Impatient Caterpillars Code the Life Cycle

Learning Resource Type

Learning Activity

Subject Area

Digital Literacy and Computer Science

Science

Grade(s)

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.

Phase

During/Explore/Explain

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.

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

DLCS18.3.5

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.

Robot Activity Mat: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FNwBA_2EUYW2P6wi2_rgaW7knh4TBWmr/view?usp=sharing
NOTE: This activity may use a programmable robot, or students may use the Bee-Bot Online Emulator: https://beebot.terrapinlogo.com/ If using the online emulator, select the drop-down menu on the upper left side to change “Alphabet Mat” to “EXAMPLE: Bee-Bot Lessons mat: Butterfly.”

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.

Here is a video resource for the teacher that demonstrates how to introduce these robots to your students: https://youtu.be/7hHgZ4oVqh8

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

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.

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:

Programmable Robots: https://youtu.be/52ZuenJlFyE
Online Emulator: Bee-Bot Online 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.”

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.

Learning Activity (Before)

Impatient Caterpillars

Total Duration

31 to 45 Minutes

Learning Activity (During)

Impatient Caterpillars Code the Life Cycle

Learning Activity (After)

Impatient Caterpillars Write the Life Cycle

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).

“Butterfly and Moth” accessible by clicking on “Elementary” then “Britannica S…

https://www.avl.lib.al.us/

Approved Date

2023-07-14

Owner (Author)

leannbryan

Impatient Caterpillars Code the Life Cycle

Learning Resource Type

Subject Area

Grade(s)

Overview

Phase

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.

Vocabulary

Knowledge

Skills

Understanding

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Crosscutting Concepts

Learning Objectives

Activity Details

Assessment Strategies

Acceleration

Intervention

Background / Preparation

Learning Activity (Before)

Total Duration

Learning Activity (During)

Learning Activity (After)

Materials and Resources

URL (web address)

Approved Date

Owner (Author)

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.