Student Activity Book

Objective:  Using this interactive guide, students will learn about the wonders of pollinators, plants, and pollination. As students explore the Pollinator Paradise module they will investigate how climate change is impacting pollinators, their plants, and what they can do to help protect them.

Warm Up: Think-Write-Pair-Share

• After or before introductory presentation, in a quick write, ask students to define pollinator and provide one example. 
• Have students join a pair-share group and share out answers with their partner. Teacher can call on groups that would like to share their answer.

• Explain that pollinators are animals that help plants reproduce, and give an example of a pollinator that they have not already mentioned. 
• Reinforce the claim that pollinators are very important to an ecosystem and help maintain balance. 
• Share with students that they will become scientists and conduct research on various types of pollinators.

Activity:

Have students complete the Pollinator Paradise Activity Book as you walk through the lesson. Some activities are further explained below.

Butterfly Observer (page 2): 

Have students make observations of their Painted Lady butterflies (see Activity #1) on the first day that you receive them and right before their release. These observations can either be written or drawn. Discuss the changes students see as a class.

Flower Favorites (page 4): 

After or during the educator presentation, discuss with students what characteristics make flowers attractive to pollinators. Have students design a flower that would attract a pollinator and discuss in their groups why they designed the flowers the way they did. [Option: Have the students create the flowers out of crafting supplies.]

In the Wild (page 8): 

Take your explorations outside! Pass out a magnifying glass to each student or team of students and have them look for pollinators in their school yard. 

1. Explain to students that they will be going on a scavenger hunt to find pollinators in their own school garden.  Encourage brainstorming of where pollinators might be found.  Explain to students the importance of respecting nature and the animals that live there.  We are guests in their habitat, which is their home.
2. Guide students on a nature walk through the school garden or park.  If you see any pollinators, pause and encourage observation and questions.
3. Give students guidance for where to look for pollinators and then let them have 10-20 minutes of free time to explore, observe, and record their observations in their activity book..
4. Return back to class for a discussion where students can share what they observed How might climate impact what students see?
5. Extra option: Create a class map, drawing, or graph that demonstrations the recordings collected by students.