Pollinators Investigation

What is the population of pollinators in your garden space and what is their role in a plant’s life cycle? Work individually or collaboratively to produce data on pollinators in a garden, compare data collected by different groups and make inferences about the role of pollinators in a plant’s life cycle.

Materials

• Graph paper

• Magnifying glass (optional)

• Access to a garden (or similar space)

Observation Ideas

• On a sunny and warm day, observe different pollinators. How many different types of pollinators can you find? Look for bees, birds, butterflies, moths, flies, wasps, ants, and beetles.

• Birds, bees, and butterflies are attracted to the colors red, yellow, and orange. Pick one type of plant to watch for several minutes. Count the number of each type of pollinator that stops at the plant (e.g., five bees). Use a tally to count each individual insect.

• Note the behavior of each pollinator. How do they interact with the plant or flower? For example, hummingbirds choose tubular flowers and butterflies land on platform flowers.

• Use your magnifying glass to look closely at a flower and see if you can find pollen.

• Find a plant that has a strong smell (e.g., roses).

Discussion Ideas

• Why do plants need pollinators? Discuss what you know about pollinators and their role in the garden or nature area.

• If you’re working collaboratively, compare the number of pollinators each person counted. Did you notice any similarities in which plants attracted certain types of pollinators?

• Act out the pollinator behaviors you noticed and travel from flower to flower picking up and dispersing pollen.

• Describe a flower’s smell and predict why a plant might have a strong smell. How might a plant with no smell attract a pollinator?

• Draw a close-looking sketch of a plant and add a pollinator to your drawing to show how they might eat the nectar and collect pollen.