CPALMS Logo Generated on 9/16/2025 at 10:58 AM
The webpage this document was printed/exported from can be found at the following URL:
https://www.cpalms.org/PreviewAccessPoint/Preview/7622
Observe and recognize the major stages in the life cycles of plants and animals.
Access Point #: SC.2.L.16.In.1
Access Point Standards

Visit the specific benchmark webpage to find related instructional resources.

  • SC.2.L.16.1: Observe and describe major stages in the life cycles of plants and animals, including beans and butterflies.
Access Point Information
Number:
SC.2.L.16.In.1
Category:
Independent
Date Adopted or Revised:
02/08
Big Idea:
Heredity and Reproduction : 

A. Offspring of plants and animals are similar to, but not exactly like, their parents or each other.

B. Life cycles vary among organisms, but reproduction is a major stage in the life cycle of all organisms.

Access Point Courses
Access Point Resources
Lesson Plans
  • Butterfly Life Cycle:In this lesson, students will explore the life cycle of the butterfly through different centers and observation of a living butterfly going through its life cycle.

  • Exploring Plants:Students will be introduced to the study of plants in this lesson. First they will sprout bean seeds on moistened paper towels, then make drawings and measurements of their growth. They will watch time-lapse videos that illustrate a plant's major growth stages. Another clip covers fruits and asks students to consider how their seeds are spread. They will gather seeds by walking outside with an old sock over one of their shoes, then plant their sock to observe the resulting plants.
  • Life Cycles of Frogs, Dragonflies, and Butterflies:This lesson can be used to extend students' understanding of the life cycles of organisms by comparing and contrasting them. Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar will be read first, then students will watch a video that studies the developmental stages of frogs, dragonflies, and butterflies. Insect and frog life cycles will be compared to one another, then they will be compared to the stages of human development.
  • The Plant Life Cycle (using lima beans):In this lesson, students observe the life cycle of a lima bean.

Presentation/Slideshow
  • Where Do Butterflies Come From?:This is an accessible, easy-to-read book about the life cycle of a butterfly. It can be downloaded in PowerPoint, Impress, or Flash format. For struggling or non-readers, the book can be read to the in a variety of voices. All of the books on the Tar Heel Reader site can be used with the Intellikeys keyboard and a custom overlay, a touch screen, and/or 1-3 switches. The text and background colors can be modified for students with visual impairments.