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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! 👉

The life cycle has 4 stages

Tap each card to peek inside and learn what happens. Try all four!

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1. Egg
A tiny egg is laid on a leaf.
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2. Caterpillar
Hatches and eats leaves to grow big.
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3. Pupa
Rests inside a chrysalis and changes.
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4. Butterfly
Comes out with beautiful wings!
You have opened 0 of 4 cards.
Stage 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.

Stage 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!
Stage 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! 🔮

Stage 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."

Build the life cycle! 🧩

Tap the stages in the correct order, from first to last. Fill the slots 1 → 4.

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
Tap a card below to place it in the next slot.
🎉🦋

Well done, scientist!

You learned how a butterfly grows through metamorphosis.

The 4 stages, in order:

🥚 Egg🐛 Caterpillar🟢 Pupa🦋 Butterfly

🌟 Next time you see a butterfly in the garden, you'll know the amazing journey it took to get there. Keep exploring!