The sun rises in the east."
2. Habits: "I drink coffee every morning."
3. Conditions: "Today is sunny."
How is the simple present used in the sentence(s) below?
Directions: Identify how the simple_present is used in the sentence(s) below
1. ( Note:
2. The adults undergo courtship, mating, and egg-laying.
3. It often has an interesting pattern of stripes or patches, and it may have spine-like hairs.
4. As it grows, it sheds its skin four or more times so as to enclose its rapidly growing body.

4. Word Roots & Stems
Rule: The suffix y changes a noun into an adjective, like dirty.
Directions: Identify the word that ends with -y in each sentence and write it on the line.
1. The egg is a tiny, round, oval, or cylindrical object , usually with fine ribs and
Directions: Fill in the blanks below, just as in the models.
salty ____________ ________________________________________________
cuddly (cuddle -e) + y She's a cuddly puppy.
dirty dirt + y Her room is not clean - it's dirty.
sleepy ____________ ________________________________________________
hairy ____________ ________________________________________________
sunny ____________ ________________________________________________
Vocabulary Practice
FILL IN THE BLANK
Directions: Use the word bank to identify the word that best completes the sentence.
microscopiccourtship intendedattachesmating broken
undergo reproductiveformed egg habitatstransformation
completely
1. The house must _______________ a lot of work before we can sell it.
2. They _______________ in spring and their babies are born in summer.
3. There has been a complete _______________ of the garden done.
4. In humans, the _______________ is produced in the ovaries and combines with a sperm to make an embryo that grows into a
baby.
5. She _______________ a note to the report.
6. Their _______________ lasted two years, and then they got married.
7. The coolwaters of the nothern and souther parts of the ocean are the _______________ of the blue whale.
8. The diamond had a _______________ crack in it.
9. Dog owners often have the _______________ organs of their pets removed.
10. They _______________ a team.
11. I am _______________ out of money.
12. He _______________ to sleep late tomorrow.
13. He _______________ his leg skiing.
Vocabulary Practice
MATCHING
Directions: Write the letter of word that matches the definition on the line. If it helps, feel free to
also draw a line between the definition and the matching word.
A. microscopic
B. courtship
C. intended
D. attaches
E. mating
F. broken
G. undergo
H. reproductive
I. formed
J. egg
K. habitats
L. transformation
M. completely

5. 1. _______ To go through a process.
2. _______ The action of a male and a female to make a baby.
3. _______ A complete change in looks or character of someone or something.
4. _______ The cell in females that takes part in reproduction.
5. _______ Connect to.
6. _______ Romantic period before deciding to marry.
7. _______ An area in which a certain species lives.
8. _______ Very tiny.
9. _______ Related to making creating new life (i.e., in humans, having babies).
10. _______ To make something.
11. _______ Totally
12. _______ Plan to.
13. _______ To split something into pieces.
Vocabulary Practice
WRITE YOUR OWN SENTENCES
Directions: For each of the words in the box, write an original sentence using the word. Circle
the vocabulary word in each sentence. Be sure to write a sentence that would help the reader better
understand the meaning of the word.
microscopiccourtship intendedattachesmating broken
undergo reproductiveformed egg habitatstransformation
completely
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

6. 8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.

7. LESSON: THE LIFE CYCLE OF BUTTERFLIES
Grade: 4 | Subject: | Aim: learn about the life cycle of butterflies | Prepared by: Juan Schiel
Objectives:
Students will be able to understand, pronounce, and use the words in the vocabulary list below.
Students will be able to demonstrate comprehension of the passage by answering questions which require basic understanding and
interpretation of the content.
Learn new vocabulary and verbs
Standards addressed:
Vocabulary:
1. microscopic 2. courtship 3. intended 4. attaches 5. mating 6. broken
7. undergo 8. reproductive 9. formed 10. egg 11. habitats 12. transformation
13. completely
Activity Description Differentiation Guide Assessment
Pronunciation Practice: AE Introduce key phoneme
with minimal pairs.
Model and emphasize
pronunciation.
Individual and choral
repetition.
Give students who need extra
help the opportunity to practice
in smaller groups or individually.
Alternate choral and individual
repetition, calling on individual
students at random. Struggling
students may need additional
instruction on how to make new
sounds. Some students may
benefit from being challenged
to think of their own minimal
pair.
ALL Students will be able to
demonstrate an increase in
pronunciation skills by
successfully pronouncing the
new sound during choral or
individual repetition. SOME
students will be able to
recognize and identify the
sound in other words they
know.
Introduction of vocabulary Introduce the new words from
the vocabulary list in above
(see Objectives) by modeling
pronunciation, individual and
choral repitition.
Review defintions
Sample Questioning:
In your own words, explain
the definition.
Who can think of a time
when this word might be
used?
Can you use this word in a
sentence?
What’s the antonym
(opposite) of this word?
When appropriate, give
different types of learners an
opportunity to write down the
new words, associate a visual
image to cue to understanding
of the word, or develop a
physical action to increase the
student’s ability to remember
the new words.
ALL Students will be able to
increase their understanding
and awareness of the new
words.SOME Students will be
asked to orally demonstrate
knowledge of new words.

8. Reading & Comprehension
Questions
Students will read the passages
of the life cycle of butterflies
and demonstrate
comprehension of the content
by question.
Depending on the population:
Read the entire passage aloud,
to model phrasing and fluency.
Pause at key moments and
model good reading strategies
through a think aloud. Ask
students to volunteer to read
parts of the passage aloud.
Instruct students to read the
passage silently and complete
the questions independently,
while working with students who
need more literacy help. Ask
students to complete the
questions by doing Think, Pair,
Share
ALL Students will read the
passage or follow along as the
passage is read. ALL Students
will strive to demonstrate
comprehension of the passage
by answering the questions.
SOME students will be given an
opportunity to share their
answer aloud.
Grammar: Students will review the usage
of and then identify the Simple
Present tense in sentences
from the reading. Students will
write 5 original sentences using
the Simple Present tense.
Give students need time to
work on completing their own
practice sentences with the
Simple Present tense. Invite
early finishers to put their
sentences on the board or
challenge them to use both the
Simple Present tense AND
also include the vocabulary
from the lesson in their
sentences.
ALL Students will be able to
demonstrate an increased
mastery of the Simple
Present tense by
independently writing
sentences that correctly employ
the Simple Present tense.
Word Building: Roots and
Stems
Students will be encouraged to
take away a word-attack
strategy from this lesson by
reviewing True as used in the
reading.
Students may benefit from
having time to complete this
portion of the worksheet
individually or in pairs.
ALL students will be able to
recognize the True and
understand True changes a
noun into an adjective, like
dirty.
Practicing New Vocabulary Students will be given a chance
to practice applying new
vocabulary by completing cloze
sentences.
Students complete this section
of worksheet independently
prior to group review of the
answers. When appropriate,
have students work in pairs or
small groups.
ALL Students will increase their
familiarity with the new
vocabulary and their ability to
successfully use these new
words in context. Students who
get more than two of the cloze
sentences wrong should be
asked do other reinforcement
(i.e. flash cards).
Summary Instructor will review the
objectives of the lesson with the
class a whole.
The summary can be
completed as quick discussion
or by asking student to
summarize in their notes.
Example quick assess: 3 new
pieces of information from text,
2 new words, 1 question about
what they learned.
Fill-in-the-blank Answer Key:
1) undergo 2) mated 3) transformation 4) egg 5) attached 6) courtship 7) habitat 8) microscopic 9) reproductive 10) formed 11) completely 12)
intends 13) broke
Matching Answer Key:
A. 8
B. 6
C. 12
D. 5
E. 2
F. 13
G. 1
H. 9
I. 10
J. 4

9. K. 7
L. 3
M. 11