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Recognize the major stages in life cycles of common plants and animals.
Access Point #: SC.4.L.16.Su.3
Access Point Standards

Visit the specific benchmark webpage to find related instructional resources.

  • SC.4.L.16.4: Compare and contrast the major stages in the life cycles of Florida plants and animals, such as those that undergo incomplete and complete metamorphosis, and flowering and nonflowering seed-bearing plants.
Access Point Information
Number:
SC.4.L.16.Su.3
Category:
Supported
Date Adopted or Revised:
02/08
Big Idea:
Heredity and Reproduction : A. Offspring of plants and animals are similar to, but not exactly like, their parents or each other.

B. Life cycles vary among organisms, but reproduction is a major stage in the life cycle of all organisms.
Access Point Courses
  • Science - Grade Four (#5020050):
  • Access Science Grade 4 (#7720050):
  • STEM Lab Grade 4 (#5020110): This course offers students an opportunity to deepen science, mathematics, engineering, and technology skills.  The primary content focus will be to expand knowledge of current grade level standards in mathematics and science by applying that content in a real world, hands-on situation involving engineering and technology.  For fourth grade, themes will focus on the investigation of number sense, measurement, geometry, earth science, life science, and physical science concepts.

    Students will participate in various hands-on STEM activities in this supplemental course to assist in the mastery of current grade level mathematics and science standards.

    Instructional Practices 
    Teaching from a range of complex text is optimized when teachers in all subject areas implement the following strategies on a routine basis:

    1. Ensuring wide reading from complex text that varies in length.
    2. Making close reading and rereading of texts central to lessons.
    3. Emphasizing text-specific complex questions, and cognitively complex tasks, reinforce focus on the text and cultivate independence.
    4. Emphasizing students supporting answers based upon evidence from the text.
    5. Providing extensive research and writing opportunities (claims and evidence).

    Science and Engineering Practices (NRC Framework for K-12 Science Education, 2010)

    • Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering).
    • Developing and using models.
    • Planning and carrying out investigations.
    • Analyzing and interpreting data.
    • Using mathematics, information and computer technology, and computational thinking.
    • Constructing explanations (for science) and designing solutions (for engineering).
    • Engaging in argument from evidence.
    • Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information.

    English Language Development (ELD) Standards Special Notes Section:

    Teachers are required to provide listening, speaking, reading and writing instruction that allows English Language Learners (ELL) to communicate information, ideas and concepts for academic success in science and math.  For the given level of English language proficiency and with visual, graphic, or interactive support, students will interact with grade level words, expressions, sentences and discourse to process or produce language necessary for academic success.  The ELD standard should specify a relevant content area concept or topic of study chosen by curriculum developers and teachers which maximizes an ELL's need for communication and social skills.  To access an ELL supporting document which delineates performance definitions and descriptors, please click on the following link:  {{AzureStorageLink}}/uploads/docs/standards/eld/sc.pdf.

Access Point Resources
Lesson Plans
  • Exploring Plants:Students will be introduced to the study of plants in this lesson. First they will sprout bean seeds on moistened paper towels, then make drawings and measurements of their growth. They will watch time-lapse videos that illustrate a plant's major growth stages. Another clip covers fruits and asks students to consider how their seeds are spread. They will gather seeds by walking outside with an old sock over one of their shoes, then plant their sock to observe the resulting plants.
  • Have I Morphed Yet?:In this sequence of observations, students will observe the life cycles of butterflies, darkling beetles, preying mantises, and grasshoppers to compare and contrast complete metamorphosis (butterflies and darkling beetles) and incomplete metamorphosis (preying mantis, grasshoppers, termites).

    This sequence is a long-term investigation. The initial cycle requires a 45-60 minute period to introduce and model journal entries, but after that it only requires 5-10 minutes per day to make observations. Research can be done throughout the cycle at a Reading center. At the conclusion of each cycle, another 45 minute session is needed for wrap-up and assessment.

    SPECIAL NOTE: To fully implement this benchmark, the teacher should repeat this basic investigation format with plants. Beans and daisies work well as flowering plants and allow the students to proceed through the entire life cycle (seed, seedling, adult, back to the seed stage). This can be done in conjunction with benchmark SC.4.L.16.1: Identify processes of sexual reproduction in flowering plants, including pollination, fertilization (seed dispersal), and germination. For non-flowering, seed-bearing plants (conifers), you can't go through an entire life cycle within the classroom. However, this website has an image that goes through the life cycle of a conifer: 

Unit/Lesson Sequence
  • Plants Parts and Life Cycles:In this unit, students learn about various plants, their parts, their life cycles, and the importance of bees in plant reproduction.