Stages of the Butterfliy's Life Cycle

VITAL INFORMATION
Subject(s):
Art, Elementary, English Language Arts, Library/Information Sciences, Science, Technology
Topic or Unit of Study:
Life Cycle of the Butterfly
Grade/Level:
4
Objective:
Students will be able to design a multimedia slide show presentation displaying the stages of a butterfly's life cycle and present their final product. Students will be able to learn the basics of using presentation software such as Power Point.
Summary:
In groups of two, the students will create a power point presentation displaying their knowledge on the stages of the butterfly's life cycle. The students will create each slide to explain in detail and show the individual stages in an interesting and colorful way. Then the students will present their slide shows to the class.
IMPLEMENTATION
Learning Context:
Students have been studying an entire unit on the stages of the butterfly's life cycle and have prior knowledge on the topic in creating their slide shows. Students are familiar with power point presentations and using basic computer operations. Students are able to write descriptive paragraphs, include facts and details for focus and to make narrative presentations.
Procedure:
Students have prior knowledge about the life cycle of a butterfly and are able to research books, the Internet and use their notes as resources. Students are provided step-by-step instructions that explain the requirements in completing the Power Point assignment.
1) A minimum of 6 slides are required and your group
may add more if needed.
2) Slides must include text explaining each stage of
the butterfly's life cycle.
3) The slide must include at least one picture/graphic
that relates to the topic.
4) At least 2 slides must display an animated graphic
or text.

Slide 1:
Introduction Slide. On this slide you list your title, presenter's names and date.

Slide 2:
First stage of the butterfly's life cycle. Paint a picture of what occurs at this stage. Find an appropriate graphic or design to illustrate the stage.

Slide 3:
Second stage of the butterfly's life cycle. Explain what is occurring during this stage and include a graphic that gives the viewer a visual of this stage.

Slide 4:
Third stage of the butterfly's life cycle. The viewer needs to know what is happening at this stage and how long this process has been happening. Add a graphic!

Slide 5:
Fourth stage of the butterfly's life cycle. This is the final stage and you should explain what the butterfly has under gone to emerge into such a beautiful insect.

Slide 6:
This slide is to wrap up all four stages and explain the migration process of a butterfly. Add some graphics to give your viewer a visual of the migration process.
Sample Student Products:
 
Collaboration:
Students will work collaboratively & individually. Students will work in groups of 2.

Time Allotment:
6 class periods. 50 Min. per class.
Author's Comments & Reflections:
This lesson has not been tested in the classroom.
MATERIALS AND RESOURCES
Instructional Materials:
Butterfly Venn Diagram
Links:
 1. Life Cycle
 2. Stages and Pictures
 3. Life Cycle of a Butterfly
Resources:
  • Students will be working in groups of 2.
  • The number of computers required is 1 per 2 students.
  • Technology resources:
    Kid Pix, Netscape, Paint, PowerPoint, WordPerfect
  • Materials and resources:
    During the first class session the teacher will review how to use the software before the project begins.
  • Students Familiarity with Software Tool:
    Students are familiar with power point presentation, how to access and use the internet to research for information, how to insert photos from the internet and are able to create a picture using Kid Pix.


    •
STANDARDS & ASSESSMENT
Standards:
CA- California K-12 Academic Content Standards
• Subject : English Language Arts
• Grade : Grade Four
• Area : Writing
• Standard 1.0: Writing Strategies
Students write clear, coherent sentences and paragraphs that develop a central idea. Their writing shows they consider the audience and purpose. Students progress through the stages of the writing process (e.g., prewriting, drafting, revising, editing successive versions).
• Concept : Research and Technology
 Benchmark or Example 1.7: Use various reference materials (e.g., dictionary, thesaurus, card catalog, encyclopedia, online information) as an aid to writing.
 Benchmark or Example 1.8: Understand the organization of almanacs, newspapers, and periodicals and how to use those print materials.
 Benchmark or Example 1.9: Demonstrate basic keyboarding skills and familiarity with computer terminology (e.g., cursor, software, memory, disk drive, hard drive).
• Standard 2.0: Writing Applications (Genres and Their Characteristics)
Students write compositions that describe and explain familiar objects, events, and experiences. Student writing demonstrates a command of standard American English and the drafting, research, and organizational strategies outlined in Writing Standard 1.0.
• Concept : Using the writing strategies of grade four outlined in Writing Standard 1.0, students:
 Benchmark or Example 2.1: Write narratives:
a. Relate ideas, observations, or recollections of an event or experience. b. Provide a context to enable the reader to imagine the world of the event or experience. c. Use concrete sensory details. d. Provide insight into why the selected event or experience is memorable.
 Benchmark or Example 2.3: Write information reports:
a. Frame a central question about an issue or situation. b. Include facts and details for focus. c. Draw from more than one source of information (e.g., speakers, books, newspapers, other media sources).
 Benchmark or Example 2.4 : Write summaries that contain the main ideas of the reading selection and the most significant details.
• Area : Listening And Speaking
• Standard 2.0: Speaking Applications (Genres and Their Characteristics)
Students deliver brief recitations and oral presentations about familiar experiences or interests that are organized around a coherent thesis statement. Student speaking dem-onstrates a command of standard American English and the organizational and delivery strategies outlined in Listening and Speaking Standard 1.0.
• Concept : Using the speaking strategies of grade four outlined in Listening and Speaking Standard 1.0, students:
 Benchmark or Example 2.1: Make narrative presentations: a. Relate ideas, observations, or recollections about an event or experience. b. Provide a context that enables the listener to imagine the circumstances of the event or experience. c. Provide insight into why the selected event or experience is memorable.
 Benchmark or Example 2.3: Deliver oral summaries of articles and books that contain the main ideas of the event or article and the most significant details.
• Subject : Science
• Grade : Grade Four
• Area : Life Sciences
• Standard 3: Living organisms depend on one another and on their environment for survival. As a basis for understanding this concept:
 Benchmark or Example b: Students know that in any particular environment, some kinds of plants and animals survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.
 Benchmark or Example c: Students know many plants depend on animals for pollination and seed dispersal, and animals depend on plants for food and shelter.
• Area : Investigation and Experimentation
• Standard 6: Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations. As a basis for understanding this concept and addressing the content in the other three strands, students should develop their own questions and perform investigations. Students will:
 Benchmark or Example a: Differentiate observation from inference (interpretation) and know scientists’ explanations come partly from what they observe and partly from how they interpret their observations.
 Benchmark or Example c: Formulate and justify predictions based on cause-and-effect relationships.

CA- CCTC: Technology Proficiencies
• Content Specification : Basic Computer Operations, Concepts, and Issues
 Proficiency 1: Hardware/Software
Assessment Plan:
Students will be assessed on their completed slide show and the presentation of their material.
Rubrics:
Power Point