Life Cycles of Florida Insects and Trees

Life Cycles of Florida Insects and Trees Worksheet: Comparing plant and animal life cycles (Grade 4 Florida Science)

Students compare the life cycles of two Florida insects and two Florida trees. The zebra longwing butterfly has complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult), and the lubber grasshopper has incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult). An orange tree makes seeds in fruit; a slash pine makes seeds in cones. The page teaches the idea first, so no prior lesson is needed, and every answer can be found on the page.

What's Inside

• A short teach box on complete and incomplete metamorphosis and on flowering and nonflowering plants
• Part A: butterfly and grasshopper life cycles; circle complete or incomplete
• Part B: orange tree and slash pine life cycles; circle where the seeds form
• A raccoon guide with a question to get students thinking
• An answer key with answers marked in red, plus a short teacher note with what to watch for and a quick real-world activity

How Teachers Use It

Read the short teach box together, then let students work through Part A and Part B on their own or with a partner. It takes 8 to 10 minutes and prints clearly in black and white. The focus skill is comparing the major stages in the life cycles of Florida plants and animals. Florida benchmark: SC.4.L.16.4: Compare and contrast the major stages in the life cycles of Florida plants and animals, such as those that undergo incomplete and complete metamorphosis, and flowering and nonflowering seed-bearing plants.

Why It Works

Picture strips put the life cycles side by side, so students can count the stages. Questions are short circle answers with clear choices, and the reasoning is on the teacher key.