Create cards for each student with the four life cycle stages of the butterfly. The cards should have images and lines at the bottom for students to write labels. Provide each child with a large piece of construction paper with the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 across the top. Students should begin by identifying and labeling each stage on the cards: egg, caterpillar (larva), chrysalis (pupa) and butterfly.
Students should determine the order of the stages. When they feel certain they have the cards in the correct order, they should use a glue stick to attach them to the construction paper under the appropriate life cycle stage numbers.
Underneath each card, students should write a couple of sentences describing the life cycle stage. Teachers can draw lines or attach index cards across the bottom of the construction paper ahead of time if needed. On the lines, students should write descriptions like: "The caterpillar (or larva) usually has a striped pattern. During this stage, the caterpillar eats, grows and sheds its skin multiple times." For the chrysalis stage, a student might write: "The chrysalis (or pupa) is the 10-day metamorphosis stage. The caterpillar creates a cocoon and changes into a butterfly." Students should be able to note how long the butterfly spends in each stage of the life cycle.
Students can color in the images after all information is complete. The teacher should instruct class members to color the pictures in realistic colors to show they understand what each stage actually looks like in nature.