Taking students outdoors to connect with nature is a great way to ignite curiosity about the natural world. Pollinators are a great option for nature observations as they are easy to find wherever flowers are blooming. To fit pollinator observations into a typical school year, you will need to fit these activities in before frost in the fall or in the springtime. See Indoor classroom activities for options when there are no flowers blooming outside.
General tips for taking students outdoors
Before you take students outside, review these tips and tricks to make the most out of your time outside.
Pollinator observations
Pollinators can be found in a wide variety of habitats. To find pollinators, you just need to find flowers. Students can hone their observation skills while learning about pollination by learning basic pollinator identification and recording data.
- Resources to learn basic pollinator ID
Distinguishing bees, wasps & flies video
How to tell if your pollinator is a bee, wasp, or fly - PDF
- Find pollinator plants in or near your schoolyard
- Have the students record pollinator observations using iNaturalist or Seek. This can help reinforce their basic pollinator ID skills.
iNaturalist How to Make an Observation - Video
- Record data for the Great Sunflower Project
Pollinators in the classroom: The great sunflower project - Video
- Report your observation to the Great Sunflower Project to contribute to our understanding of pollination services
Nature observations
Nature observation focused of flowers or pollinators can help students hone their observation skills.
- Take students to an outdoor space
- Use journal prompts to promote observation
