What are the 4 stages of a butterfly life cycle?

The four stages of butterfly metamorphosis are: 1) Egg - laid on host plant leaves, 2) Larva (Caterpillar) - eating and growing stage, 3) Pupa (Chrysalis) - transformation stage inside protective casing, and 4) Adult Butterfly - winged reproductive stage. This is called complete metamorphosis.

What is the life cycle of a plant?

The plant life cycle includes: seed germination, seedling growth, mature vegetative plant, flowering, pollination, fertilization, fruit/seed development, and seed dispersal. The cycle then repeats when new seeds germinate. Flowering plants (angiosperms) follow this pattern.

How do I teach life cycles to elementary students?

Start with familiar organisms like butterflies or plants. Use labeled diagrams for introduction, then unlabeled worksheets for practice. Combine with hands-on activities like growing plants from seeds or observing caterpillars. Our generator creates both labeled and unlabeled versions for this progression.

What is the difference between complete and incomplete metamorphosis?

Complete metamorphosis (butterflies, beetles, flies) has 4 distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, adult — the larva looks completely different from the adult. Incomplete metamorphosis (grasshoppers, dragonflies) has 3 stages: egg, nymph, adult — the nymph resembles a small wingless adult.

Can I create unlabeled life cycle diagrams for tests?

Yes! Our generator creates unlabeled versions perfect for quizzes and assessments. Students can fill in stage names, draw arrows showing progression, or match descriptions to stages. Select "Unlabeled (Quiz Worksheet)" in the style options.

What life cycles are best for different grade levels?

Kindergarten-1st: Simple plant seeds, butterfly basics. 2nd-3rd: Full butterfly metamorphosis, frog life cycle, plant life cycle with pollination. 4th-5th: Comparing life cycles, complete vs incomplete metamorphosis, seed dispersal methods. Our generator adjusts complexity for each grade level.

Free for Teachers

Life Cycle Diagram Generator

Create free printable life cycle diagrams for plants, butterflies, frogs, chickens, and more. Generate labeled and unlabeled versions perfect for science worksheets, classroom posters, and assessment activities.

Plants & AnimalsLabeled & UnlabeledMultiple Grade LevelsPrintable Worksheets

Life Cycle Diagram Examples

Browse our collection or generate your own custom diagram above

View:

Plant Life Cycle (Labeled)

plantlabeledelementary

Butterfly Life Cycle (Unlabeled)

butterflyunlabeledworksheet

Frog Life Cycle (Colorful Poster)

frogcolorfulposter

Chicken Life Cycle Worksheet

chickenfarmworksheet

2 more examples available

Sign in for free to unlock all example diagrams and generate your own 4k custom diagrams.

What is a Life Cycle?

A life cycle describes the series of changes that a living organism goes through from birth to death, and often includes reproduction to start the cycle again. Understanding life cycles helps students learn about growth, development, and the continuity of life. Life cycle diagrams are essential teaching tools in elementary and middle school science, helping students visualize how organisms change over time. Our AI-powered generator creates accurate, engaging diagrams for any organism you're studying.

Popular Life Cycles for the Classroom

**Plant Life Cycle**: From seed to seedling to mature plant to flower to fruit and back to seed. Perfect for teaching about botany, photosynthesis, and plant reproduction. **Butterfly Metamorphosis**: The classic four-stage complete metamorphosis — egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult butterfly. A favorite for spring science units. **Frog Life Cycle**: Shows amphibian metamorphosis from eggs (spawn) through tadpole stages to adult frog. Great for teaching about aquatic and terrestrial adaptations. **Chicken Life Cycle**: From egg through embryo development to hatching chick to adult. Popular for farm units and embryology studies.

Types of Life Cycle Diagrams

**Labeled Diagrams**: Include stage names and descriptions — ideal for introducing new concepts and classroom instruction. **Unlabeled Worksheets**: Perfect for assessments, quizzes, and student practice. Students fill in the stage names themselves. **Colorful Posters**: Eye-catching visuals for classroom walls and bulletin boards. **Black & White Worksheets**: Print-friendly versions that double as coloring pages for younger students. Our generator lets you create all these variations for any life cycle you're teaching.

Teaching Life Cycles: Best Practices

**Use Real Specimens**: Pair diagrams with live observations when possible — watch caterpillars metamorphose, grow bean plants, or observe tadpoles. **Compare and Contrast**: Use our diagrams to compare complete metamorphosis (butterfly) vs. incomplete metamorphosis (grasshopper) vs. no metamorphosis (humans). **Sequence Activities**: Print unlabeled diagrams and have students cut and arrange stages in order. **Cross-Curricular Connections**: Connect life cycles to literacy (reading life cycle books), math (counting days in each stage), and art (drawing observations).

Life Cycle Diagram Generator

Coloring Page Generator