Develop models of organisms' life cycles
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3rd Grade Science › Develop models of organisms' life cycles
All organisms follow a life cycle, even humans. In the model below, what is the missing piece of the cycle?
Newborn 
Toddler
Teenager
Baby
Senior Citizen
Explanation
The missing stage of this life cycle model is "Teenager." All organisms move through life on a similar path from birth to death. In the cycle presented, this person has not completed their teenage years, which comes before being an adult. Different organisms have their specific periods, so it may look different when comparing an insect and a plant.
Samantha and Gordon are creating a model of an organism's life cycle. They choose the butterfly as their project focus. The project is due in one month. Samantha says they should create sculptures and paint pictures of butterflies as their model. Gordon thinks they should watch a butterfly transform from an egg, to caterpillar, to chrysalis, and finally to butterfly and take photos along the way.
Whose model (if any) is more realistic and why?
There is not enough information to tell who has the best plan for a model. More details would need to be given to make a selection.
Neither; Both of their ideas for a model are terrible. Sculptures, pictures, and photographs are not models.
Gordon; He is correct because his model is most reasonable to complete in a month and would show the complete life cycle.
Samantha; She is correct because her model is artistic, reasonable and would be the most attractive.
Explanation
In this scenario, Gordon's model is the most realistic and would be the best choice for the project. A month is enough time to watch the butterfly move through its life cycle, and taking detailed photographs would show others what they witnessed. The photos could be put in a ring or a timeline to show the progression over time.
Robin and Mark are creating a model of an organism's life cycle. They choose the lima bean as their project focus. The project is due in five days. Robin says they should draw each stage of the plant's growth as their model. Mark thinks they should grow the plant and take pictures of each step to turn in.
Whose model (if any) is more realistic in their short time frame, and why?
Robin; She is correct because her model is most reasonable to complete in five days. Researching and drawing the different stages of the life cycle is realistic.
Mark; He is correct because his model is the most reasonable to complete in five days. He and Robin could make the lima beans grow quickly so they can take photos for their teacher.
Neither; Both of their ideas for a model are terrible, and they should not grow the plants for photos or use drawings.
There is not enough information to tell who has the best plan for a model. More details would need to be given to make a selection.
Explanation
In a five-day time frame there is no way that the lima beans will go through the entirety of their life cycle. It is much more realistic and reasonable to go with Robin's plan and use a sketch or drawing for the model. Robin and Mark could look up the stages of a lima bean plant's development and then draw detailed pictures of the process.
Gage has to create a life-size model of an organism during its life. He has selected the grasshopper. Which stage(s) of life would be most realistic to use for his model?
Nymph
Egg
Adult
All answer choices are correct.
Explanation
Gage can make a life-size model of any of the grasshopper's stages of life. The grasshopper starts as an egg, then a nymph, and finally an adult. Each is a reasonable size and can be recreated. A grasshopper's egg can be tiny, but it is possible to make a model.
Karissa has to make a model of a moth's life. What would be the best title for her project?
"The Life Cycle of a Moth"
"One Day in the Moth's Life"
"Where to Find Moths"
"How to Draw a Moth"
Explanation
The best choice for a title would be "The Life Cycle of a Moth" because it encapsulates what the project is about and uses the scientific term for the life stages of an organism. Karissa has to make a model of the moth's life, so it needs to include all parts from life to death. The other options are only for a short period of the moth's life or do not include the necessary information.
Carol has to make a model of a palm tree's life. What would be the worst title for her project?
"The Life Cycle of a Palm Tree"
"From Seed to Tree; The Story of a Palm Tree"
"A Day in the Life of a Palm Tree"
"How the Palm Tree Grows"
Explanation
The worst choice for a title would be "A Day in the Life of a Palm Tree" because it is only is focused on one day of the tree's life rather than the entirety. The other names encapsulate what the project is about and focus on the lifespan on the tree. Carol has to make a model of the palm tree's life, so the title needs to include all parts from life to death.
Which photograph models an organism that is in the middle of a change during their life cycle?
Explanation
Models of organisms' life cycles can be made in numerous ways, and one is through a photograph. The image showing a tadpole as it develops legs and is losing its tail. As it matures, it will become a froglet and finally an adult frog. Frogs move through multiple stages before reaching their final adult form.
What is a life cycle? Example: During the life cycle of the caterpillar it turns into a butterfly.
The series of changes in the life of an organism
The circle that animals travel in when they migrate
A type of bicycle that has three wheels instead of two
An organisms path to find food and shelter in life
Explanation
The life cycle of plant or animal (humans included) is the series of changes that the organism undergoes in its life. It starts at reproduction and moves through the different stages of life until it ends and begins over with the offspring. Different animals have different life cycles, and they are not all the same.
Javier has to create a life-size model of an organism during its life. He has selected the oak tree. Which two stages of life would be most reasonable to develop a model for?
Seed or sprout
Mature tree or sapling
Sapling or seed
Sprout or mature tree
Explanation
The most reasonable stages of life to create a life-sized model would need to be smaller in size and realistic to develop. A seed or sprout are both early stages of the tree's life cycle so that they would be much more manageable than a mature tree or sapling. A mature tree can reach up to 100 feet tall, and a sapling ranges in height from ten feet or more!
Which photograph models an organism in a phase change of their life cycle?
Explanation
Models of organisms' life cycles can be made in numerous ways, and one is through a photograph. The image showing a butterfly emerging from its cocoon is an example of an organism in a phase change of their life cycle. The insect is transitioning and moving into the next stage of life. The other images show an insect in a single step of their life cycle.