Engage students in life science and engineering as they design an interactive spinning wheel to model a life cycle. In this lesson, learners select an organism and accurately depict each stage of its life cycle around a circular wheel, combining scientific understanding with clear visual storytelling. Students then engineer a spinning mechanism and pointer so that each turn of the wheel highlights a different stage, reinforcing sequence and cyclical patterns. The blend of mechanical design and artistic detail makes this project a favorite, as students create sturdy, functional models that bring life cycles to life in their hands.
1
Introduce the challenge
2
Design & build
3
Test it
4
Improve & share
At a glance
Grades
2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade
Subject
Engineering
Theme
Plants and Animals
Formats
Digital Lesson, Mini Lesson
Standards
NGSS-aligned, cross-curricular STEAM
File type
PDF (print or project)
Student work examples
Student workReal student work from Life Cycle WheelWhat’s includedA quick tour of the full Digital LessonWhat’s includedShows the full Digital Lesson. The Mini Lesson has the same core pages, shorter.
