Science Insects & Minibeasts Conceptual 7–9 yrs

Insect life cycles: complete metamorphosis

昆虫生命周期：完全变态

Description

Insect life cycles — complete metamorphosis in detail. Egg → larva → pupa → adult. The larva (caterpillar, grub, maggot) looks completely different from the adult. Inside the pupa the body is rebuilt. Butterflies, beetles, flies, and ladybirds all undergo complete metamorphosis.

Mastery Evidence

✓ Name the four stages of complete metamorphosis using the correct terms: egg, larva, pupa, adult
✓ Explain that the larva stage is when the insect eats and grows, and the pupa stage is when its body transforms
✓ Give at least two examples of insects that undergo complete metamorphosis such as butterflies and beetles

Assessment Prompt

Can your child explain the full life cycle of a beetle or butterfly using the proper words — egg, larva, pupa, adult — and tell you what happens at each stage?