Students learn how animal babies grow and develop from eggs. Students learn what animal babies already know when they are born or hatched and what they learn as they grow. Students learn about the life cycles of fishes, frogs, and some mammals. Students learn about the life cycles of spiders and insects. By the end of fourth grade, students will develop an understanding of the life cycles of living things.
Students record how the mealworm's appearance changes as it enters the pupa stage.
After adult beetles emerge from pupal cases, students compare three stages of its life cycle. The egg stage is not observed because the eggs are difficult to see. Students will complete Lab Manual pages 9-10 as they do the activity. Students observe the shell, yolk, and egg white of a hard-boiled egg and compare and contrast it with a raw egg. Students will complete Lab Manual pages 7-8 as they do the activity.