Product Title

• Grades: K–6
• Number of Students: 1–4
• Number of Lessons: 1–3 flexible, teacher-created lessons
• Hours of Content: Approximately 1–3 hours of hands-on instructional use, depending on activities and discussion
• Additional Resources: Optional live praying mantis egg case for observing development and hatching; Insect Lore specifically recommends pairing the figurines with an egg case. ; Praying mantis books, diagrams, videos, observation journals, and sequencing worksheets can extend the activity.

Highlights:

• Hands-on, tactile model of the praying mantis life cycle
• Four realistically sculpted and painted stages
• Supports sequencing and observation skills
• Durable, flexible plastic figures designed for repeated classroom use
• Oversized figures are suitable for young learners' hands
• Recommended for ages 4 and up
• Useful as a visual aid for classroom science, nature study, and life-cycle activities

Curriculum or Lesson Topics:

• Life cycles
• Insect development
• Praying mantis biology
• Metamorphosis and growth
• Egg development and hatching
• Sequencing and classification
• Observation and scientific inquiry
• Animals, insects, and nature study
• Vocabulary: egg case, nymph, adult, life cycle

Standard Alignments:

• NGSS K-LS1-1: Use observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals need to survive.
• NGSS 1-LS1-2: Read texts and use media to determine patterns in behavior of parents and offspring that help offspring survive.
• NGSS 3-LS1-1: Develop models to describe that organisms have unique and diverse life cycles.
• NGSS 4-LS1-1: Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction.
• Supports common elementary science standards addressing life cycles, organisms, observation, classification, and patterns.

What’s Included:

Four praying mantis life-cycle figurines representing:

1. Soft egg case
2. Hardened egg case
3. Nymphs
4. Adult praying mantis 

The figures are made of durable, flexible plastic and are accurately painted and sculpted. 

Technology Requirements/Specifications:

• No technology required
• Hands-on, screen-free learning resource
• No batteries or assembly required
• Product material: plastic
• Manufacturer SKU: 2510 / ILP2510
• Recommended for ages 4+

Special Notes and Considerations:

• This is a supplemental teaching/manipulative resource rather than a complete curriculum; lesson plans, assessments, and instructional materials are not included.
• Students can mix up the figures and arrange them in the correct developmental sequence, making the set particularly useful for sequencing activities. The set is intended for children ages 4 and up; products containing small parts should not be used with children under 3. 
• The life-cycle figures can be used independently or paired with a live egg case for a more immersive observation experience.