Comparing the life cycles of amphibians and insects
I can describe the differences in the life cycles of amphibians and insects.
Comparing the life cycles of amphibians and insects
I can describe the differences in the life cycles of amphibians and insects.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Different life cycles can be compared to find similarities and differences
- Amphibians and insects have some similarities and some differences in their life cycles
- 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.
To help you plan your year 5 science lesson on: Comparing the life cycles of amphibians and insects, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 5 science lesson on: Comparing the life cycles of amphibians and insects, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 science lessons from the Reproduction and life cycles: animals unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
None needed
Licence
Starter quiz
6 Questions



Vertebrates
Invertebrates


Exit quiz
6 Questions
spawn (egg), larva, larva with legs, adult
egg, larva, pupa, adult




