Lesson 4: Pollinators

Developed by: Hannah Gershone, 2020

Edited by: Ari Names, 2021

Time: 30 minutes

Overview: “This lesson introduces third graders to pollinators, and their roles in the ecosystem
and our society, by examining several different types of pollinators and their functions. Students
will build awareness of pollinators and practice drawing connections between them and our
environments through critical thinking activities and art.”

Rationale: “Pollinators are integral to sustaining our ecosystems and societies. Tracing the
relationships and roles pollinators play in our ecosystems and societies are key in conservation
efforts.”

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this 30 minute lesson, students will be able to:

1. Define the term pollinator and articulate two reasons why pollinators are important
2. List two types of pollinators

Materials Needed (See Supplemental Documents):

Students

1. Field Journal

Instructors

1. Photograph of a Bumblebee.
2. Photograph of a Rufous Hummingbird.
3. Photograph of a Honeybee.
4. Photograph of a Carpenter Bee.
5. Photograph of a Beetle.
6. Photograph of a Fly.
7. Photograph of Butterflies.
8. Common Snowberry Flowering.
9. Common Snowberry with Fruits.

Link to Standards:
1. 3-LS4-2. Use evidence to construct an explanation for how the variations in
characteristics among individuals of the same species may provide advantages in
surviving, finding mates, and reproducing

Background Material:
Pollination is the process that allows flowering plants to reproduce. Pollination happens
when a plant’s male reproductive system creates pollen. This pollen is then moved to the female
reproductive system. One way plants are able to transfer pollen is through attracting and utilizing
pollinators. Pollinators are animals who eat pollen or nectar, produced by plants, and accidentally
help with plant reproduction. There are many different types of pollinators, including: birds, bees,
bats, and insects. Plants and pollinators co-depend on each other for survival. Some plants have
evolved specialized structures which only a select few, or even one, pollinator(s) can access. For
example, rufous hummingbirds have needle-like beaks to access and drink nectar form plants’
particular morphologies. While drinking nectar, rufous hummingbirds may get pollen stuck to
their bodies, and subsequently transfer pollen grains to plants after feeding.
Pollinators aid somewhere between 75% and 95% of all flowering plants on earth with
pollination (Pollination Partnership 2021). Pollinators add 217 billion dollars to the global
economy with the pollinating services and produce they provide (Pollinator Partnership 2021).
Without pollinators, we would not have access to most produce, such as fruits, nuts, and
vegetables. Pollinators are integral in maintaining healthy ecosystems, supporting biodiversity
and contributing to soil stabilization and fertility, clean air, and clean water (Pollinator
Partnership 2020). Pollinators also add recreational value to both natural and built environments,
in the beautiful plant and wildlife we may experience outdoors.
Pollinator populations are declining worldwide; climate change, pesticides, disease, and
habitat loss are all contributing factors. While many farmers can buy pollinators (such as bees) to
aid their crops, this may not be sufficient; agricultural workers are now hand-pollinating because
of widespread population decline. Habitat restoration, limiting chemical use, and planting
pollinator-friendly gardens are all ways people can aid pollinators.

Activity Description:

Step 1: Getting Started (7 minutes)

1. Bienvenidos estudiantes de tercer grado! Welcome fourth graders! My name is ______.
Me llamo _______. Today, we’ll be learning about the extraordinary world of pollinators.
2. Invite students to share their bingo findings with the group
a. Thank students for sharing their bingo findings
b. Q: What are some things birds need to survive?
c. A: To meet their habitat needs, birds need water, shelter, space, and food! These
aspects are so important, that our shared migratory birds will fly all the way from
Oregon to Mexico to meet these needs.
d. Q: What are some things you think a bird would find tasty?
e. A: Nuts, insects, plants, berries, fish, garbage, rodents, carrion, grains, etc. • Many
of the food items birds find tasty I find delicious too! Some birds actually help
plants produce these wonderful foods as well as eat them.
f. Q: What comes to mind when you hear the word “pollination?”
g. A: No right or wrong answer. Let them guess. Be excited about their answers! If
they say “bees,” let them know bees have a crucial role in some plants’
pollination.
3. Define pollination
a. Pollination: The process that allows flowering plants to reproduce. Without
pollination, we wouldn’t have fruit to eat or beautiful flowers to enjoy. Pollination
happens when the plants male reproductive system creates pollen. This pollen is
moved to a plants’ female reproductive system.
4. Show Figure 1. Photograph of a Bumblebee (see Appendix)
a. Q: Has anyone seen photos of bees with a bunch of yellow stuff clinging to their
backs?
b. A: That yellow, dusty stuff is pollen! Bees are pollinators.
 5. Define pollinator
a. Pollinator: Animals that eat pollen or nectar, and accidentally help with plant
reproduction. They move these pollen grains from flower to flower.
b. Like bees, birds can also be pollinators! In fact, one of our shared migratory birds,
the Rufous hummingbird, is a pollinator!
c. It’s possible that some plants in Oregon and in Mexico have been pollinated by
the same bird!
d. Today, we will be learning all about pollinators.

Step 2. Los Polinizadores- Pollinators Video, Willamette Laja Twinning Partnership (7 min)
1. Follow the link to the Willamette Laja Twinning Partnership Video:
https://www.willamette-laja.org/resources
2. Scroll down to the “Los Polinizadores- Pollinators” video located under “More Videos in
Spanish for Kids” halfway down the webpage
3. Ask students to pay attention to the types of pollinators they talk about during the video
4. Play the Willamette Laja Twinning Partnership video, “Los Polinizadores- Pollinators.”
This video introduces students to the term “pollinators,” and discusses different types of
pollinators. It also explains why pollinators are important in our everyday lives.
a. Stop the video at 6:20 (After clip of fly hovering over flower like a helicopter)

Step 3: Recalling Pollinators (3 minutes)

1. Pull up jamboard or zoom whiteboard
2. Invite students to recall all the pollinators they saw in the video
3. Make a list, either on Jamboard or Zoom Whiteboard, of all of the pollinators they say
aloud
4. Pollinators mentioned in the video:
a. Hummingbirds (mentioned at the very beginning)
b. Butterflies (mentioned at the very beginning and end)
c. Beetles (mentioned at the very beginning and end)
d. Bees: Osmia (Mason), Honeybees, Bumblebees, Carpenter bees
e. Flies (syphid flies/hover flies)
5. After students have finished recalling all the pollinators, show photographs (from
Supplemental Documents) of:
a. Rufous Humminbird (Figure 2)
b. Bumblebee (Figure 1)
c. Honeybee (Figure 3)
d. Carpenter bee (Figure 4)
e. Beetle (Figure 5)
f. Fly (Figure 6)
g. Butterfly (Figure 7)
6. Name each pollinator species with their corresponding photographs
a. Some fun facts to consider mentioning while they name pollinators:
i. “Somewhere between 75-95% of all flowering plants on earth need
help from pollinators to reproduce" (Pollinator Partnership 2020).
Imagine trying to pollinate all of those flowering plants; it would be
exhausting! Pollinators are absolutely essential to the health of our
environments and our bodies (produce nuts, fruits, and vegetables; aid
plant reproduction; ecosystem services; biodiversity)
ii. Hummingbirds: Rufous and Anna’s hummingbirds are one of our
shared migratory birds! Rufous and Anna’s hummingbirds have these
long, needle like beaks for drinking nectar from a plant. Nectar is a
 sweet liquid, full of sugar that plants use to attract pollinators, like
hummingbirds! When a hummingbird drinks the nectar, it may get
pollen all over its beak and face, and they spread this pollen to other
plants, helping them reproduce.
iii. Bees:
1. Honeybee: Only bee that produces honey.
2. Mason Bee: A single mason bee can pollinate as much as 100
Honeybees!
3. Bumblebees: Have these dense, harry bodies which trap pollen.
Are able to “buzz pollinate” flowers. Some plants have pollen that
is very tightly packed together. In order to access this pollen,
bumble bees will “buzz pollinate,” rapidly vibrating against the
flower to release its pollen. Some of the pollen will get trapped in
its fur, and may be transferred by the bee to pollinate other plants

Step 4. Pollination Relations (9 minutes)

1. Ask students to turn to the pollinators section of their Field Journals (p.11)
2. Show students a photograph of a common snowberry shrub flowering (See Supplemental
Documents). Common snowberry plants flower in early summer.
3. Have students take two minutes to draw and color the snowberry flowering
a. “Please draw one pollinator that we’ve talked about today with your snowberry
flower!”
b. Have students take 2 minutes to draw their favorite pollinator
c. “Congratulations! Your pollinator has pollinated this snowberry plant, and now
soon our snowberry plants grow….
d. …..Fruits!” Show a photograph of common snowberry shrub with fruits (See
Supplemental Documents).
e. Have students take two minutes to draw and color the snowberry with fruits
f. Q: What happens to these snowberries after they grow?
g. A: Animals will come and eat them for nutrients! Perhaps one of our shared
migratory birds will come along and eat some berries.
h. Have students take 1 minutes to draw an animal eating the snowberries
4. Pollinators are essential in helping plants reproduce, which in turn creates food for other
animals (including us)! Pollinators are integral to the health of our environments.
Pollinators who pollinate the common snowberry include: bees, ants, flies, butterflies,
wasps, and hummingbirds.

Step 5: Assessment (2 minutes)

1. Invite students to share the pollinator they just drew!

a. Q: Why are pollinators important? Write in the chat!
b. A: Pollinators are an integral part of many flowering plant’s reproductive cycle,
allowing many different types of plants, and the species that rely on them, to
survive. They help sustain healthy environments and produce nuts, seeds, fruit,
and vegetables that both humans and animals need to survive and thrive. They
pollinate between 75- 95% of all flowering plants on Earth (that’s a lot of work!).
They are also beautiful and add to our enjoyment to places like forests and parks,
but also our neighborhoods, cities, and school gardens.
Step 6:Wrap Up (1 minute)
1. Describe some of the challenges pollinators are facing. Many pollinators are struggling to
survive because of loss of habitat, including the plants they both pollinate and rely on for
food. Some chemicals that people spray onto plants can also make pollinators sick,
resulting in their decline.
2. Let students know about the plant donations. Because of a kind donation from the Seven
Oaks Nursery and the Peoria Gardens, students will have the opportunity to plant
snowberry plants, helping to create habitats and food for pollinators! Iris and camus
plants will also be available; these help provide pollinators with a source of food too.

Step 7: Eco-challenge (1 minute)

1. Introduce this session’s eco-challenge: Invite students to find a pollinator and draw it!
2. Point out the Rufous hummingbird coloring page at the back of their Field Journals (page
21). The Rufous hummingbird is one of our shared migratory birds and pollinators.
Students are welcome to color or decorate this page whenever they are able.

Step 8: Bingo (1 minute or less)

1. Remind students to take their Field Journals with them when on the lookout for their
Bingo card items (a bee, a hummingbird, and a flower).

Additional Reading for Instructors:

"Pollinators Need You. You Need Pollinators” is an excellent overview on the

importance of pollinators and why they are important

"Pollinators Need You. You Need Pollinators." Pollinator Partnership, www.pollinator.org/

pollinators#fn. Accessed 15 Mar. 2021.

The Kids Gardening Organization’s 2016 “Pollinator Activity Guide” has an excellent array of
additional pollinator activities if interested in exploring pollination further with your students

"Kids Gardening: Pollinator Activity Guide." Kids Gardening, Kids Gardening Organization,
kidsgardening.org/wpcontent/uploads/2018/05/KG_Pollinator.ActivityandLessonPlan.Kit_.pdf.
Accessed 15 Mar. 2021.

Works Cited:

"Who Are the Pollinators?" Xerces Society, Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation,
xerces.org/pollinator-conservation/about-pollinators. Accessed 15 Mar. 2021.

"Pollination for Kids!" Kremp Florist, www.kremp.com/pollination-for-kids#:~:text=Pollination

%20For%20Kids!,reproductive%20part%20of%20the%20plant.&text=Plants%20rely
%20on%20bees%20and%20other%20insects%20to%20make%20this%20happen. Acc
essed 15 Mar. 2021.

"Pollinators Need You. You Need Pollinators." Pollinator Partnership, www.pollinator.org/

pollinators#fn. Accessed 15 Mar. 2021.

"Pollinators: What You Can Do." U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the
 Interior,www.fws.gov/pollinators/pollinatorpages/yourhelp.html. Accessed 15 Mar. 2021.

"Western Snowberry." Prairie Pollination, The Manitoba Museum, www.prairiepollination.ca/

plante-plant/symphorine_de_louest-western_snowberry/#:~:text=This%20shrub%20is
%20also%20a,%2C%20small%20mammals%2C%20and% 20browsers. Accessed 15
Mar. 2021.

Supplemental Documents:

1. Photograph of a Bumblebee
Hine, Karen. Bumblebee with Pollen. Creative Commons, Creative Commons Organization,
search.creativecommons.org/photos/4680306c-27e6-4e65-a3c0-5b11b75f441e. Accessed 15 Mar.
2021.
2. Photograph of a Rufous Hummingbird
Garrett, William. Rufous Hummingbird 2. Creative Commons, Creative Commons
Organization,search.creativecommons.org/photos/1306dbe3-abed-4b34-b397-736f0304480c.
Accessed 15 Mar. 2021.

3. Photograph of a Honeybee
Wick, Ryan. Honeybee on Lavender. Creative Commons, Creative Commons Organization,
search.creativecommons.org/photos/69a21c3f-b425-4b13-ba5e-fcc7a208e414. Accessed 15 Mar.
2021.
4. Photograph of a Carpenter Bee
Peterson, Bob. Busy Carpenter Bee. Creative Commons, Creative Commons Organization,
search.creativecommons.org/photos/f3eb6c10-82f4-4f9e-a72c-c79d04cc908a. Accessed 15 Mar.
2021.

5. Photograph of a Beetle
Insects Unlocked. Acmaeodera Jewel Beetle. Creative Commons, Creative Commons
Organization, search.creativecommons.org/photos/54a73c65-32d9-41fa-95d4-bc870b70c14d.
Accessed 15 Mar. 2021.
6. Photograph of a Fly.
Lewinski, Mike. Fly Pollinating. Creative Commons, Creative Commons Organization,
search.creativecommons.org/photos/09d1d154-1a4d-4b30-9183-60756ecf6b9a. Accessed
15 Mar. 2021.

7. Photograph of Butterflies
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region. A Bunch of Butterflies. Creative
Commons, Creative Commons Organization,
search.creativecommons.org/photos/b9f16c60-d3a6-4e5c-8f9f-4a5290e46c8b.
 Accessed 15 Mar. 2021.

8. Common Snowberry Flowering

Lavin, Matt. Symphoricarpos albus. Creative Commons, Creative Commons
Organization,search.creativecom mons.org/photos/f1ab42ab-75e4-4127-8bb5-bc91d9d3d9cf.
Accessed 15 Mar. 2021.

9. Common Snowberry with Fruits.

Lavin, Matt. Symphoricarpos albus. Creative Commons, Creative Commons Organization,
search.creativecom mons.org/photos/631ac5ad-c698-4833-a397-e571e3f62a53. Accessed 15 Mar.
2021.

Appendix: See following pages for corresponding field journal activities.

Lesson 4: Pollinators Date: ______________

Draw a snowberry plant with flowers here!

Draw a snowberry plant with fruits here!

pg. 11