Pollination: Fruits and Flowers
Lesson Objectives:
At the end of the workshop, students will be able to:
Identify the parts and functions of a bee Identify the parts and functions of flowering plants
Explain the importance of bees in relation to food production
Make a connection between pesticides and bee health
Essential Questions:
What is pollination?
Why is pollination important?
How are humans affecting bees?
Explore our resources
Click on the images to access each resource (available as a PDF or webpage)
Take-Home Guide
Information for parents & legal guardians (available in English and Spanish).
Información para padres de familia y tutores legales (disponible en Inglés y Español).
Standards Alignments
Explore the ways our program aligns with CCSS + NGSS standards.
Vocabulary
A review of terms covered during the CiS workshop.
Word Search
Pollination-themed word search.
Color by Number
Review parts of the bee and flower with this color by number.
Social Emotional Learning
Students build empathy for the struggles bees face in today’s world.
Reading Resources
Explore our staff picks for your students!
FPC Reading List Picks
Read these FPC picks + complete reflection activities with your students!
Video Resources
Videos for kids about bees, pollination, and the infamous “waggle dance”.
Thank a Bee! Infographic
This infographic shows how much of our food crops depend on bees for pollination.
Challenge: Teacher Guide
Download this page to help your students complete their challenge.
Lesson Reflection
Print and send home this reflection activity to show families what their student learned.
Background Information
Who Pollinates?
From avocados and almonds to watermelons and zucchini, dozens and dozens of food crops rely on bees for pollination.
In fact, about one in every three mouthfuls of food you'll eat today needed bees to make it to your plate. There are many pollinators including butterflies, bats, birds, beetles, moths, and other insects, but bees pollinate 80% of flowers.
What’s Happening to the Bees?
Unfortunately, data has shown a decline in bee species population since the 1990's. In 2006 a study revealed a 45% decrease in the average bee keeper’s beehive population from the previous year. Why are bees disappearing?
The answer is often pesticides. Since 1990, global pesticide use has increased by 80%. Pesticides are a great tool for farmers to grow crops more efficiently for a lower cost, but they are detrimental to bees.
When a bee goes to pollinate a flower sprayed by pesticides, the pesticides will cloud their vision and make them blind. Without their vision, bees have a much harder time surviving and pollinating flowers, so fruits and vegetables cannot grow.
How Can We Help?
The best way to protect bees is to buy organic fruits and vegetables when possible, since these crops are not treated with pesticides. At home, avoiding the use of pesticides and insecticides in your garden can give bees a safe spot to land and eat.
