Growth and Change
Elementary School
Definition
The process by which living things increase in size and develop over their lifetime. Plants and animals pass through predictable stages from young to mature forms. Studying growth and change helps us understand life cycles and how organisms develop.
Worked examples
A sunflower seed sprouts, grows tall with leaves and a stem, blooms into a flower, produces seeds, then dies.
This shows the complete life cycle stages of a plant from seed to mature form to reproduction.
A caterpillar hatches from an egg, grows larger by molting, forms a chrysalis, then emerges as a butterfly.
Growth and change in insects often involves metamorphosis through distinct developmental stages.
Common mistakes
- growth means only getting bigger → growth includes both size increase and developmental changes A tadpole grows legs and loses its tail — that's change, not just size.
- all organisms grow and change at the same rate → different species have unique life cycle timelines A fruit fly completes its life cycle in weeks, while an oak tree takes decades.
- once an organism reaches adult size, growth and change stop → change continues through aging, reproduction, and senescence Adult organisms still undergo cellular renewal, seasonal changes, and aging processes.
Where you'll use it next
You'll apply growth and change when studying animal and plant life cycles, human development stages, ecosystems, and later in biology topics like cell division, genetics, and evolution.
See also
Animal Life CyclesPlant Life CyclesGrowth PatternsParent-Offspring RelationsLiving vs Non-livingPhysical Changes
Reviewed by Pat Cheng, M.Ed. — StudyPug Curriculum Lead · Last updated June 6, 2026