Animal Life Cycles

Animal life cycles give children an incredible opportunity to see both patterns and differences across the animal kingdom. In this nature-based science curriculum, 1st–8th graders will learn how animals grow and change through predictable stages while comparing the life cycles of several major animal groups.

Students begin by learning what a cycle is and how cycles are used in science. From there, each lesson focuses on a particular animal group:

• mammals
• fish
• birds
• reptiles
• amphibians
• arthropods

Throughout the study, children will compare life-cycle stages, notice similarities among animals within the same group, and recognize important differences between animal groups. The final lesson takes a closer look at metamorphosis, including complete and incomplete metamorphosis in insects.

There is plenty of real science here! Students will become comfortable with vocabulary such as vertebrate, invertebrate, exoskeleton, ectothermic, endothermic, oviparous, spawn, larva, nymph, and metamorphosis.

Those may sound like big words for younger students, but the lessons are designed so children across the 1st–8th grade range can understand the concepts at their own levels. Approachable reading, carefully selected videos, meaningful nature journaling, simple activities, research opportunities, and nature walks help children make sense of what they are learning and apply it to real animals.

This guide also includes an optional project that builds over six lessons and ends with a student presentation. It gives children an opportunity to pull together what they have learned and demonstrate just how much they understand about animal life cycles.

As with all Nature Study Made Easy curriculum guides, you can use as much or as little as works for your family. Complete a lesson at a time for a shorter study, or spread the activities out and easily turn the curriculum into eight weeks or more of science.

Along the way, your children can create nature journal pages, complete kid-friendly research, head outside for nature walks, and practice using their new knowledge as they observe animals in real life.

✏️ Do you need to see how this curriculum aligns with standards? Download the standards alignment sheet here.

Note: This is a digital product. Nothing will be shipped.

• 34 pages
• Digital curriculum
• Appropriate for black-and-white printing
• Printing is not necessary
• Content suitable for charter schools