Science: Life Science

As a result of the activities in grades K-4, all students should develop an understanding of the life cycle of organisms.

As a result of the activities in grades 5-8, all students should develop an understanding of:

• the structure and function in living things.
• reproduction and heredity.
• regulation and behavior.
• diversity and adaptations of organisms.

Source:National Science Education Standards

This interactive booklet allows students to manipulate pages and visualize stages of butterfly metamorphosis. Specifically, students fold and unfold the booklet to find facts and illustrations regarding two stages of insect development. Students see the butterfly transform before them and explore characteristics at stages of the life cycle. As an extended activity, the teacher can assign students to die-cut or draw the egg and larva stages in place of the cocoon picture and the chrysalis and adult stages in place of the butterfly picture.

Figure A

Figure B

Figure C

Figure D

Figure E

Figure F

Figure G

Figure H

Figure I

Figure J

Supplies Used: Construction Paper, Crayons, Glue, Paper Cutter, Pencils (Colored), Pens (Marking), Scissors, Tape (Double-Sided)

The teacher will die-cut the materials for student use prior to the lesson.

1. Using white or light colored cardstock or construction paper die-cut the XL Woven Booklet and the two strips.
2. Lay the Booklet lengthwise so the slits are running horizontally and the perforated lines run vertically. Weave one of the strips OVER the first section of the Booklet, UNDER the center section, and OVER the third section. Push this to one side (Figure A).
3. Weave the second strip UNDER the first section of the Booklet, OVER the center, and UNDER the third section in the remaining space.
4. Accordion fold the Booklet page, creating a front and back cover with the woven pages in the center (Figure B).
5. Pull the cover and the back in opposite directions to create a full page with areas for writing on both sides and use the woven center for the first picture. Using the Booklet to explain Metamorphosis, the open woven section would depict the cocoon or chrysalis (Figure C).
6. Accordion fold the Booklet again. Reach inside and separate the two woven strips (Figure D) and open to reveal the second picture area (Figure E). Using the Booklet to explain Metamorphosis, the second section would depict the adult butterfly.
   
7. Students may draw one picture on the open center and then separate the woven strips to draw a second hidden picture. Students may also use die-cuts to create the pictures.

If using die-cuts to create the cocoon or butterfly picture, cut the center section of the Woven Booklet from blue construction paper for the picture background and follow instructions below (Figure F).

Cocoon Picture

1. Die-cut the right side of the XL 3-Part Bare Tree using brown construction paper. Lay the branch over the Booklet and trim at the picture edge perforation lines (Figure G). Adhere Branch to light blue background (Figure C).
   
2. Die-cut the SM Cocoon from two shades of gray paper. Leave one color whole and cut pieces along the perforated lines from the second color to create highlights. Hang the Cocoon from a Branch (Figure C).
   
3. Die-cut two LG Leaves #4 using green paper. Adhere them to the top of the page (see Main Photo). Trim off overlapping edges and highlight with colored pens, if desired.
   
4. Use a paper cutter or scissors to cut inside the perforated lines on either side of the finished Cocoon picture. Also cut along both sides of the center perforation (Figure H). This will make the strips just a little thinner and will enable the Booklet to open and close easily.
   
5. Take the two center sections and adhere them to the appropriate center sections on the fully opened Booklet (Figure I). Open and close the Booklet to make sure they are placed correctly. Cut off any excess paper that is impeding the folding and opening. Now attach the remaining four sections. Again, make sure the Booklet is opening and folding easily. Align the areas touching the center section and cut off any excess at the top or bottom.

Butterfly Picture

1. Die-cut a second center section of the XL Woven Booklet from light blue construction paper (Figure F). Use this as a base for the Butterfly picture.
   
2. Die-cut the right side of the XL 3-Part Bare Tree using brown construction paper. Lay the branch over the Booklet and trim at the picture edge perforation lines (Figure G). Adhere Branch to light blue background (Figure E).
   
3. Die-cut LG Butterfly #4 from yellow and black construction paper. Leave the black Butterfly whole. Cut the body off the yellow Butterfly. Adhere the yellow Butterfly over the black Butterfly (Figure J).
   
4. Die-cut two LG Leaves #4. Adhere them to the top of the page (Figure E).
   
5. Use a paper cutter or scissors to cut inside the perforated lines on either side of the finished Butterfly picture. Also cut along both sides of the center perforation (Figure H). This will make the strips just a little thinner and will enable the Booklet to open and close easily.
   
6. Take the two center sections and adhere them to the appropriate center sections on the center-opened Booklet, the hidden illustration (Figure I). Open and close the Booklet to make sure they are placed correctly. Cut off any excess paper that is impeding the folding and opening. Now attach the remaining four sections. Again, make sure the Booklet is opening and folding easily. Align the areas touching the center section and cut off any excess at the top.