Life cycles of animals Worksheets for Kindergarten

Kindergarten Science 12 Printable Worksheets 100% FREE

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These Life Cycles of Animals worksheets help Kindergarten learners discover how living things grow and change over time. At this age, kindergartners are just beginning to notice that baby animals look different from their parents and that creatures like butterflies and frogs transform dramatically as they grow.

Many five and six year olds get stuck on two ideas: they think a caterpillar and a butterfly are two separate animals, and they assume every animal hatches from an egg the way a chick does. These life cycles worksheets build on earlier lessons about living versus non-living things and prepare students for first grade science, where they will compare plant and animal life cycles in more detail.

Through tracing key vocabulary, fill-in-the-blank practice, true or false questions, matching, and gentle multiple choice, children build the language and observation skills they need to describe how butterflies, frogs, birds, and mammals begin life, grow, and become adults.

Worksheet Preview

Browse all 12 printable worksheets below — click any card to open the full page.

Easy

Part A: Trace the Words

Trace each word by following the dotted lines.

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word on the line.

1. A butterfly starts life as an

2. A caterpillar is the

3. The pupa is protected by a hard covering called a

4. An adult butterfly can lay

Part C: True or False

Read each sentence. Circle True or False.

1. A butterfly goes through 4 stages in its life cycle.

T F

2. A caterpillar and a butterfly are the same animal.

T F

3. All animals have the same life cycle.

T F

Life Cycles of Animals

Easy

Part A: Trace the Words

Trace each word by following the dotted lines.

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word on the line.

1. A frog starts life as a

2. A baby bird hatches from an

3. The stages of growth are called a life

4. A puppy grows into an adult

Part C: True or False

Read each sentence. Circle True or False.

1. Frogs start life in water and later move to land.

T F

2. A life cycle always ends and never repeats.

T F

3. All animals start life as eggs or babies.

T F

Life Cycles of Animals

Easy

Part A: Trace the Words

Trace each word carefully by following the dotted lines.

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word or number on each line.

1. A butterfly starts as a tiny

2. A caterpillar is also called a

3. A frog starts life as a

4. Baby chicks hatch from an

Part C: True or False?

Read each statement. Circle True or False.

1. A caterpillar turns into a butterfly.

T F

2. Frogs start life as birds.

T F

3. All chickens hatch from eggs.

T F

Life Cycles of Animals

Easy

Part A: Trace the Words

Trace each word carefully by following the dotted lines.

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word or number on each line.

1. A pupa is wrapped in a

2. A tadpole will grow into a

3. A hen sits on her eggs to keep them

4. A caterpillar eats lots of

Part C: True or False?

Read each statement. Circle True or False.

1. A tadpole has legs when it is born.

T F

2. A butterfly comes out of a cocoon.

T F

3. Eggs need warmth to hatch.

T F

Life Cycles of Animals

Medium

Part A: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word on the line.

1. The butterfly life cycle has

2. The first stage of a butterfly is the

3. The caterpillar is also called the

4. A caterpillar wraps itself in a

5. The stage inside the chrysalis is called the

6. The final stage of the butterfly life cycle is the

7. The adult butterfly lays

8. Caterpillars eat

9. The butterfly life cycle is an example of complete

Part B: Match the Life Cycle Stages

Match each butterfly life cycle stage to its description.

egg

→

worm-like stage that eats leaves

larva

→

resting stage inside a chrysalis

tiny stage laid on a leaf

Life Cycles of Animals

Medium

Part A: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word on the line.

1. The frog life cycle begins with

2. Frog eggs hatch into

3. Tadpoles live in

4. As they grow, tadpoles develop

5. Tadpoles lose their

6. A young frog without a tail is called a

7. Adult frogs can live on land and in

8. Adult frogs lay

9. The frog's change from tadpole to frog is a type of

Part B: Match the Animals

Match each adult animal to the name of its young.

Life Cycles of Animals

Medium

Part A: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word or number on each line.

1. A butterfly lays its

2. The caterpillar wraps itself in a

3. A baby frog is called a

4. A tadpole grows

5. Chicks use a beak to crack the

6. A caterpillar is the

7. The last stage of a life cycle is the

8. Every animal life cycle starts with an

9. A frog can live on land and in

Part B: Matching

Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.

1. Match each item to its correct answer.

Life Cycles of Animals

Medium

Part A: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word or number on each line.

1. A life

2. A frog lays eggs in the

3. The pupa stage comes after the

4. A chick grows feathers as it gets

5. A butterfly has colorful

6. Tadpoles breathe with

Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.

1. Match each item to its correct answer.

Life Cycles of Animals

Hard

Part A: Multiple Choice

Circle the correct answer for each question.

1. What is the CORRECT order of the butterfly life cycle?

2. What happens inside the chrysalis?

3. What is METAMORPHOSIS?

4. Which animal does NOT lay eggs?

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word on the line.

1. A caterpillar spins a

2. Both butterflies and frogs go through

3. A frog's life cycle has

4. During the pupa stage, the caterpillar

5. Adult animals reproduce to keep the life cycle

Life Cycles of Animals

Hard

Part A: Multiple Choice

Circle the correct answer for each question.

1. What does a tadpole use to breathe?

2. Which life cycle stage comes AFTER the egg in the frog life cycle?

3. What do ALL animal life cycles have in common?

4. Which correctly describes a 'froglet'?

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word on the line.

1. The life cycle of a chicken is: egg → chick → adult

2. An animal that goes through complete metamorphosis changes

3. Dogs do not lay eggs — they give birth to live

4. The life cycle shows how an animal

5. Both moths and butterflies go through complete metamorphosis with

Life Cycles of Animals

Hard

Part A: Multiple Choice

Circle the best answer for each question.

1. What comes after the egg in a butterfly life cycle?

2. Where does a frog lay its eggs?

3. What does a caterpillar form around itself?

4. Which animal hatches from an egg on a farm?

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the correct answer on each line.

1. A butterfly has four

2. The caterpillar is the

3. A tadpole loses its

4. A chick grows inside an

5. An adult butterfly can

Life Cycles of Animals

Hard

Part A: Multiple Choice

Circle the best answer for each question.

1. What is the correct order for a butterfly?

2. What body part does a tadpole grow to walk on land?

3. How does a chick get out of its egg?

4. Which stage does a caterpillar rest and change?

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the correct answer on each line.

1. Frogs and butterflies both start as

2. A cocoon protects the

3. A grown-up frog breathes with its

4. Baby animals

5. A life cycle goes in a

Life Cycles of Animals

What's Included in This Download

12 Printable Pages covering life cycles of animals

Complete Answer Key for easy grading

Printer-Friendly Format in black & white

Variety of Activities to keep kids engaged

Common Core Aligned kindergarten standards

Instant PDF Download - no signup required

What You'll Learn

These life cycles of animals worksheets help kindergarten students develop essential science skills through engaging activities.

Learning Objectives

Life Cycle Stages: Identify and order the stages in animal life cycles
Metamorphosis: Understand complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult) and incomplete metamorphosis
Growth and Change: Compare how different animals grow and develop over time
Reproduction: Learn how various animals produce offspring
Scientific Observation: Record and describe changes in living organisms

Skills Covered

Life CyclesMetamorphosisAnimal DevelopmentGrowth StagesBiologyScientific Observation

How to Use These Worksheets

Download & Print: Click the download button to get the PDF. Print on standard 8.5" x 11" paper.
Start Simple: Begin with easier pages before moving to more challenging activities.
Daily Practice: Dedicate 10-15 minutes each day for consistent learning.
Use Manipulatives: Pair worksheets with physical objects like blocks or counters.
Provide Encouragement: Celebrate progress and effort to build confidence.
Check Progress: Use the included answer key to review work together.

Common Mistakes to Watch For

Thinking a caterpillar and a butterfly are two different animals instead of two stages of the same life cycle. Children often need to see picture sequences several times before the idea of transformation clicks.
Assuming all baby animals hatch from eggs. Kindergartners are surprised to learn that puppies, kittens, and human babies are born live and do not come from eggs like chicks or frogs.
Mixing up the order of butterfly stages, especially swapping pupa and larva. The unfamiliar vocabulary makes it hard to remember which stage is the wiggly caterpillar and which is the resting chrysalis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What life cycles should a kindergartner know?

Kindergarten science usually focuses on the butterfly and the frog because both show clear, dramatic changes children can see in pictures or videos. Students should also recognize simpler cycles like chicken (egg to chick to hen) and mammals like dogs that are born live. The goal is noticing that all animals are born, grow, and become adults.

How do I explain metamorphosis to a 5 year old?

Use the word 'big change' instead of metamorphosis at first. Explain that some animals look totally different when they are babies than when they grow up, like a caterpillar that turns into a butterfly. Showing a four-picture sequence (egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, butterfly) helps the idea stick much better than words alone.

Why do kindergartners confuse larva and pupa?

Both words are unfamiliar and sound similar to young children. Larva is the wiggly caterpillar stage that eats leaves, and pupa is the still, resting stage inside the chrysalis. Pairing each word with a clear picture and a hand motion (wiggling for larva, hands folded for pupa) helps kindergartners remember the difference.

What is the difference between a frog and butterfly life cycle?

Both go through big changes, but frogs start in water as eggs that hatch into tadpoles with tails and gills, then slowly grow legs and lungs. Butterflies start on a leaf as an egg, become a caterpillar, rest in a chrysalis, then emerge with wings. Comparing the two helps children see that metamorphosis can look different.

When do kids learn about animal life cycles in school?

Animal life cycles are introduced in Kindergarten with simple vocabulary and picture sequencing. In first and second grade, students compare more animals and add plant life cycles. By third grade, children study inherited traits and learn scientific terms like complete and incomplete metamorphosis in greater depth.

Are these worksheets really free?

Yes! All our worksheets are 100% free to download and print. There's no subscription, no hidden fees, and no registration required.

Can I use these in my classroom?

Absolutely! Teachers are welcome to print and use these worksheets in their classrooms. Make as many copies as needed for your students.

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Life cycles of animals Worksheets for Kindergarten

Worksheet Preview

What's Included in This Download

What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

Skills Covered

How to Use These Worksheets

Common Mistakes to Watch For

Frequently Asked Questions

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Worksheet Preview

What's Included in This Download

What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

Skills Covered

How to Use These Worksheets

Common Mistakes to Watch For

Frequently Asked Questions

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