Life Cycles — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. Both frogs and butterflies go through metamorphosis.
Both frogs and butterflies go through metamorphosis, a big change in their bodies as they grow.
2. A butterfly has four main stages in its life cycle.
A butterfly has four main stages: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and adult butterfly.
3. A tadpole grows legs before becoming a frog.
A tadpole grows legs as it develops into a froglet and then into an adult frog.
4. Plants, frogs, and butterflies all start from an egg.
Plants start from seeds (sometimes called plant eggs), and frogs and butterflies both begin as eggs.
5. A caterpillar eats leaves to grow big and strong.
A caterpillar eats lots of leaves to store energy for the big change inside the chrysalis.
6. A seed grows into a sprout before becoming a full plant.
A seed first grows into a small sprout that pushes through the soil before becoming a full plant.
7. Life cycles repeat over and over again.
Life cycles repeat because adult organisms produce new eggs or seeds that start the cycle again.
8. A frog life cycle has the stages egg, tadpole, froglet, and frog.
The four stages of a frog life cycle are egg, tadpole, froglet, and adult frog.
9. A flower makes seeds so the plant life cycle can start again.
Flowers produce seeds that can grow into new plants, allowing the life cycle to continue.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
butterfly
→ caterpillar
chick
frog
→ tadpole
caterpillar
plant
→ seed
seed
bird
→ chick
tadpole
Butterfly → caterpillar because the young stage of a butterfly is a caterpillar. Frog → tadpole because a tadpole is a baby frog. Plant → seed because plants start as seeds. Bird → chick because a baby bird is called a chick.