Is It Metamorphic or Not? Life Cycle Sorting Activity

Some animals go through dramatic body changes as they grow, like a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly. This is called a metamorphic life cycle, where an animal’s form changes significantly between stages. Other animals grow and develop without major changes to their body structure, such as a cat or dog. These animals have a non-metamorphic life cycle, meaning they look similar to their adult form from birth or hatching and mainly increase in size as they mature.

This printable life-cycle sorting activity helps students explore the differences between animals with metamorphic and non-metamorphic life cycles. Using engaging picture cards, students sort animals into two clear categories based on how they grow and change over time.

This Life Cycle Sorting Activity is hands-on, visual, and far more memorable than a traditional worksheet.

Identifying Animals With Metamorphic vs. Non-Metamorphic Life Cycles

Students will analyse each animal card and decide whether the animal undergoes metamorphosis—a dramatic change in body structure—or grows through gradual development without major transformation.

Through this activity, students will:

• Compare animals with metamorphic vs. non-metamorphic life cycles
• Identify animals that do not experience metamorphosis
• Strengthen classification and observation skills

The visual format supports learners as they build understanding of how insects, amphibians, mammals, and other animals grow and change. 

Download This Life Cycle Sort Today!

This low-prep Life Cycle Sort is easy to download and implement right away. 

This resource is available in both PDF and editable Google Slides format.  To get your copy, click the dropdown arrow on the download button and choose your preferred file type.

This resource was created by Lindsey Phillips, a teacher in Michigan and Teach Starter Collaborator.

More Life Cycle Learning Resources

Looking to expand your life cycle unit? Pair this sorting activity with more of our Life Cycle learning resources to fill out your animal science unit plans. Make sure you check these out before you go!

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Butterfly Life Cycle Worksheet Pack

Identify the stages in a butterfly's life with a fun printable from our Butterfly Life Cycle Worksheet Pack.

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Explore how humans and animals grow and change with a Comparing Life Cycles Worksheet.

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Life Cycles – Instructional Slide Deck

Teach your students about the life cycle of plants and animals with this 19-slide instructional slide deck.