Life Cycles

In this investigative class, student scientists are challenged to use their senses to observe and interact with three live animals to solve the mystery of their connection–metamorphosis! 

Curriculum Standards Supported

Colorado Science Standards

• SC.K.2.1: 5. Students can use the full range of science and engineering practices to make sense of natural phenomena and solve problems that require understanding how individual organisms are configured and how these structures function to support life, growth, behavior and reproduction.  
  • GLE: 1. To live and grow, animals obtain food they need from plants or other animals, and plants need water and light  
• SC.1.2.1: 5. Students can use the full range of science and engineering practices to make sense of natural phenomena and solve problems that require understanding how individual organisms are configured and how these structures function to support life, growth, behavior and reproduction.  
  • GLE: 1. All organisms have external parts that they use to perform daily functions.   
• SC.1.2.2: 7. Students can use the full range of science and engineering practices to make sense of natural phenomena and solve problems that require understanding how genetic and environmental factors influence variation of organisms across generations.  
  • GLE: 2. Young organisms are very much, but not exactly, like their parents, and also resemble other organisms of the same kind.  
• SC.2.2.2: 8. Students can use the full range of science and engineering practices to make sense of natural phenomena and solve problems that require understanding how natural selection drives biological evolution accounting for the unity and diversity of organisms.  
  • GLE: 2. A range of different organisms lives in different places.  
• SC.3.2.1: 5. Students can use the full range of science and engineering practices to make sense of natural phenomena and solve problems that require understanding how individual organisms are configured and how these structures function to support life, growth, behavior and reproduction.  
  • GLE: 1. Organisms have unique and diverse life cycles. 

Next Generation Science Standards

• 1-LS3-1. Make observations to construct an evidence-based account that young plants and animals are like, but not exactly like, their parents 
• 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