Pollen Detective Activity Book
This book features five hands-on activities designed for 8-to
12-year-olds. Each activity includes one 30-to 60-minute project and
extensions. Activities can be used in any order.Also included are objectives
and learning outcomes, assessment questions, ideas for a presentation
or exhibit and topics for further investigation.
table of contents
Pollination /ACTIVITY ONE
Watch a video about botanist Peg Bolick, then identify flower parts
and engage in pollination role play.
Learning Outcomes: Youth develop an understanding of the work of a scientist
and learn about reproduction, form, and function.
In Search of Pollen /ACTIVITY TWO
Dissect a flower to find pollen.
Learning Outcomes: Youth develop an understanding of structures and
their function in living things, and an understanding of reproduction
and heredity.
Medical Mystery /ACTIVITY THREE
Analyze a pollen sample to find out what makes Tasha sick.
Learning Outcomes: Youth learn to collect, organize, represent, and
interpret numerical and categorical data, and clearly communicate the
findings.
Flower Engineers /ACTIVITY FOUR
Design and build flowers to attract particular pollinators.
Learning Outcomes: Youth develop an understanding of the characteristics
and life cycles of living things.
Pollen Tracks /ACTIVITY FIVE
Find the plants in ancient environments by "digging" for pollen
in artificial rocks.
Learning Outcomes: Youth learn that fossils provide evidence about ancient
plants and environments, and learn to collect, analyze, and interpret
data.
Pulling It All Together
Create a story about a scientist who works with pollen.
Learning Outcomes: Youth draw on what they have learned in the activities
to construct their own understanding of what it means to be a scientist.
New Wonders
Here are some ideas you might like to use for projects or exhibits.
Learning Outcomes: Youth develop an understanding of science and technology
in society and of science as a human endeavor.
Permission is given
to educators to reproduce these pages for classroom and training purposes
only.