Last updated: July 25, 2024
Lesson Plan
Pollination Exploration
- Grade Level:
- Lower Elementary: Pre-Kindergarten through Second Grade
- Subject:
- Science
- Lesson Duration:
- 60 Minutes
- State Standards:
- Kentucky
Science
2-LS2-2. Develop a simple model that mimics the function of an animal in dispersing seeds or pollinating plants. - Thinking Skills:
- Remembering: Recalling or recognizing information ideas, and principles. Understanding: Understand the main idea of material heard, viewed, or read. Interpret or summarize the ideas in own words. Applying: Apply an abstract idea in a concrete situation to solve a problem or relate it to a prior experience. Analyzing: Break down a concept or idea into parts and show the relationships among the parts. Evaluating: Make informed judgements about the value of ideas or materials. Use standards and criteria to support opinions and views.
Essential Question
How do animals help pollinate plants?
Objective
Students will develop an understanding of pollination by creating a simple model that mimics the function of an animal in pollinating plants.
Background
To successfully implement a lesson on pollination for second graders, the teacher needs a thorough understanding of the concept of pollination itself, including how pollen moves from one flower to another and the role of pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and birds in this process. It's crucial for the teacher to be familiar with age-appropriate ways to explain pollination and its importance in plant reproduction, using visual aids and hands-on activities to make the concept tangible and engaging for young learners. Additionally, contextual knowledge about the local environment, particularly as it relates to plant life and potential pollinators found at the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Park Center, will help connect the lesson to real-world examples and enhance student comprehension.
Preparation
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Various types of flowers (real or artificial)
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Cotton balls or Q-tips
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Small bowls or containers of pollen (flour or colored powder can be used)
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Optional: Pictures or videos of pollinators (bees, butterflies, etc.)
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Poster paper or cardboard
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Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
Lesson Hook/Preview
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Read a children's storybook featuring pollinator characters, such as "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle or "The Beeman" by Laurie Krebs. After reading, discuss how the characters in the story help plants grow and why pollination is important for flowers and fruits that humans eat. This connects the lesson content to students' everyday lives by showing the direct impact of pollination on food they enjoy.
OR
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Pollinator Dance: Start the lesson with a fun and energetic "Pollinator Dance" to a catchy song about bees or butterflies. Encourage students to buzz like bees or flutter like butterflies while dancing. This activity not only gets students moving but also introduces them to the idea of pollinators and their role in plant reproduction in a playful way.
Procedure
Step One:
Introduction (10 minutes):
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Welcome and Introduction to Pollination:
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Welcome students to the lesson and introduce the concept of pollination. Explain that pollination is how plants reproduce by transferring pollen from one flower to another.
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Discussion About Pollinators:
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Show pictures or videos of different pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and birds. Discuss their role in pollination and how they help plants make seeds.
Step Two:
Model Creation (20 minutes):
Creating a Pollination Model:
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Divide students into small groups.
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Provide each group with a variety of flowers, cotton balls or Q-tips, and small bowls of pollen (flour or colored powder).
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Instruct students to choose a flower and use the cotton balls or Q-tips to mimic a pollinator by transferring pollen from one flower to another.
Step Three:
Observation and Discussion (10 minutes):
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Encourage students to observe what happens when they transfer pollen from one flower to another.
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Discuss with the class how pollination works and why it is important for plants to make seeds.
Step Four:
Wrap-up and Field Trip Preparation (5 minutes)
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Summarize the key points of pollination discussed during the lesson.
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Explain that on their upcoming field trip to Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, they will observe real-life examples of plants and possibly animals that help in pollination.
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Encourage students to think about what they learned today during the field trip.
Vocabulary
Pollination: Pollination is how plants make new seeds. It happens when pollen moves from one flower to another flower of the same kind.
Pollen: Pollen is a tiny powder made by flowers. It's what helps flowers make seeds. Bees and other insects carry pollen from one flower to another.
Pollinators: Pollinators are animals like bees, butterflies, birds, and bats that help plants pollinate. They carry pollen from flower to flower as they collect nectar.
Nectar: Nectar is a sweet liquid inside flowers. It's like a treat for pollinators. They drink nectar while they collect pollen.
Stamen and Pistil: These are parts of a flower. The stamen is the part that makes pollen, and the pistil is where pollen needs to go for the flower to make seeds.
Assessment Materials
Build a ModelStudents pollution models will be used to determine their understanding of the objective and determine if it is met.
Supports for Struggling Learners
- Engage the learner in hands-on activities, and visuals that demonstrate pollination concepts.
- Encourage peer support with group activity.
Enrichment Activities
- If feasible, designate the student as a "pollination expert" during the field trip to Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park. They can take on the responsibility of explaining pollination concepts to their peers, pointing out examples of pollinators and plants, and connecting what they see in the park to what they learned in class. (This leadership role not only challenges them academically but also enhances their communication and presentation skills.)
Related Lessons or Education Materials
Meets Kentucky 2nd grade science standards. This lesson was created by Kentucky teachers as a part of the History and Science Explore Project