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The Life of a Butterfly

A complete A2 classroom lesson with the EnglishDrills nine-colour lesson sequence.

A250–60 minutesScience & naturePrintable
Teacher lesson: Look at the picture and title. What do you already know? Discuss with a partner and write two ideas. Work through the nine panels in order, or choose the sections that suit your class. Teacher answers and the listening script are stored separately.
Teacher Answers
1 Lesson Goals
A colourful butterfly resting on a flower

By the end of this lesson, I will be able to:

  • understand the main ideas and key details in The Life of a Butterfly.
  • learn and use important vocabulary from the lesson.
  • use the lesson language in speaking or writing.
Start here: What do you already know about this topic? Tell a partner one idea.
2 Reading
Before you read:

Look at the picture and title. What do you already know? Discuss with a partner and write two ideas.

A butterfly begins life as a tiny egg on a leaf. After a few days, a caterpillar comes out and starts eating leaves. As it grows, it becomes bigger and stronger. Later, the caterpillar forms a chrysalis. Inside the chrysalis, its body changes. After about two weeks, a butterfly emerges. Its wings slowly open and dry. The butterfly then flies to flowers to drink nectar. Later, it lays new eggs and the life cycle begins again.
3 Vocabulary
Words: egg · caterpillar · chrysalis · nectar · wings

Write a short meaning or example for each word.

egg –

caterpillar –

chrysalis –

nectar –

wings –

4 Check Your Understanding

1. What is the main topic of the reading?

2. Write one important detail from the reading.

3. What happens or is explained next?

4. Which detail did you find most interesting?

5. What can we learn from this topic?

5 Language Focus

Complete the sequence with first, next, then, finally.

1. the butterfly begins as an egg.

2. a caterpillar comes out.

3. it forms a chrysalis.

4. the adult butterfly emerges.

6 Listen & Speak

Listen

Listen to your teacher. You will hear the text twice. Answer the questions.

1. Where is the egg?

2. What does the caterpillar eat?

3. What happens inside the chrysalis?

4. What does the butterfly drink?

Speak

Discuss with a partner.

• What was new or surprising?
• How does this topic connect with real life?
• What question would you like to ask about it?

The Life of a Butterfly — Continued
7 Use Your English

Something New

In teams, write the four stages on separate slips. Mix them up, then race to put them in the correct order and explain each stage.

Write

Write 6–8 sentences explaining the life cycle of a butterfly.

8 Puzzle or Game
Draw, Mime or Describe

Choose a useful word from this lesson. Do not say the word. Draw it, mime it, or describe it. Your partner has three guesses.

Swap roles and play again with a different word.

9 Success Criteria ✓

Tick each statement when you can do it.

  • I can explain the main idea of the lesson.
  • I can use at least three new words correctly.
  • I can complete the language task.
  • I can share an idea in spoken or written English.

One thing I am proud of today:

10 Show What You Can Do
My final challenge: The Life of a Butterfly

Plan: Write 5 useful words or ideas from the lesson, or make a quick labelled sketch.

Write: Write 5–7 sentences that show what you learned. Try to use at least 3 words from the Vocabulary panel.

Share: Explain your work to a partner for about 30 seconds.