Trace metamorphosis in butterflies and frogs, egg development, pollination, seed dispersal and germination. Review suitability for your learners before teaching.
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Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 7-9
Animal & plant life cycles
Take your time. Show your thinking.
1. Where do female sea turtles return to lay their clutches of leathery eggs: in a nest dug in the warm sand of a beach above the high-tide line, or floating on the waves?
Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult
2. How are dandelion seeds and sycamore “helicopter” seeds adapted for wind dispersal: they have feathery parachutes or wing-like blades that catch the breeze and keep them airborne longer, or they are heavy stones?
Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult
3. How does a newly hatched tadpole breathe while living underwater before it grows lungs: through gills, or through a snorkel?
Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult
4. How are wind-pollinated plants (such as grasses, rice and maize) different from insect-pollinated flowers: they have small, dull flowers without scent or nectar and produce huge amounts of light pollen that blows in the wind, or they have giant neon petals?
Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult
5. What is the correct four-stage life cycle of a butterfly in order: Egg → Caterpillar (larva) → Chrysalis (pupa) → Adult butterfly, or Adult → Egg → Caterpillar → Pupa?
Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult
6. In the life cycle of a butterfly, what is the resting casing inside which the caterpillar transforms into a winged adult: the chrysalis (pupa) or the seed?
Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult
7. In the life cycle of a butterfly, what is the feeding stage that hatches from the egg and eats leaves to grow rapidly: the caterpillar (larva) or the pupa?
Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult
8. When a seed germinates, which part grows out first and pushes downward into the soil to anchor the plant and absorb water: the young root (radicle) or the flower?
Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult
9. What is the transfer of pollen grains from the male anther of a flower to the female stigma called: pollination or germination?
Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult
10. How is a coconut fruit adapted to be dispersed between islands by ocean currents: it has a thick, fibrous, air-filled husk that makes it buoyant (float) and waterproof in seawater, or it has wings?
Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult
11. What three conditions do almost all seeds need in order to germinate successfully: water, oxygen and a suitable temperature (warmth), or bright electric light and salt?
Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult
12. Why do plants scatter (disperse) their seeds away from the parent plant: so the young seedlings do not have to compete with the parent plant for light, water and soil minerals, or to keep the seeds cold?
Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult
12 questions · Seed 42 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
View the answer key
Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 7-9
Animal & plant life cycles
Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.
1. Where do female sea turtles return to lay their clutches of leathery eggs: in a nest dug in the warm sand of a beach above the high-tide line, or floating on the waves?
In a nest dug in the warm sand of a beach above the high-tide line
Female sea turtles crawl ashore at night to bury their eggs in sandy beaches; hatchlings then scramble to the sea.
2. How are dandelion seeds and sycamore “helicopter” seeds adapted for wind dispersal: they have feathery parachutes or wing-like blades that catch the breeze and keep them airborne longer, or they are heavy stones?
They have feathery parachutes or wing-like blades that catch the breeze and keep them airborne longer
Lightweight aerodynamic structures allow the wind to carry seeds far from the parent plant.
3. How does a newly hatched tadpole breathe while living underwater before it grows lungs: through gills, or through a snorkel?
Through gills
Tadpoles use gills to absorb dissolved oxygen from water; as they metamorphose into frogs, they develop lungs and breathe through moist skin.
4. How are wind-pollinated plants (such as grasses, rice and maize) different from insect-pollinated flowers: they have small, dull flowers without scent or nectar and produce huge amounts of light pollen that blows in the wind, or they have giant neon petals?
They have small, dull flowers without scent or nectar and produce huge amounts of light pollen that blows in the wind
Because grasses rely on the wind rather than insects, they do not need showy petals or nectar.
5. What is the correct four-stage life cycle of a butterfly in order: Egg → Caterpillar (larva) → Chrysalis (pupa) → Adult butterfly, or Adult → Egg → Caterpillar → Pupa?
A butterfly undergoes complete metamorphosis through four distinct stages.
6. In the life cycle of a butterfly, what is the resting casing inside which the caterpillar transforms into a winged adult: the chrysalis (pupa) or the seed?
Chrysalis (pupa)
Inside the chrysalis (pupa), tissues reorganise into the adult butterfly.
7. In the life cycle of a butterfly, what is the feeding stage that hatches from the egg and eats leaves to grow rapidly: the caterpillar (larva) or the pupa?
Caterpillar (larva)
The caterpillar is the larval stage specialised for feeding and growth.
8. When a seed germinates, which part grows out first and pushes downward into the soil to anchor the plant and absorb water: the young root (radicle) or the flower?
The young root (radicle)
The radicle emerges first to secure water and anchor the seedling before the shoot grows upward.
9. What is the transfer of pollen grains from the male anther of a flower to the female stigma called: pollination or germination?
Pollination
Pollination can be carried out by insects, birds, bats or the wind.
10. How is a coconut fruit adapted to be dispersed between islands by ocean currents: it has a thick, fibrous, air-filled husk that makes it buoyant (float) and waterproof in seawater, or it has wings?
It has a thick, fibrous, air-filled husk that makes it buoyant (float) and waterproof in seawater
Coconuts can float across the sea for weeks and still germinate when washed onto a sandy beach.
11. What three conditions do almost all seeds need in order to germinate successfully: water, oxygen and a suitable temperature (warmth), or bright electric light and salt?
Water, oxygen and a suitable temperature (warmth)
Seeds use stored food reserves to germinate underground and do not need light until their first leaves emerge for photosynthesis.
12. Why do plants scatter (disperse) their seeds away from the parent plant: so the young seedlings do not have to compete with the parent plant for light, water and soil minerals, or to keep the seeds cold?
So the young seedlings do not have to compete with the parent plant for light, water and soil minerals
Seed dispersal reduces overcrowding and helps plants colonise new habitats.
12 questions · Seed 42 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 7-9
Animal & plant life cycles
Take your time. Show your thinking.
1. Where do female sea turtles return to lay their clutches of leathery eggs: in a nest dug in the warm sand of a beach above the high-tide line, or floating on the waves?
Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult
2. How are dandelion seeds and sycamore “helicopter” seeds adapted for wind dispersal: they have feathery parachutes or wing-like blades that catch the breeze and keep them airborne longer, or they are heavy stones?
Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult
3. How does a newly hatched tadpole breathe while living underwater before it grows lungs: through gills, or through a snorkel?
Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult
4. How are wind-pollinated plants (such as grasses, rice and maize) different from insect-pollinated flowers: they have small, dull flowers without scent or nectar and produce huge amounts of light pollen that blows in the wind, or they have giant neon petals?
Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult
5. What is the correct four-stage life cycle of a butterfly in order: Egg → Caterpillar (larva) → Chrysalis (pupa) → Adult butterfly, or Adult → Egg → Caterpillar → Pupa?
Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult
6. In the life cycle of a butterfly, what is the resting casing inside which the caterpillar transforms into a winged adult: the chrysalis (pupa) or the seed?
Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult
7. In the life cycle of a butterfly, what is the feeding stage that hatches from the egg and eats leaves to grow rapidly: the caterpillar (larva) or the pupa?
Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult
8. When a seed germinates, which part grows out first and pushes downward into the soil to anchor the plant and absorb water: the young root (radicle) or the flower?
Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult
9. What is the transfer of pollen grains from the male anther of a flower to the female stigma called: pollination or germination?
Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult
10. How is a coconut fruit adapted to be dispersed between islands by ocean currents: it has a thick, fibrous, air-filled husk that makes it buoyant (float) and waterproof in seawater, or it has wings?
Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult
11. What three conditions do almost all seeds need in order to germinate successfully: water, oxygen and a suitable temperature (warmth), or bright electric light and salt?
Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult
12. Why do plants scatter (disperse) their seeds away from the parent plant: so the young seedlings do not have to compete with the parent plant for light, water and soil minerals, or to keep the seeds cold?
Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult
12 questions · Seed 42 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 7-9
Animal & plant life cycles
Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.
1. Where do female sea turtles return to lay their clutches of leathery eggs: in a nest dug in the warm sand of a beach above the high-tide line, or floating on the waves?
In a nest dug in the warm sand of a beach above the high-tide line
Female sea turtles crawl ashore at night to bury their eggs in sandy beaches; hatchlings then scramble to the sea.
2. How are dandelion seeds and sycamore “helicopter” seeds adapted for wind dispersal: they have feathery parachutes or wing-like blades that catch the breeze and keep them airborne longer, or they are heavy stones?
They have feathery parachutes or wing-like blades that catch the breeze and keep them airborne longer
Lightweight aerodynamic structures allow the wind to carry seeds far from the parent plant.
3. How does a newly hatched tadpole breathe while living underwater before it grows lungs: through gills, or through a snorkel?
Through gills
Tadpoles use gills to absorb dissolved oxygen from water; as they metamorphose into frogs, they develop lungs and breathe through moist skin.
4. How are wind-pollinated plants (such as grasses, rice and maize) different from insect-pollinated flowers: they have small, dull flowers without scent or nectar and produce huge amounts of light pollen that blows in the wind, or they have giant neon petals?
They have small, dull flowers without scent or nectar and produce huge amounts of light pollen that blows in the wind
Because grasses rely on the wind rather than insects, they do not need showy petals or nectar.
5. What is the correct four-stage life cycle of a butterfly in order: Egg → Caterpillar (larva) → Chrysalis (pupa) → Adult butterfly, or Adult → Egg → Caterpillar → Pupa?
A butterfly undergoes complete metamorphosis through four distinct stages.
6. In the life cycle of a butterfly, what is the resting casing inside which the caterpillar transforms into a winged adult: the chrysalis (pupa) or the seed?
Chrysalis (pupa)
Inside the chrysalis (pupa), tissues reorganise into the adult butterfly.
7. In the life cycle of a butterfly, what is the feeding stage that hatches from the egg and eats leaves to grow rapidly: the caterpillar (larva) or the pupa?
Caterpillar (larva)
The caterpillar is the larval stage specialised for feeding and growth.
8. When a seed germinates, which part grows out first and pushes downward into the soil to anchor the plant and absorb water: the young root (radicle) or the flower?
The young root (radicle)
The radicle emerges first to secure water and anchor the seedling before the shoot grows upward.
9. What is the transfer of pollen grains from the male anther of a flower to the female stigma called: pollination or germination?
Pollination
Pollination can be carried out by insects, birds, bats or the wind.
10. How is a coconut fruit adapted to be dispersed between islands by ocean currents: it has a thick, fibrous, air-filled husk that makes it buoyant (float) and waterproof in seawater, or it has wings?
It has a thick, fibrous, air-filled husk that makes it buoyant (float) and waterproof in seawater
Coconuts can float across the sea for weeks and still germinate when washed onto a sandy beach.
11. What three conditions do almost all seeds need in order to germinate successfully: water, oxygen and a suitable temperature (warmth), or bright electric light and salt?
Water, oxygen and a suitable temperature (warmth)
Seeds use stored food reserves to germinate underground and do not need light until their first leaves emerge for photosynthesis.
12. Why do plants scatter (disperse) their seeds away from the parent plant: so the young seedlings do not have to compete with the parent plant for light, water and soil minerals, or to keep the seeds cold?
So the young seedlings do not have to compete with the parent plant for light, water and soil minerals
Seed dispersal reduces overcrowding and helps plants colonise new habitats.
12 questions · Seed 42 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification