Curricular Lessons
CURRICULAR LESSONS
Life Sciences Activities
For students who are visually impaired in the science classroom:
Life Cycle of Frogs, Dragonflies and Butterflies
Overview
In this lesson, students learn the concept of metamorphosis in an organism’s life cycle by studying the growth and development of butterflies, frogs, and dragonflies.
Objectives
• Understand that all animals have a life cycle that includes being born, developing into an adult, reproducing, and eventually dying
• Understand that the details of life cycles vary from one organism to another and some change form dramatically on in the process of becoming an adult.
• Sequence the four stages of life of a butterfly
Most of the activities detailed in this lesson plan can be done with visually impaired students if teachers adapt them using Resources for Teaching and Adapting Lessons for Students with Visual Impairments. Students should have access to tactile models and overlays of the different stages in the life cycle of frogs, dragonflies and butterflies before viewing the Metamorphosis: Change of Plans video. The Life Stages cards can be used in the sequencing activity if Braille labels are added.
Suggested time
3 one-hour sessions and if possible, a field trip to a butterfly farm
Materials
• Tactile models of the stages of a butterfly, a frog and a dragonfly. Toy sets can be purchased from Insect Lore.
• American Printing House for the Blind science overlays and TTT overlays if available
• Graphic representation of a butterfly’s life cycle
• Materials to represent the different stages of a butterfly’s life cycle: pipe cleaners, toilet paper rolls, small nylon tubes, cotton balls, coffee filters, tissue paper, clothes pins, pom-poms
• Wax strings by Wikki Stix or Klutz
• Table top Lazy Susan or turning device to simulate a cycle
• Tri-wall or heavy cardboard circle to use as the base of the 3-D model (one per student)
• Braille and large print labels
Lesson One Procedure
1. Read
Life Sciences Activities
For students who are visually impaired in the science classroom:
Life Cycle of Frogs, Dragonflies and Butterflies
Overview
In this lesson, students learn the concept of metamorphosis in an organism’s life cycle by studying the growth and development of butterflies, frogs, and dragonflies.
Objectives
• Understand that all animals have a life cycle that includes being born, developing into an adult, reproducing, and eventually dying
• Understand that the details of life cycles vary from one organism to another and some change form dramatically on in the process of becoming an adult.
• Sequence the four stages of life of a butterfly
Most of the activities detailed in this lesson plan can be done with visually impaired students if teachers adapt them using Resources for Teaching and Adapting Lessons for Students with Visual Impairments. Students should have access to tactile models and overlays of the different stages in the life cycle of frogs, dragonflies and butterflies before viewing the Metamorphosis: Change of Plans video. The Life Stages cards can be used in the sequencing activity if Braille labels are added.
Suggested time
3 one-hour sessions and if possible, a field trip to a butterfly farm
Materials
• Tactile models of the stages of a butterfly, a frog and a dragonfly. Toy sets can be purchased from Insect Lore.
• American Printing House for the Blind science overlays and TTT overlays if available
• Graphic representation of a butterfly’s life cycle
• Materials to represent the different stages of a butterfly’s life cycle: pipe cleaners, toilet paper rolls, small nylon tubes, cotton balls, coffee filters, tissue paper, clothes pins, pom-poms
• Wax strings by Wikki Stix or Klutz
• Table top Lazy Susan or turning device to simulate a cycle
• Tri-wall or heavy cardboard circle to use as the base of the 3-D model (one per student)
• Braille and large print labels
Lesson One Procedure
1. Read