When you think of pollinators, chances are flying insects pop into your mind. Today, I’m excited to introduce you to a remarkable and lesser-known pollinator—one that doesn’t buzz or flutter, but climbs and leaps! Let’s journey to the lush, tropical island of Madagascar, off the southeastern coast of Africa. There, among the beautiful rainforests, lives one of the world’s largest—and most surprising—pollinators: the Black and White Ruffed Lemur.

Yes, you read that right—a lemur!

This incredible creature is the focus of Topic 8 in my Family Unit Study on Pollinators. Today, I’d like to share with you a special sneak peek into this fascinating lesson, which is sure to spark curiosity and capture your child’s joy of learning—and maybe yours too!

Pollinator Habitat Map

Before we swing into the world of lemurs, I have a fun freebie for you right from this topic! Download your Pollinator Habitat Map—a hands-on activity that helps kids explore not just where different pollinators live, but also world geography and continents. Enter your email below to be instantly sent the free printable habitat map.

Pollinators Family Unit Study

Today, we’re taking a look at one of the ten fascinating topics from my Pollinators Family Unit Study. In the lesson, your child will explore the amazing world of the black and white ruffed lemur—discovering where they live, what they eat, what they look like, and so much more.

Did you know that the Black and White Ruffed Lemur is the world’s largest pollinator—and the primary pollinator of the traveller’s palm tree? This striking tree, known for its fan-shaped leaves and pale yellow-white flowers, relies on the lemur for pollination. Using their hands, these lemurs pry open the tough bracts around the flowers, then reach deep inside with their long snouts and tongues to drink the nectar. As they feed, pollen sticks to their fur and muzzles, which they then carry to the next blossom. How cool is that?

Like all my Family Unit Studies, each topic in the Pollinators Family Unit Study includes:

• Interesting Facts
• Discussion Question
• Curated YouTube Video
• Book Suggestion
• Math or Literacy Enrichment Question
• Plus a fun, hands-on activity!

There are 10 topics in each unit study, and each topic can take an hour or two—or more—it’s totally up to you and your family! You might stumble on something your child absolutely loves, and before you know it, you’re deep-diving and learning together. Or maybe it’s something you make a note to revisit later.

That’s the beauty of this approach—it helps you discover what sparks your child’s curiosity and love for learning.

The Black & White Ruffed Lemur Topic

In the Black and White Ruffed Lemur topic, we kick things off with questions that get your child thinking: Where is Madagascar? Is it close to us, or on the other side of the world? How long would it take to get there?

These simple questions can open the door to all sorts of learning adventures. Plus, you are adding in geography, math, and other subjects without even trying. You can explore maps, look up what life is like in Madagascar, figure out how far it is, how long the flight would take, and even how much that flight might cost. The sky’s the limit! This is your chance to learn, laugh, and explore together in a way that’s fun and meaningful for your family.

Next, we dive into a fun and engaging math enrichment activity—exploring the length of a lemur’s tail! Like all of our math and literacy enrichment tasks, this activity is offered at three different levels. This thoughtful, tiered approach ensures that children of various ages and skill levels can join in, making it easy for the whole family to learn and grow together.

You and your child will continue the topic with fascinating facts, a delightful book about lemurs, a fun and educational YouTube video, and a hands-on activity to bring it all to life.

And who knows—if the kids really fall in love with lemurs, maybe it’s time to start planning that totally realistic, not-at-all-over-the-top family field trip to Madagascar… or at least to the nearest zoo!

You can explore the Pollinators Family Unit Study on its own or as part of the Nature’s Child Family Unit Study Bundle. Whether you’re looking to deepen your connection to the natural world or simply keep little minds curious and engaged this summer, this bundle has everything you need. To learn more and browse samples, visit the How Wee Learn Shop.

Get the Complete Pollinators Family Unit Study Right Here: 

https://shop.howweelearn.com/products/family-unit-study-pollinators

Thank you so much for reading!

xo
Sarah