Science·Insects & Minibeasts·conceptual
Types of Metamorphosis
Complete vs incomplete metamorphosis. Complete: egg → larva → pupa → adult (butterflies, beetles, flies). Incomplete: egg → nymph → adult — the nymph looks like a small version of the adult and moults as it grows (grasshoppers, dragonflies, crickets). Why do some insects transform completely while others grow gradually?
Suggested ages 9–11
Evidence of understanding
- Compare complete and incomplete metamorphosis by describing the stages of each on a diagram
- Classify at least three insects into the correct metamorphosis type such as butterfly (complete) and grasshopper (incomplete)
- Explain that nymphs resemble adults while larvae look completely different from their adult form
Assessment prompt
Can Types of Metamorphosis explain the difference between a butterfly's life cycle and a grasshopper's — why the caterpillar looks nothing like the butterfly, but a baby grasshopper already looks like a small grasshopper?
Standards alignment
No external standards are linked to this topic.