Are the stinky seeds and dung beetles good for each other?

Are the stinky seeds and dung beetles good for each other?
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Activity Prep

Print Prep

In this performance task, students will compare and contrast the life cycles of the dung beetle and the plant that produces the stinky seed. They will then develop their own models of how each life cycle is affected by the other organism.

Preview activity
Number of students:
Stinky Life Cycles Answer Key teacher-only resource 1 per class
Stinky Life Cycles Diagrams worksheet 1 per pair
Stinky Life Cycles Worksheets worksheet 1 per pair
Prep Instructions

Before starting this lesson, review the unit Teacher Guide for an overview of the Power of Flowers Anchor Layer.

Answer Key for reference: Stinky Life Cycles Answer Key



Plan Ahead

We recommend having students work in pairs.

Each pair will need one Stinky Life Cycles Diagrams page and one Stinky Life Cycles worksheet packet.



Extension Ideas

Here are a few ideas on how to extend this activity:

  • Have a class discussion about what would happen if the dung beetles only buried stinky seeds and never buried dung. Would there even be a life cycle? Why or why not?

  • Have students research metamorphosis.

  • Have students create life cycles for other living things that they are interested in.

Unit Review

10 mins

Hands-On Activity

50 mins

Extend this lesson

Download this Lesson to your device so you can play it offline: