New
New
Year 5

Comparing the life cycles of amphibians and insects

I can describe the differences in the life cycles of amphibians and insects.

New
New
Year 5

Comparing the life cycles of amphibians and insects

I can describe the differences in the life cycles of amphibians and insects.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Different life cycles can be compared to find similarities and differences
  2. Amphibians and insects have some similarities and some differences in their life cycles
  3. Differences in life cycles can be communicated using different types of scientific diagrams

Keywords

  • Life cycle - A life cycle is the way in which a living thing changes as it ages.

  • Amphibian - An amphibian is a cold-blooded animal that has moist skin, lays eggs and can live on land and in water.

  • Insect - An insect is an invertebrate animal that has antennae, six legs and a body divided into segments.

  • Similarity - A similarity is something two objects have in common.

  • Difference - A difference between two objects or things is something that is not similar or the same about them.

Common misconception

Pupils may think that metamorphosis of an animal is the result of evolution.

Explain that metamorphosis is the change in form of a single animal; it’s still the same animal after metamorphosis.

This lesson includes the opportunity for some drama. Encourage children to really get into role as either insects or amphibians and encourage them to use the keywords when talking about their life cycles.
Teacher tip

Equipment

None needed

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
The stages an animal goes through as it ages is called its life .
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: cycle
Q2.
What is the scientific term for an animal in the final stage of its life cycle?
An image in a quiz
adolescent
grown up
larva
Correct answer: adult
Q3.
Which of these words means an animal making more animals?
An image in a quiz
Recreate
Correct answer: Reproduce
Repeat
Q4.
Match the animal type to its classification.
Correct Answer:Amphibians,Vertebrates

Vertebrates

Correct Answer:Insects,Invertebrates

Invertebrates

Q5.
Amphibians lay jelly-like , called spawn, in the water.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: eggs, egg
Q6.
Which of these is not a characteristic of insects?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: Eight jointed legs
Segmented body in three parts
Pair of antennae
Exoskeleton

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the animal to its life cycle.
Correct Answer:Amphibian,spawn (egg), larva, larva with legs, adult

spawn (egg), larva, larva with legs, adult

Correct Answer:Insect,egg, larva, pupa, adult

egg, larva, pupa, adult

Q2.
We can use scientific diagrams to compare and differences.
Correct Answer: similarities, similarity, same
Q3.
Which of these diagrams would we use to compare the similarities and differences of two things?
Life cycle diagram
Labelled diagram
Correct answer: Venn diagram
Q4.
What information goes in the middle of a Venn diagram, where the circles overlap?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: Similarities between two objects.
Differences between two objects.
Things that neither object has.
Q5.
Which stage does not appear in both insect and amphibian life cycles?
Egg
Larva
Correct answer: Pupa
Adult
Q6.
What is the name for the life cycle stage at which both insects and amphibians can reproduce?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: adult