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Pollinators
A pollinator is an animal that helps plants produce fruit or seeds. When pollinators such as bees, birds, bats, butterflies, and small mammals go to plants to eat their nectar, they get pollen grains stuck on them, which then rubs off onto the next plant they travel to. The pollen from one plant can fertilize the next plant that the pollinator gets nectar from. Only fertilized plants can make fruit and/or seeds, and without them, the plants cannot reproduce.
Pollinators are essential to plant propagation and our food production. As the earth warms and precipitation changes, pollinators and their plants are in trouble - we will learn more with the following activities.
Learn who pollinators are, their important role in our lives, how they will be affected by a changing climate and increased human activity, and what we can do to help them.
Students will make scientific observations of pollinator specimens or live pollinators. Students will identify characteristics of pollinators that make them suitable for pollinating flowers.
Learn about the importance of pollination on Coastal Roots Farm!
Native Milkweed and Western Monarchs
Learn how climate change impacts Western monarch butterflies and the importance of native milkweed plants.
Meet San Diego's pollinators with Cabrillo National Monument and San Diego Natural History Museum!
Learn how climate change is affecting bat populations in San Diego with Project Wildlife!
Exploring the Skies: Bird Surveys
Learn how scientists at Cabrillo National Monument study terrestrial birds.
DIY for Kids: Building a Home for Insects
Check out this simple DIY for kids to help our insects and pollinators. Build an insect home out of materials you can upcycle, recycle, and repurpose then track the bugs you find and learn about our local buggy populations.
How to Make a Pollinator Zine
Pollinators are an important part of the ecosystem. They make it possible for plants to reproduce and create fruits by spreading pollen from plant to plant. Learn how to help them in this fun project you can share with the community!
Haz un 'Zine' de Polinizadores
Los polinizadores son partes muy importantes del ecosistema. Se hacen posible que las plantas se reproduzcan y creen frutas. Esparcen polen de planta a flor. Sé amable con ellos y comparte tu proyecto con tu comunidad!
Bees are important pollinators for many plants that we see and many of the foods we eat. Without them, our ecosystem is in trouble! Learn how to help them with this DIY project.
Be a pollinator for the day with your very own Bat Mask!
Watch the beauty of pollination captured like never before in Disneynature's Wings of Life.
Listen to the story of Málmal pén Túchill (Butterfly and Hummingbird) in the Cahuilla language, translated by Eric Elliot and read by Elizabeth Rios.
Wild Science: Bees and Climate Change
Bee populations may be in decline. As pollinators this can have severe consequences for our food. In this video, biologists look at how climate change affects phenology in both plants and bees.
Here's a sweet story of courage for Nature & Me Storytime with Ms. Rosie. Join us for Caterpillar Dreams by Clive McFarland.
The reason for a flower is to manufacture seeds, but Ruth Heller shares a lot more about parts of plants and their functions in her trademark rhythmic style.
Climate Science & Pollinators Traveling Trunk
While participating in the Climate Kids activities of art, science, and storytelling, students will gain an understanding of what pollinators are, their important role in our lives, and how they will be affected by a changing climate and increased human activity.
Climate Science + Pollinators Traveling Trunk Training
Learn how to use the Climate Science + Pollinators Traveling Trunk with your student group.
While participating in the Climate Kids activities of art, science, and storytelling, students will gain an understanding of what pollinators are, their important role in our lives, and how they will be affected by a changing climate and increased human activity.
General Climate Kids
Resources
Check out the educational materials, coloring books, and fun activities that cover numerous subject topics!
partner resources
Earth's Birthday Project - Butterfly Lab
San Diego Botanic Gardens
San Diego Pollinator Alliance