Looking for an opportunity to introduce children to the wonders of nature and the importance of natural conservation? How’s National Pollinators Week for a segway? (June 16-23, 2019)
Pollinators Week was established in 2007 specifically to recognize declining pollinator populations, and to encourage activism among the population at large. After all, many people don’t understand how incredibly important pollinators are to our environment. According to the USDA, roughly three-fourths of all the flowering plants in the world, and more than one-third of all food crops rely on animal pollinators.
We look to our children to continue a legacy of preservation and it’s important that we educate them on the role pollinators play in our eco-system.
At Nature Watch, we have engaging crafts and activities to help you introduce the concept of pollinators to young minds.
How to Introduce the Concept of Pollinators to Young Kids:
Explain the real ‘birds and bees’
Have your children or students ever asked about how plants reproduce? This is the best possible time to talk about it! The pollination process that relies on different species to multiply is a rare concept indeed.
Try to reduce fear of bees.
The bee populations are rapidly decreasing in the natural world, and it doesn’t help when so many people treat them as threats. Encourage children to understand bees, which ones sting if provoked and which do not. In most cases, they aren’t a danger to humans at all. An allergic reaction to a sting could be critical but could also be avoided with a little understanding and education.
Introduce other pollinators.
Bees obviously get the focus when it comes to pollination, but a wide variety of other insects and even animals are also pollinators. Wasps, moths, butterflies, small birds like hummingbirds, even some bats act as pollinators! A naturalists guidebook to pollinators can be a great way to cover all the major types.
Create “Save The Bees” awareness.
As the mainstream becomes more aware of declining bee populations, “Save the bees!” is becoming a rallying cry. You can encourage students to embrace this by helping them make their own Save The Bees bracelets! These activity kits are fun and create an easy reminder of the importance of our buzzy friends.
The decline in pollinator populations is very real, and it’s going to take widespread action to reduce the threat. Please, make use of National Pollinators Week to spread awareness, and help protect both the environment and our food supply.
Nature Watch is Your Expert on Nature Craft Activities for Kids on National Pollinators Week (and Beyond)
Nature Watch encourages children of all ages to get in touch with their natural surroundings! With activities that foster a love of the outdoors and environmental sciences that can be initiated indoors and out, educators trust Nature Watch to provide the most engaging crafts and accessories to make learning fun. Click here to see our full range of nature education materials, books, and other teaching tools for kids.
