“Bee” A Pollinator
by
Spring and summer are exciting for children, and Cloverbud meetings can add to the excitement. Consider this engaging pollinator activity to help Cloverbuds learn about the process of pollination.
You will need:
- Yellow pom-poms
- Hot glue – use with adult supervision
- Black pipe cleaners
- Jumbo craft sticks
- lid or plate to hold “pollen”
- Cheese balls
What to do:
- Have the Cloverbuds line up and begin using the hot glue (with adult supervision) to attach their yellow pom-poms. Place the pom-poms close together near the tip of a craft stick. Leave room in between the pom poms to attach pipe cleaners.
- Take a black pipe cleaner and wrap it around the stick between the two pom-poms. Twist the second pipe cleaner around the stick to secure them in place.
- Shape the pipe cleaner into four bendy bee legs.
- Set up the pollination station by crushing cheese balls and placing in a lid or on a plate. Use an empty plate to collect the pollen. You can make the plate look like a flower to enhance excitement.
- Take the bee and dip their legs into the container of pollen. Once there is a good amount of pollen sticking to the legs, fly them over to the empty jar lid and drop off some pollen. Continue this step until you feel like the flower has been fully pollinated.
Talk to the Cloverbuds about the importance of pollination. Explain that pollination is a process that helps plants produce fruits such as apples, strawberries, and oranges, and it enables the formation of seeds for new flowers. Thanks to pollination, we have a wide variety of delicious foods to enjoy. Pollination is not just vital for food. It is also essential for producing everyday items like cotton for clothing and wood for furniture. Without pollinators like bees and butterflies, many plants would struggle to reproduce, leading to a shortage of food and materials. Therefore, it is crucial to protect our pollinators by ensuring they have plenty of flowers to visit and suitable habitats in which to live.
Include literacy in this activity by reading The Magic School Bus Inside a Beehive. *Check with your local library!
Incorporating fun and exciting ways to teach various STEAM topics can greatly enhance your Cloverbuds’ learning experience. Hands-on activities make learning fun!