Dangers to pollinators (non-statutory Climate Change & Sustainability)
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe why pollinating species are in decline and the impact this has on plants.
Key learning points
- Most types of flowering plant species are pollinated by animals including many we use as food sources.
- Some crops grown in the UK rely on pollinators including apples, strawberries, raspberries and cucumbers.
- Habitat loss, often due to human development, can lead to a declining number of pollinators.
- Many pesticides can cause harm to pollinators.
- We can research ways to help pollinators using secondary sources of information.
Keywords
Pollinator - A pollinator is an animal which pollinates a flowering plant.
Crop - A crop is a plant that is grown to be sold, often as food.
Decline - Something is in decline if its numbers are falling.
Habitat - The place where a plant or animal lives is called its habitat.
Pesticide - Pesticides are substances used to kill living things that are considered to be pests.
Common misconception
Pupils may think that bees are the only animals that pollinate plants or that bees are the only pollinators currently in decline.
Explain that many types of insects, as well as some birds and mammals, can be pollinators and that many of these animal species are also in decline.
Teacher tip
Pupils could be encouraged to think about how they could make their school grounds more pollinator-friendly and the findings from their research for Task B could be put into action by adding ‘wild’ areas to school fields or planting pollinator-friendly flowers.
Equipment
Two text sources, provided in the additional materials, support pupils with their research about helping pollinators.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Something harmful is something that can…
Q2.What is a food source?
Q3.What are crops?
Q4.When pollen from an anther is transferred to a stigma, this is called...
Q5.In which part of a plant does pollination take place?
Q6.We can learn more about things by carrying out research using secondary sources. What are secondary sources?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Most types of flowering plant are pollinated by…
Q2.Crops such as strawberries, raspberries, cucumbers and apples rely on animals that are to be able to reproduce.
Q3.We can find out more about how we can help pollinators by carrying out research using…
Q4.Many pollinators are affected by __________ loss.
Q5.Pollinators are losing their habitats because more land is being used for…
Q6.Sometimes farmers use to reduce the amount of pests that affect their crops, but this can be harmful to pollinators.
To help you plan your 5 science lesson on: Dangers to pollinators (non-statutory Climate Change & Sustainability), download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 5 science lesson on: Dangers to pollinators (non-statutory Climate Change & Sustainability), download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 science lessons from the Reproduction and life cycles: plants unit, dive into the full primary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.