Learning Activity

Impatient Caterpillars Code the Life Cycle

Subject Area

Digital Literacy and Computer Science
Science

Grade(s)

3

Overview

Students will read about the life cycle of a butterfly and moth. Students will discuss the unique characteristics of each stage of the life cycle. Students will then use algorithms to code robots through the various stages of the life cycle of a butterfly. 

This learning activity was created as a result of the ALEX - Alabama Virtual Library (AVL) Resource Development Summit.

Science (2015) Grade(s): 3

SC15.3.6

Create representations to explain the unique and diverse life cycles of organisms other than humans (e.g., flowering plants, frogs, butterflies), including commonalities such as birth, growth, reproduction, and death.

Unpacked Content

UP:SC15.3.6

Vocabulary

  • Create
  • Explain
  • Representations
  • Unique
  • Diverse
  • Commonalities
  • Life cycles
  • Organisms
  • Birth
  • Growth
  • Reproduction
  • Death

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Organisms are born, grow, reproduce and die in a pattern known as a life cycle.
  • Organisms have unique and diverse life cycles.
  • An organism can be classified as either a plant or an animal.
  • There is a causal direction of the cycle (e.g., without birth, there is no growth; without reproduction, there are no births).

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Create representations to describe that organisms have unique and diverse life cycles but all have in common birth, growth, reproduction, and death.
  • Explain the unique and diverse life cycles of organisms other than humans.
  • Explain commonalities of organisms such as birth, growth, reproduction, and death.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Patterns of change can be used to make predictions about the unique life cycles of organisms.

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Developing and Using Models

Crosscutting Concepts

Patterns
Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 3

DLCS18.3.5

Create an algorithm to solve a problem as a collaborative team.

Unpacked Content

UP:DLCS18.3.5

Vocabulary

  • algorithm
  • collaborative

Knowledge

Students know:
  • an algorithm can be used to solve a problem or complete a task.
  • the steps in creating an algortihm as a collaborative team.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • work as a collaborative team to create a problem-solving algorithm.
  • list steps in solving a problem.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • algorithms are used to solve problems or complete a task in a step-by-step process.

Phase

During/Explore/Explain
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

1. Students will identify stages of the life cycle of a butterfly. 

2. Students will work collaboratively to create an algorithm that codes their robot through the various stages of the life cycle.

Activity Details

1. Teacher will post the Britannica Elementary article in their learning management system (Google Classroom, Blackboard, Canvas, etc.) prior to class or direct students to AVL and give directions on how to access the article.

  • Teachers must access Britannica through the Alabama Virtual Library. “Butterfly and Moth” is accessible by clicking on “Elementary” then “Britannica School.” Search for “butterfly and moth.

2.  To begin class, have students visit the Britannica Elementary article about butterflies and moths. Give students 8-10 minutes to read the article and look at the pictures.

  • Teacher will say: When a caterpillar first hatches it is a _______? (larva or caterpillar)
  • Teacher will ask what the next stage after the caterpillar is. (pupa)
  • Teacher will say: Pupas make a special case called a ______to protect them during a period of inactivity. (cocoon)
  • The teacher will ask: What is the last stage in a caterpillar’s life cycle? (butterfly) 

3. After the teacher has had a class discussion and feels confident that the students know the stages of the life cycle, they will begin the robot activity. 

4. Teacher should divide students into groups of four.

  • (If you only have one robot, this can be done as a whole group.)
  • Divide students into pairs if using the online emulator.

5. If using the robot, show students the robot and demonstrate how the robot uses the arrows to move. Remind students that they must “clear” the previous code before entering more code. 

6. Have each group gather around their robot activity mat. 

  • If using the online emulator, show the emulator on an overhead projector or an interactive whiteboard. 

7. Instruct students to take turns entering code to make the robot bee travel to the various stages of the butterfly life cycle in order, following the correct algorithm.

  • Start
  • Egg
  • Larva/Caterpillar
  • Cocoon
  • Waiting
  • Butterfly

***Note: If you or your school does not have BeeBots or other programmable robots, Alabama Technology in Motion (ATiM) Specialists have BeeBots you can borrow. Reach out to your regional ATiM Specialist for access to BeeBots. https://sites.google.com/atim.us/atim/home 

Assessment Strategies

Assessment Strategies

Check for understanding with teacher observation:

  • Are students able to identify the stages of the life cycle in order?
  • Are they able to code the robot to each stage of the life cycle?
  • Are they working collaboratively as a team?
  • Was the group able to create an algorithm that advances the robot to each stage of the life cycle?

 

Acceleration

Students could be given a stack of the Robot Activity Mat squares and they could be instructed to put their own mat together in order of the life cycle. Then proceed with step 7 in the activity. 

Intervention

This activity could be done as a whole group. Teacher could call on students sitting around the mat on the floor to code the robot to each stage. Teacher can pause at each stage of the life cycle to discuss its characteristics. 

Approximate Duration

Total Duration

31 to 45 Minutes

Related Learning Activities

Learning Activity (Before)

Impatient Caterpillars

Learning Activity (During)

Impatient Caterpillars Code the Life Cycle

Learning Activity (After)

Impatient Caterpillars Write the Life Cycle

Background and Preparation

Background / Preparation

Teacher will post the Britannica Elementary article in their learning management system (Google Classroom, Blackboard, Canvas, etc.) prior to class. The teacher will decide whether to use the online Emulator or a programmable robot. Teachers who would like access to programmable Bee-Bots may contact their regional ATiM Specialist https://sites.google.com/atim.us/atim/home. 

Teachers will need to be familiar with the robots and emulator. The following videos show how the robots and the online emulator operate:

Teacher using programmable robots will need to be familiar with how the robots operate. The following video may be used to introduce the robot to your class: https://youtu.be/7hHgZ4oVqh8.   Teacher should have robots charged, Bee-Bot mats printed, squares cut out, laminated, and put together so they are ready for student use. (See picture at the end of the Printable Robot Activity Mat link for an example.)

Student Preparation: Students should have some basic background knowledge of how a cycle works and that animals go through different stages of life cycles. 

Materials and Resources

Materials and Resources

 

  • Robots (1 robot to use this lesson whole group or one robot for each group of 4 students if using in small groups)
    • Or Bee-Bot Emulator https://beebot.terrapinlogo.com/  In the left-hand column, use the drop-down menu to change “Alphabet Mat” to “EXAMPLE: Bee-Bot Lessons mat: Butterfly.”
  • Printable Robot Activity Map: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mtAulfK3pRyp_y3QeqLoYQEfvXJnTpbE/view?usp=sharing 
  • AVL article: Teachers must access Britannica through the Alabama Virtual Library. “Butterfly and Moth” is accessible by clicking on “Elementary” then “Britannica School.” Search for “butterfly and moth.”
  • scissors
  • access to laminator
  • Internet access
  • Interactive whiteboard or projector
  • Students will need a device with internet to access the AVL link and to use the online emulator (if applicable).

Digital Tools / Resources

“Butterfly and Moth” accessible by clicking on “Elementary” then “Britannica S…
https://www.avl.lib.al.us/

Approved Date

Owner (Author)

leannbryan
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