The Field Museum
Field Museum: Butterfly and Moth Life Cycle
Information on the stages of development of butterflies and moths accompanied by pictures for further enhancement.
Science4Fun
Science4 Fun: Butterfly
Learn about the appearance, diet, habitat, and other fun facts about this beautiful insect.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Creepy Caterpillars to Beautiful Butterflies
Students will explore the life cycle of a butterfly using a website and observations of caterpillar metamorphosis. This lesson will incorporate science, mathematics, language arts, and art.
SMART Technologies
Smart: Life Cycle of a Butterfly
Students learn about the life cycle of a butterfly and put the stages of a butterfly's life cycle in order in this SMART whiteboard activity.
SMART Technologies
Smart: Life Cycle of a Butterfly
This lesson uses Smart Response technology to review concepts learned at the end of a science unit involving the Life Cycle of a Butterfly. The lesson can easily be adapted to fit the needs of more advanced or slower learners in the...
Other
Monarch Watch
This is an excellent resource for information about the monarch butterfly that includes information about life cycle, migration, observation, conservation, classroom activities, butterfly gardening, butterfly rearing, and the like.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Teachers: Eric Carle Author Study
Here both students and teachers can learn about writer Eric Carle, the author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and many other works for children. Includes video [3:39] Also offers teaching ideas, including themes for discussion.
Science Museum of Minnesota
Science Museum of Minnesota: Metamorphosis
A very simple, interactive, and informative explanation of things students can do to learn more about butterflies. Elementary appropriate.
Ed Koday
Web Archive: Red Admiral
The upperside of the red admiral butterfly is black with white spots near the wing tips. The forewing has a red band across the middle, and the hindwing has a red band along the edge. The red admirals that are born during the winter are...
Ed Koday
Web Archive: Painted Lady
The upperside of the wings is orange-brown with darker wing bases. The forewing has a black patch and white bar on leading edge, and the hindwing has a row of 5 small black spots and sometimes has blue scales. The underside has a black,...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: The Very Hungry Class
Eric Carle's "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" is a great trade book to teach many concepts across the curriculum. This lesson has activities to excite your students in all subject areas. Students will be familiar with the metamorphosis...
Read Works
Read Works: Time to Fly!
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about monarch butterflies and their migration patterns. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Other
Alphabet soup.com: Insects and Spiders
An extensive list of activities, songs, poems, and fingerplays are listed by alphabet-soup.com. Additional recipes, art projects, and literature connections are also included.
Enchanted Learning
Enchanted Learning: Insect Crafts
An extensive list of elementary insect crafts. Each activity contains a list of everyday materials, and detailed instructions.
Curated OER
Youngzine: Monarch Caterpillar
It is that time of the year again when the monarch butterflies make their long journey from Canada to Central Mexico. We follow along on their incredible journey, and look at the challenges they encounter. Includes video (four minutes,...
Other
Insectclopedia: Lesson Plans
A very comprehensive site from pedagonet.com that includes lesson plans on insects for all ages and grade levels. Students will enjoy learning about insects as you employ these engaging lesson plans in your own classroom.
University of Florida
Florida Museum of Natural History: Animals 2: Insects and Spiders
This teacher's guide focuses on the smaller animals that inhabit our world: insects and spiders. These fascinating creatures provide young children many hands-on opportunities to learn about the diversity of living things, how living...
Curated OER
Life Cycle of a Butterfly
This diagram shows the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly.
Iowa State University
Iowa State University: Entomology Image Gallery
This site provides an extensive collection of photographs of insects.
abcteach
Abcteach: Insects
[Free Registration/Login Required] Learn about the insect world using activities and lesson plans that emphasize cross-curricular learning.
Books in the Classroom
Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site: Eric Carle
What do you know about Eric Carle, the author? This Carol Hurst site highlights some interesting facts about this author's life and refers to some of his books.
Austin Independent School District
Austin Independent School District: Two Poems [Pdf]
Two poems, "Monarch Butterfly" by Marilyn Singer and "The Caterpillar" by Christina Rossetti.
Texas A&M University
Insects in the Classroom: Lesson Plans
A very comprehensive site that includes insect lesson plans for ages 3-18 and links to a syllabus, course material, activities, and related resources.