PRIMARY 4: BASIC SCIENCE – FIRST TERM | WEEK 3

TOPIC: CHANGES IN ANIMALS

A: TEACHING AND LEARNING MATERIALS

1. Pictures of young and adult animals.
2. Life-cycle charts.
3. Pictures of butterfly stages.
4. Pictures of mosquito stages.
5. Pictures of housefly stages.
6. Flashcards containing names of young animals.

B: REFERENCE MATERIALS

1. Scheme of work.
2. Recommended Basic Science textbook for Primary 4.
3. Online educational resources.

C: PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE

The pupils have learnt that living things such as plants undergo changes as they grow from one stage to another.

D: PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

1. Explain changes in animals.
2. Identify young ones of common animals.
3. State differences between young and adult animals.
4. Describe the life cycle of a butterfly.
5. Describe the life cycle of a mosquito.
6. Describe the life cycle of a housefly.

E: CONTENT

Changes in Animals

Animals are living things. They change as they grow. A young animal may be smaller and weaker than an adult animal. Examples:

• Chick → Hen or cock.
• Puppy → Dog.
• Kitten → Cat.
• Calf → Cow.
• Kid → Goat.

Changes from Young to Adult

As animals grow:

• They become bigger.
• Their body features develop.
• Their weight increases.
• Some develop feathers, fur or horns.
• They become able to reproduce.

Life Cycle of a Butterfly

The stages are:

1. Egg.
2. Caterpillar or larva.
3. Pupa.
4. Adult butterfly.

🥚 → 🐛 → Pupa → 🦋

Life Cycle of a Mosquito

1. Egg.
2. Larva.
3. Pupa.
4. Adult mosquito.

Mosquitoes often lay their eggs in stagnant water.

Life Cycle of a Housefly

1. Egg.
2. Maggot.
3. Pupa.
4. Adult housefly.

Houseflies often breed around dirty places and decaying materials.

F: LESSON PRESENTATION

F1: Teachers’ Activities

1. Displays pictures of young and adult animals.
2. Explains how animals change as they grow.
3. Introduces the meaning of life cycle.
4. Uses charts to explain the life cycle of a butterfly.
5. Explains the life cycles of mosquitoes and houseflies.
6. Discusses cleanliness as a way of reducing mosquitoes and houseflies.
7. Asks pupils questions.

F2: Pupils’ Activities

1. Identify young and adult animals.
2. Match young animals with their adults.
3. Describe changes in growing animals.
4. Arrange butterfly life-cycle stages correctly.
5. Arrange mosquito life-cycle stages correctly.
6. Answer questions on animal growth.

G: CONCLUSION

The teacher revises the changes animals undergo as they grow and the stages in the life cycles of butterflies, mosquitoes and houseflies. The teacher encourages pupils to keep their surroundings clean to reduce harmful insects.

H: EVALUATION GUIDE

Pupils should be able to answer the following questions:

1. What is the young one of a dog called?
2. What is the young one of a goat called?
3. Mention two changes that occur as animals grow.
4. List the four stages in the life cycle of a butterfly.
5. Where do mosquitoes commonly lay their eggs?
6. What is the larva of a housefly called?
7. Arrange correctly: butterfly, egg, caterpillar, pupa.