About ESIP

Books & Beyond

Classroom Connections

Home Site Map Contact

Life Cycles

The following is only a sampling of the many websites that contain information related to life cycles. Often the website will be a detailed look at a particular creature or creatures, with only a small portion concerned with the life cycle. However, the other additional pieces of information are certainly important and helpful when you and your class are conducting your studies. This list is organized in the same way as the list of books about life cycles (see http://www.umbc.edu/esip/books/galore/cycles.html). While the first section relates to a variety of creatures, the second section focuses on butterflies with the intent of showing the scope of websites that can be gathered to augment your study of the life cycle of one particular insect.

(The) Circle of Life

http://www.fi.edu/tfi/units/life/living/living.html

This offering from The Franklin Institute Online explores the life cycles of plants and animals and also includes links to websites that offer more details about specific life cycles.

Desert Animals & Wildlife-- Desert USA

http://www.desertusa.com/animal.html

At this site you can learn about the life cycles of mammals, birds, reptiles, insects and amphibians of the desert. You will also read how these creatures manage to survive and thrive in the desert.

Elephant's Life Cycle

http://elephant.elehost.com/About_Elephants/Life_Cycles/life_cycles.html

The elephant's life cycle is divided into three sections that "are based on the multitude of experiences and changes that occur in the different phases of development in the life of an elephant."

Kodiak Brown Bears-- Life Cycle

http://www.kodiak.org/life_cycle.html

A timeline is used to present information about the Kodiak brown bear's first year of life. The website also includes other detailed bear information.

Life Cycles-- Keep the Wild Alive-- National Wildlife Federation

http://www.nwf.org/keepthewildalive/lifecycles.cfm

"Learn about the birth, development, and death of the Indiana bat, Chinook salmon, grizzly bear, Mauna Kea silversword, dwarf wedgemussel, and Karner blue butterfly.

(The) Salmon Story-- Alaska Department of Fish and Game

http://www.cf.adfg.state.ak.us/geninfo/research/genetics/kids/salstory.htm

Visitors can find out more about the various stages of the life cycle of salmon by clicking on colorful photographs.

(The) Wild Ones: Flamingo

http://www.thewildones.org/Animals/flamingo.html

You probably know what flamingos look like, but do you know where they live, what they eat, or how they reproduce? Find out at this site which also provides information about numerous birds, herptiles, mammals, and invertebrates.

(The) Yearly Life Cycle of the Bumblebee

http://www.mearns.org.uk/mrssmith/bees/lifecycle.htm

The Bumblebee Pages contains detailed information about the life cycle of a bumblebee and its behavior. The website also has a fairly extensive list of books, articles, and websites about bumblebees.

Butterflies

Attracting Butterflies-- Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program-- National Wildlife Federation

http://www.nwf.org/backyardwildlifehabitat/attractbutterflies.cfm

View, and print, a butterfly guide! This website from the National Wildlife Federation has a Q & A section, butterfly facts, tips & projects, and some other helpful advice on creating wildlife habitats in your own backyard.

(The) Butterfly Conservatory, American Museum of Natural History

http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/butterflies/?src=e_h

The American Museum of Natural History shares the highlights of their Butterfly Conservatory. The butterfly tour and butterfly cams provide visitors with a "butterfly's" eye view.

(The) Butterfly Pavilion

http://www.butterflies.org/

For those who can't get to Colorado to visit The Butterfly Pavilion in person, try this instead. The site contains numerous details and photographs of the butterflies and invertebrates that are housed in the actual pavilion.

Enature Butterfly Field Guide

http://www.enature.com/guides/select_Butterflies.asp

Find out about the life cycle, physical characteristics, and habitats of over 450 different butterflies. Information is accompanied by gorgeous color photographs.

Monarch Watch: Dedicated to Education, Conservation and Research

http://www.monarchwatch.org/

Life cycle descriptions are just a tiny part of this website which could also be titled "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Monarchs…and More!" Perhaps you'll decide to get your students involved in one of the ongoing research projects.