Pollinator poster

Core competencies

 Communication

• Connect and engage with others
• Acquiring and presenting information
• Determining common purposes

 Thinking

• Creating and innovating
• Analyzing and critiquing
• Questioning and investigating

 Personal and Social

• Recognizing personal values and choices
• Contributing to community and caring for the environment

Science 2-4

Big Ideas

• Living things have life cycles adapted to their environment (Gr. 2)
• Living things are diverse, can be grouped, and interact in their ecosystems. (Gr. 3)
  All living things sense and respond to their environment. (Gr. 4)

Content

• Life cycles of different organisms (Gr. 2)
• Biodiversity in the local environment (Gr. 3)
• Sensing and responding to plants and other animals (Gr. 4)

Curricular Competencies

 Questioning and predicting

• Demonstrate a curiosity and sense of wonder about the world (Gr. 2-4)
• Observe objects and events in familiar contexts (Gr. 2-4)

 Planning and conducting

• Make and record observation (Gr. 2)
• Make observations about living and non-living things in the local environment (Gr. 3-4)

 Processing and analyzing data and information

• Experience and interpret the local environment (Gr. 2-4)

 Evaluating

• Compare observations with those of others (Gr. 2)
• Consider some environmental consequences of their actions (Gr. 2-4)

 Communicating

• Communicate observations and ideas (Gr. 2-4)

Assessments

• Watch out for engagement when discussing what pollinators students have seen and which they are most excited to find. If a student is not engaging, consider asking them what pollinator they hope to see and checking back with them the next day.
  
  
• Use the Pollinator Pledge to track engagement, and encourage students to add more if they haven't written or drawn many details. Students who need more writing support might be able to talk about a pollinator or act it out, and their helper can write what they said into the pledge.
  
  
• If you revisit the poster for a daily check-in, ask students to recall details about pollinators you've discussed and assess their engagement and recall of details. Consider reviewing facts to encourage remembering the important details of pollination, like the fact that pollen sticks to fuzzy bees and that many plants don't grow until there is pollination.

The Pollinator Poster can be used as a standalone resource, but pollinators are a very important topic worthy of its own lesson or even a whole day of learning, especially during pollinator week. We encourage you to use it as a starting point for a larger conversation.

Read below for:

• Background information about pollination and pollinators
• Threats to pollinators
• Ways to support pollinators
• Helpful tools and resources
• Related BC Hydro initiatives

Background information

Pollen is a powder which contains the male gametes (sperm cells) of flowering plants which fertilize that plant or other plants once they reach the stigma (female organ).

Some plants can self-pollinate when the pollen falls into the stigma, while others require fertilization from a different plant of the same type to reproduce. This pollination is assisted by wind, water, and pollinators.

Pollinators are animals (including insects) which carry pollen from one plant to another. The majority of flowering plants need pollinators, like bees, to reproduce. That means the plants in our neighborhood and the crops we eat rely on them.

In B.C., these are our most important pollinators:

• Bees: Bees are the most famous pollinators because they are easily identifiable and they are very effective. They collect nectar and pollen from flowers, and in the process they carry pollen from one plant to another. Their fuzzy bodies make it easier for pollen to stick to them.
   
   Students are often most familiar with honeybees, which are known for their beehives and colonies. They may not realize there are many other types of bees which live different ways. Bumblebees have big fuzzy bodies which are perfect for pollination, and they build nests in the ground or in hiding spots. Mason bees are more solitary and seek refuge in tight spaces like inside of plants. Let your class know that there are thousands of species of bees that pollinate in different ways.
   
• Wasps including paper wasps, yellowjackets, and hornets lead a similar life to bees and therefore also pollenate plants. That said, they are not as fuzzy so they don’t carry pollen as effectively. Importantly, they are far more aggressive than most bees, so students should be respectful but wary of these insects.
   
• Butterflies are another famous pollinator because they are beautiful, colourful, and easy to spot visiting lots of flowers while they collect nectar. They are particularly attracted to colourful flowers which bloom during the day. They benefit from layered gardens where they can find shelter within shrubs or in other hidden spots. It’s not hard to get kids excited about spotting butterflies, but make sure they resist the urge to catch them.
   
• Moths are almost like nocturnal butterflies, because they also have large wings and flutter between flowering plants but they prefer the sweet-smelling flowers that bloom at night. They tend to be fuzzier which helps them carry lots of pollen with them. They aren’t the same as butterflies and are often less beloved by kids, but encourage your students to see them as important night riders of pollination.
   
• Beetles also can help pollenate certain plants as they walk over them and collect pollen. This can be especially helpful for larger flowers such as sunflowers. Some of them have wings which allow them to fly between flowers.
   
• As far as birds go, hummingbirds are the most prolific pollinator because they visit flowers to eat nectar with their long beaks. They enjoy tubular red and orange native flowers, but where flowers can’t be planted they can also benefit from clean and accessible hummingbird feeders. They also benefit from safe sticks and twigs to rest on, especially because their rapidly moving wings use lots of energy.
   
• Some types of bats eat nectar which means they pollinate flowers along the way, but in B.C. bats mainly just eat insects. Even so, they are very important for a balanced ecosystem by eating insects and balancing populations—which is particularly helpful for bees. Bats find hidden places to roost at night and are active during the day. They mostly avoid humans, but they can sometimes carry rabies so kids should keep a distance from bats.
   
• Flies aren’t included on the poster but are another important pollinator. Kids likely aren’t excited by flies, in fact they are often considered a pest, but there are thousands of species and some of them have unique relationships with plants as pollinators. Kids may be surprised to find out that some flies look similar to bees, such as the hover fly.

Threats to pollinators

Pollinators are vital to our livelihoods, yet they are heavily impacted by human activity. Pollinator populations are impacted by:

• Agriculture and pesticides
• Unnatural spaces like buildings and concrete
• Expansive lawns and use of non-native plants
• Temperature shifts and extreme weather
• Parasites and pathogens
• Drought

Read more about these threats on Pollinator.org. Learning about how human activity is impacting pollinators can inform your initiatives to support pollinators.

Ideas to support pollinators

• Learn about the pollinators in your region
• Learn about the native plants and other ecosystem features that support your local pollinators 
  • Grow plants the plants that your local pollinators like most
  • Think about natural features you can incorporate in your garden, such as bare ground, tall grass, and layered plants which create safe resting spaces
• Build homes for pollinators to nest or rest in
  • Bee houses: Refer to this guide to consider buying or building a bee house.
• Search for local initiatives in your area. Joining a group effort to plant native species, care for natural spaces, remove invasive species,
• Advocate to reduce pesticide use and create more native garden spaces in your area. 
  • If possible, creating a native plant pollinator garden on the schoolgrounds is a great way to give students a hands-on example of a healthy pollinator garden and how to care for one.
  • Inspire students to start their own pollinator gardens. Consider giving them the seeds they need to start one at home. If they don’t have their own yard at home, they may be able to access a community garden or a flower box.

Pollinator resources

Pollinator Partnership Canada is the best source for pollinator information and resources.

Their most helpful resources include: 

• Find Your Roots tool: Use this tool to explore the best pollinator plants to use in your garden based on your location, for every region across Canada.
  
  
• Pollinator brochures: Download and print brochures to learn more about local pollinators and how to protect them.
  
  
• Planting guides: This page offers a detailed guides for planting native species which support pollinators. Brochures are tailored to every region of Canada, including 13 brochures for separate regions of British Columbia.
  
  
• Pollinator Enhancement Security Tool (PEST): An interactive tool to help you plan gardens while avoiding pests.
  
  
• Seed packets (Vancouver Island): Purchase native seed blends to plant a pollinator garden. This offering is intended for Vancouver Island residents.
  
  
• Pollinator garden signs: Printable signs to denote your pollinator garden.

BC Hydro initiatives

• Pollinator corridors under power lines: BC Hydro’s right of ways need to remain clear for safe management of powerlines. However, these spaces are an amazing opportunity to grow native flowering plants and create corridors where pollinators can travel and rest. Proposals can be submitted to make use of this space.
  
  
• Community ReGreening Program: Through this program, BC Hydro supports the planting of trees and other vegetation that help enhance ecological networks across the province through grant funding.
  
  
• Integrated Vegetation Management Plan: This document outlines how BC Hydro manages vegetation and wildlife around its operations. This includes information about how we protect pollinators and their habitats.

Information sources:

• Selecting Plants for Pollinators, a Regional Guide for Farmers, Land Managers, and Gardeners In the Lower Mainland – The Pollinator Partnership, 2017.
• Common Pollinators of British Columbia: A Visual Identification Guide (2nd edition) – Border Free Bees and the Environmental Youth Alliance, 2017.
• Pollinator Partnership Canada website:
  • About Pollinators
  • Who Are the Pollinators?
  • What is Pollination?
  • Threats to pollinators