Animal Growth - Presentation

The presentation on Animal Growth delves into the fascinating journey of life cycles in both humans and various animal species. It begins by posing questions that encourage students to consider the stages of human development, from birth to old age, and to compare these with the life cycles of other animals, including insects. The presentation includes a poem that whimsically captures the human life cycle, highlighting key stages such as infancy, adolescence, adulthood, and old age. It prompts students to reflect on the number of life stages, the typical age for having children, and the time it takes for a human to be born. Additionally, it encourages exploration of the concept of helplessness in infancy, the changes during adolescence, and the different lengths of life cycles across creatures.

Further engaging with the animal kingdom, the presentation explores the distinct life cycles of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, butterflies, and dragonflies. Students are tasked with ordering life stages and researching the gestation periods of various mammals. They are also invited to create a poster about the life cycle of an insect, learning about the transformation from larva to imago via the chrysalis stage. The session concludes with an investigation into the relationship between age and body size in humans, examining patterns and factors that influence growth. The presentation aims to equip students with the knowledge to describe the life cycles of humans and animals, understand the growth process from offspring to adults, and recognise the continuity of life through reproduction.