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Life Science · Life Cycles

Animal & Plant Life Cycles

Build and compare life-cycle models to explain how organisms begin life, grow and change, reproduce, and eventually die while offspring begin a new generation.

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46 min~10 min prep6 materialsNGSS verified · 3-LS1-1

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Lesson overview

What students will learn

  • Develop and use a model to show ordered life-cycle stages and the connection from a reproducing adult to offspring in a new generation.
  • Compare different life cycles and explain the shared pattern of beginning life, growth and change, reproduction, and eventual death across generations.

Key science ideas

  • Organisms begin life, grow, and change.
  • Adults can reproduce, producing offspring that begin a new generation.
  • Individual organisms eventually die, but the life-cycle pattern can continue through offspring.

Lesson at a glance

  • Grade 3
  • 46 min
  • ~10 min prep
  • 3-LS1-1
  • 6 materials

What’s included

  • Lesson Plan
  • Investigation
  • Teacher Slides
  • Printable Worksheet
  • Teacher Answer Key
  • Interactive Activity
  • Vocabulary