Life Cycles — Answer Key
Part A: Sort the Words
Sort each word or number into the correct category box.
1. Sort each stage into the correct life cycle.
Butterfly Life Cycle
caterpillarchrysalisadult butterfly Frog Life Cycle
tadpolefrogletadult frog A butterfly goes through the stages egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and butterfly. A frog goes through the stages egg, tadpole, froglet, and frog.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. A caterpillar changes inside a chrysalis.
A caterpillar forms a chrysalis around itself where it changes into a butterfly.
2. A baby frog that lives in water is called a tadpole.
A tadpole is the baby stage of a frog. It lives in water and breathes with gills.
3. A butterfly starts its life as an egg.
A butterfly begins its life cycle as a tiny egg laid on a leaf by the mother butterfly.
4. A froglet grows into an adult frog.
A froglet is a young frog that still has a small tail. It grows into a full adult frog.
5. The big change a caterpillar goes through is called metamorphosis.
Metamorphosis is the process where a caterpillar completely changes its body to become a butterfly.
Part C: True or False?
Read each statement. Circle True or False.
1. A caterpillar turns into a chrysalis.
True False
True — A caterpillar wraps itself in a chrysalis where it changes into a butterfly.
2. A tadpole has legs right away.
True False
False — A tadpole does not have legs at first. It grows legs later as it develops into a froglet.
3. All butterflies start as eggs.
True False
True — Every butterfly begins its life cycle as a tiny egg before becoming a caterpillar.
4. A froglet still has a long tail.
True False
False — A froglet has a small tail that shrinks as it grows into an adult frog.