A life cycle depicts the changes a living thing goes through during its life. In some cases, this process is slow and gradual but in others the process is quick. Mayflies have the shortest life cycle on Earth. Their life only lasts 24 hours, but some species only last a few hours.

No prior knowledge is required.

This is a stand-alone Outreach program and should not be booked in conjunction with the onsite program ‘Life cycles’ as it covers some of the same content.

How do lifecycles differ between animals?

In this program students will:

• Define the term life cycle
• Learn the life cycle of a frog, insect and reptile
• Identify the habitat requirements of the spiny leaf insect, lizard and frog.

Students will:

• Observe a leaf insect, frog and lizard
• Discuss the life cycles of the insect, frog and lizard
• Sequence the life cycle of an amphibian

Science – Science understanding

• Living things have characteristics that distinguish them from non-living things and things that were once living, including fossils (VC2S4U01)
• Plants and animals have different life cycles; offspring are similar, but not identical, to their parents (VC2S4U02)

Science – Science inquiry

• Observations can be used as a basis for posing questions to identify patterns and relationships, and to predict the outcomes of investigations (VC2S4I01)
• Observations, findings and ideas can be communicated for an identified purpose and audience by using scientific vocabulary and digital tools as appropriate (VC2S4I06)