Get ready! It is time to discover the pollinating superheroes! I introduce to you Powerful Pollinators—part of my Summer Camp at Home Big Kid Edition! This is a fun, engaging science unit study that combines science and environmental education—perfect to get you outside and observe pollinators in action.

This unit study, like all of our ever-growing library of unit studies, takes one big topic (pollinators) and breaks it down into 10 manageable, bite-sized learning opportunities. This format allows you to dig deep into the topic of pollination!

Perhaps you do one area per day, perhaps one per week. Whatever works for your family! You can learn and explore from start to finish in about 1-2 hours per bite-sized learning topic.

Each of the ten topics includes everything you need—from a curated YouTube video to a “what’s happening” section, an interesting fact, a discussion question, and an ultimate-can’t-be-beat hands-on activity.

Summer Camp at Home Big Kid Edition includes three unit studies—Pollinators, Sun Science, and Nature—all perfect to explore together over those summer months!

Want to take a closer look? Grab this FREE Life Cycle Wheel which includes a sample of both the Little Kid and Big Kid Editions of Summer Camp at Home:

Powerful Pollinators Hands-On Activities

Read on to see all of the incredibly engaging learning that awaits you and yours with Powerful Pollinators!

1. What are Pollinators?

Pollination is the process by which pollen is transferred from one flower to another. It is an essential process that enables flowers to become fertilized and reproduce by creating seeds. Pollinators are animals that transport pollen from flower to flower and aid in the pollination process.

Hands-On Activity: Learn about pollination and how important pollinators are. Explore a variety of different pollinators and how they transfer pollen, then play a fun game of Pollinator Animal Match and see how many different pollinators you can name!

2. Why is Pollination Important?

Plants and pollinators are dependent upon each other for survival. Up to 90% of flowering plants depend on pollinators to reproduce. Without pollinators, we would quickly see a shortage in fresh fruits and vegetables causing our food choices to be limited.

Hands-On Activity: Discover how pollination is crucial for flowering plants (including fruits and vegetables) to reproduce. Explore how pollination is connected to the food we eat by creating your own pollinator plate!

3. Flower Anatomy

Flowers have both male and female parts. When fertilized through the process of pollination, they produce seeds. While known primarily for their beautifully colored blossoms, the function of flowers is actually to facilitate reproduction. What are all the different parts of a flower?

Hands-On Activity: You’ll learn all about the different parts of a flower with this activity as you dissect and label a flower. Can you find the anther and filament? What about the stigma and style?

4. Honey Bees

Honey bees are social bees that live in a hive with one queen. They are good pollinators of crops such as apples, melons, pumpkins, squash, and broccoli. As a by-product of pollination, honey bees are famous for the honey they make.

Hands-On Activity: With this activity, you’ll learn all about honey bees, their life cycle, anatomy, and hives, then you’ll create a beautiful piece of honey bee mixed media artwork using hexagons!

5. Solitary Bees

Not all bees make honey and live in a hive with a queen. Solitary bees are efficient pollinators and include leafcutter bees, digger bees, carpenter bees, miner bees, and mason bees. How are honey bees and solitary bees similar and different?

Hands-On Activity: With this activity, you’ll learn all about solitary bees then build your very own bee house!

6. Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds are tiny birds with long, slender beaks. They fly from flower to flower and use their long, needle-like beaks to drink nectar from deep within the flower. How do hummingbirds aid in pollination?

Hands-On Activity: Use your artistic skills in the dramatic and visual arts to create pollinator puppets using the included printable and have fun playing pollinator!

7. Butterflies

Butterflies are an insect known for their beautifully colored wings. They feed on the nectar in flowers using a long, tube-like tongue called a proboscis. How do butterflies help pollinate?

Hands-On Activity: Learn all about a butterfly’s anatomy (and beautiful symmetry!) then enjoy a design and build challenge where you build your own butterfly.

8. Black and White Ruffed Lemur

The black and white ruffed lemur is not your typical flying pollinator. This mammal lives only in Madagascar, a country in Southern Africa. The black and white ruffed lemur is the world’s largest pollinator and main pollinator of the travellers palm tree. How does a large mammal support pollination?

Hands-On Activity: Brush up on your world geography as you explore the globe and mark down pollinators around the world on a map!

7. Fruit Bats

Bats are the only mammals capable of true flight. How exactly do these nocturnal mammals assist in the pollination of crops such as bananas, pineapple, cashews and mangoes?

Hands-On Activity: Fruits like pineapple, mango, and bananas are pollinated by fruit bats. Put your kitchen skills to the test as you create a Bat Pollinator Fruit Salad made entirely from fruits pollinated by bats!

10. Planting for Pollinators

Pollinators are essential to our ecosystem and food supply. By planting a pollinator garden, you can support local pollinators by providing them with plants for them to use as both a food source and habitat. What kinds of flowers are best for pollinators?

Hands-On Activity: Research pollinators and native plants, then design and plant your own pollinator garden. Use your senses to observe the pollinators that visit your garden and record your findings!

 

This unit study is so full of learning and a fabulous way to dive into all sorts of academic skills. Geography, Science, Math, Writing, Reading, Culinary Skills, Gardening … there is no shortage of amazingness in this one!

There are two versions of Summer Camp at Home: the Little Kid Edition, perfect for children 2-6 years old, and the Big Kid Edition, aimed toward 6-12 year olds. You’ll find the Powerful Pollinators Unit Study in the Big Kid Edition.

Take a peek right here: https://shop.howweelearn.com/pages/summer-camp-at-home-big-kid-edition

The secret to a magical and learning-filled summer.

Thank you so much for reading, 

xo
Sarah