An animal is a living thing which moves, and eats other animals or plants.

You can refer to a person's child or to an animal's young as their offspring.

The adult is a mature form of a plant or animal.

A life cycle shows the way in which a living thing changes as it grows.

To observe is to look very closely and use other senses too.

Animal life cycles

Science

In this New life unit, pupils learnt that animals, including humans, have offspring which grow into adults. In the Reproduction and life cycles unit, they will build on this knowledge to learn to describe the differences in life cycles of different animal groups

In the Naming and grouping animals unit, pupils learnt to identify and name a variety of common animals. In this New life unit. pupils will build on this knowledge to learn that animals have basic needs for survival (water, food and air)

This unit explores how animals, including humans, have offspring that grow into adults and examines their basic survival needs, such as water, food, and air. It focuses on asking questions, observing closely, identifying and classifying, and using observations to suggest answers to questions.

New life

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce, poverty, deprivation.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

From when they are born to when they become an adult, all animals...

The journey of an animal from beginning to when it is fully grown is called its...

Which of these help us to observe more closely?

Put these monkeys in order from youngest to oldest.

The pup is smaller and has darker fur. The seal is bigger and has white fur.

The pup is bigger and has white fur. The seal is smaller and has spotty fur.

The pup is smaller and has white fur. The seal is bigger and has spotty fur.

When we observe this seal and its pup we notice that...

Put these different stages of a butterfly's life cycle in order starting with the youngest. 

True or false? Offspring always look like their parents.

Offspring change and grow into adult animals.

Which of these groups only has animals that are offspring?

Which of these groups only has animals that are adults?

Izzy has some animal photos. She puts them into {{}} by looking at what is the same and what is different about them.

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Adult supervision recommended

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Animal life cycles

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.