Complete and Incomplete Metamorphosis
Unit Connections / Concept & Processes & Skills
Plants and animals grow in a variety of ways during their life cycles.
What are the stages of the plant life cycle?
What are the stages of complete metamorphosis?
What are the stages of incomplete metamorphosis? / Metamorphosis is a profound change in form from one stage to the next in the life history of an organism.
Some insects go through complete metamorphosis.
In complete metamorphosis, there is great developmental change between stages.
The best way to identify complete metamorphosis is whether all of the stages look different.
Examples of animals that go through complete metamorphosis include mealworms, butterflies, frogs, lady bugs, fly, bee, flea, etc.
Some insects go through incomplete metamorphosis.
In incomplete metamorphosis, there is very little developmental change between stages.
Insects that go through incomplete metamorphosis will look very similar to the adult, but will not have wings.
Examples of insects that go through incomplete metamorphosis include grasshopper, cockroach, cicada, stink bug, dragonfly, earwig, etc.
Misconceptions
- The first stage of each life cycle is the egg; every life cycle begins with the egg; Labeling the ‘egg’ as the first stage.
Fact: The stages in a life cycle are repeated and there is no first or last stage. - Only insects go through metamorphosis.
Fact: Frogs, newts, salamander, toads (amphibians), and some fish also go through metamorphosis. - Small insects with wings are baby insects that will grow up to be adults.
Fact: If an insect has wings, it’s an adult, no matter how tiny it might be. Insects only grow as nymphs or larvae. Winged insects have already reached their adult size, and will not grow larger. - Humans change as they grow older, so we go through incomplete metamorphosis.
Fact: Humans are born with everything they need for life, even their teeth. Humans only grow bigger and taller, but never make a change such as growing new internal or external organs.
Graphic Cues
Student Outcomes
Design and implement an investigation with only one variable and that is repeated to prove the data is valid.
- What should we keep the same?
- What should be different?
- What are we measuring?
- How would we retest the investigation?
- What should the retested investigation look like? Should anything be changed?
Identify the stages and function of the stages in complete metamorphosis.
- What are the stages in complete metamorphosis?
- What are some examples of insects that go through complete metamorphosis?
- How is each stage different?
- What are some clues that an organism goes through complete metamorphosis?
- Why is it difficult to identify the offspring of an adult when it goes through complete metamorphosis?
Identify the stages and function of the stages in incomplete metamorphosis.
- What are the stages in incomplete metamorphosis?
- What are some examples of insects that go through incomplete metamorphosis?
- How is each stage different?
- What are some clues that an organism goes through incomplete metamorphosis?
Compare complete and incomplete metamorphosis and life cycles of other living organisms.
- How are the stages of complete and incomplete metamorphosis the same and different?
- How long does it take animals/insects to complete their life cycles? Does it vary between organisms? Species?
Compare life cycles of animals, other insects, and plants.
- How do the offspring look compared to the parent?
- How do each of the different life cycles begin? End?
- What do all life cycles have in common?
Vocabulary Focus
Key Vocabulary for the Week
Life Cycle
Metamorphosis / Complete Metamorphosis
Incomplete Metamorphosis