The Life Cycle of a Butterfly
The life cycle of a butterfly is the series of four stages a butterfly passes through as it grows: egg, caterpillar (larva), pupa (chrysalis), and adult butterfly. This kind of change, where an animal transforms completely into a different-looking form, is called complete metamorphosis. Many insects such as bees, beetles and moths grow up the same way.
The cycle begins when a female butterfly lays tiny eggs on a leaf, so the young have food ready when they hatch. A caterpillar emerges and spends its time eating leaves and growing quickly. It then forms a hard case called a chrysalis and becomes a resting pupa, where its body reshapes into a butterfly. Finally the adult butterfly breaks out, dries its wings and flies off to find flowers and lay its own eggs, starting the cycle again.
Learning the butterfly life cycle helps Singapore primary pupils understand living things, growth and metamorphosis — a common topic in lower-primary Science. Key ideas include naming the four stages in the correct order and knowing what happens at each one.
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Meet the Butterfly🦋 Science • Living Things How does a butterfly grow up? A butterfly does not start out with wings! It changes shape completely as it grows. This amazing change is called metamorphosis (say: meh-tuh-MOR-fuh-sis). In this lesson you will discover the 4 stages of a butterfly's life cycle — and play, tap and build your way through each one. Ready? Tap Next to begin! 👉
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The 4 StagesThe life cycle has 4 stages Tap each card to peek inside and learn what happens. Try all four! 🥚1. Egg A tiny egg is laid on a leaf. 🐛2. Caterpillar Hatches and eats leaves to grow big. 🟢3. Pupa Rests inside a chrysalis and changes. 🦋4. Butterfly Comes out with beautiful wings! You have opened 0 of 4 cards.
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Stage 1 — EggStage 1 It all starts with an egg 🥚 A mother butterfly lays her tiny eggs on a leaf. Why a leaf? Because when the babies hatch, their food will be right there! 🍃 Each egg is smaller than a grain of rice.
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Stage 2 — CaterpillarStage 2 The hungry caterpillar 🐛 When the egg hatches, out comes a caterpillar (also called a larva). Its job is to eat and grow. Tap the leaves to feed it — watch it grow! 🐛 0 / 6 leaves eaten 🍃 Tap a leaf to feed the caterpillar!
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Stage 3 — PupaStage 3 Time to rest: the pupa 🟢 After eating a lot, the caterpillar makes a hard case called a chrysalis (KRISS-uh-liss). This resting stage is the pupa. Inside, something magical happens — the body changes completely into a butterfly. It looks still on the outside, but big changes are happening inside! 🔮
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Stage 4 — ButterflyStage 4 Out comes the butterfly! 🦋 The adult butterfly breaks out of the chrysalis, dries its wings, and flies away to find flowers. Soon it will lay eggs — and the whole cycle starts all over again! 🔁 Quick check — true or false?"A butterfly is born with wings from the very start." ✔ True ✘ False
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Put it in orderBuild the life cycle! 🧩 Tap the stages in the correct order, from first to last. Fill the slots 1 → 4. 1st 2nd 3rd 4th ↺ Reset Tap a card below to place it in the next slot.
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You did it!🎉🦋 Well done, scientist! You learned how a butterfly grows through metamorphosis. The 4 stages, in order: 🥚 Egg🐛 Caterpillar🟢 Pupa🦋 Butterfly 🥚 An egg is laid on a leaf. 🐛 A caterpillar hatches and eats to grow. 🟢 It rests as a pupa inside a chrysalis. 🦋 An adult butterfly flies out — then lays eggs again! 🌟 Next time you see a butterfly in the garden, you'll know the amazing journey it took to get there. Keep exploring!
Frequently asked questions
- What are the four stages of a butterfly's life cycle?
- The four stages, in order, are egg, caterpillar (larva), pupa (chrysalis), and adult butterfly. After the adult lays eggs, the cycle starts again.
- What is the difference between a chrysalis and a pupa?
- The pupa is the resting stage of the life cycle, while the chrysalis is the hard protective case that surrounds the pupa. Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar's body reshapes into a butterfly.
- Why does a butterfly lay its eggs on a leaf?
- A butterfly lays its eggs on a leaf so that when the caterpillars hatch, their food is right there. Caterpillars eat leaves to grow, so a leaf gives them an easy first meal.
- What is metamorphosis?
- Metamorphosis is a big change in body shape as an animal grows up. A butterfly goes through complete metamorphosis, changing from a crawling caterpillar into a flying adult with wings.
- What does a caterpillar do before it becomes a butterfly?
- A caterpillar spends its time eating leaves and growing bigger. Once it has eaten enough, it forms a chrysalis and rests as a pupa while its body changes into a butterfly.
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