1^st Grade Plant and Animal Unit (Butterflies) Blueprint

What are the basic needs of living things?

5C(K-2)#2: Most living things need water, food and air.

5D(K-2)#1: Animals eat plants or other animals for food and may also use plants (or even other animals) for shelter and nesting.

Class discussion about the question “How do the caterpillars get what they need to survive while in the classroom?” (See Procedure step 4 on page 24 of Teacher’s Guide.)

Answers to questions about the specific needs of the caterpillars on Activity Sheet 2. (See page 26 in Teacher’s Guide.)

Class Discussion

Do students know what living things need to survive? Do students apply that knowledge to the needs of caterpillars?

Activity Sheet 2

• Do students recognize the specific needs of their caterpillars?
• Can students explain where their caterpillars get each of these basic needs in the classroom environment?

6A(K-2)#1: People need water, food, air, waste removal, and a particular range of temperatures in their environment, just as other animals do.

Class discussion about the question “Do caterpillars and humans have the same needs?” (See Procedure step 3 on page 24 of Teacher’s Guide.)

• Do students recognize that humans and caterpillars share the same basic needs: water, food, air and shelter?
• Can students explain where humans get each of these basic needs?

How do caterpillars grow and change?

11C(K-2)#4: Some changes are so slow or so fast that they are hard to see.

11C(K-2)#3: Things can change in different ways, such as in size, weight, color, and movement. Some small changes can be detected by taking measurements.

Class Calendar observational statement (See Final Activities steps 1-3 on page 25.)

Class discussion about prediction

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• Do the students recognize that it is difficult to actually observe a slow change like the caterpillars’ growth?
• Do students understand how the class calendar will help them test predictions and see how the caterpillars grow and change?