New
New
Year 9

Insects and food security

I can explain the importance of insects for food security and suggest how we can protect them.

New
New
Year 9

Insects and food security

I can explain the importance of insects for food security and suggest how we can protect them.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Pollinators are animals which transfer pollen from one flower to another, which enables plants to reproduce sexually.
  2. Many food crops are pollinated by animal pollinators, including fruits, vegetables and nuts.
  3. The majority of pollinators are insects, with bees being the largest group.
  4. Food security means having enough affordable and nutritious food in an area or country.
  5. Pollinating insects need to be protected from pesticides, climate change and habitat loss to ensure food security.

Keywords

  • Pollinators - Animals that carry pollen from one flower to another are called pollinators.

  • Food security - Food security is having access to enough affordable and nutritious food.

  • Insect - Insects are a group of animals with an exoskeleton, three body parts and six legs; they can act as pollinators.

  • Crops - Crops are plants that are grown on farms to feed humans or farm animals (for example wheat, vegetables and fruit).

Common misconception

There is not enough food in the world, and that bees are the only pollinators.

Emphasise that food distribution and nutrition is an issue in food security; also that there are many types of pollinator.

The final task can be done in a number of ways, it could be a mini-podcast of news video instead of a written piece.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
In this food chain what is the producer?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: organism A
orgnaism B
organism C
organism D
Q2.
True or false? Wheat is an example of a producer.
Correct answer: true
false
Q3.
Who do you agree with?
Alex: Plants have brightly coloured petals to deter predators.
Correct answer: Jacob: Plants have brightly coloured petals to attract insects.
Laura: Plants have brightly coloured petals to attract predators.
Izzy: Plants have brightly coloured petals to deter insects.
Q4.
Where is pollen made?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: anther, the anther
Q5.
Which of the following crops are important for feeding the human population?
Correct answer: wheat
daffodils
Correct answer: potatoes
buttercup
Correct answer: rice
Q6.
What are animals that carry pollen from one flower to another are called?
Correct Answer: pollinators
Q1 UYSEG

6 Questions

Q1.
Pollinators are animals which transfer from one flower to another to assist in plant reproduction.
Correct Answer: pollen
Q2.
Which of the following is an insect pollinator?
bird
Correct answer: wasp
bat
Correct answer: moth
Q3.
Who is right?
Sam: Food security is growing enough food to sell to be financially secure.
Correct answer: Izzy: Food security is having enough affordable and nutritious food in an area.
Laura: Food security is growing more food than a country needs.
Jacob: Food security is allowing plant reproduction to take place.
Q4.
Which of the following is not a reason that bee populations are decreasing?
loss of habitat
decrease in flowering plants
Correct answer: volcanic eruptions
climate change
pesticides
Q5.
Which food crops are insect pollinated?
Correct answer: apples
rice
Correct answer: cabbages
wheat
Q6.
Which of the following will help protect pollinators?
Correct answer: allowing weeds to flower
using pesticides
Correct answer: providing water
Correct answer: providing nesting sites
removing hedgerows
Q2 image 4 Steve McWilliam/Shutterstock.com