Links
Check out these videos for use in your classroom:
- CLICK HERE for Woodsy Owl's Rubbish Rot Rap
- CLICK HERE for the butterfly dance performed by Chikawa (English)
- CLICK HERE for the butterfly dance performed by Chikawa (Spanish)
- CLICK HERE for "Dr. Bug's" PollinatorLIVE dance and song
Many web sites about pollinators have extensive lists of resources. Check out the following:
BugGuide
http://bugguide.net/node/view/15740
This web site is a terrific resource for identifying bugs. BugGuide was developed by online community of naturalists who enjoy learning about and sharing their observations of insects, spiders, and other related creatures. They enjoy the opportunity to instill in others the fascination and appreciation that we share for the intricate lives of these oft-maligned creatures. For information about bees, go to http://bugguide.net/node/view/84.
Monarch Joint Venture
http://www.monarchjointventure.org/
The Monarch Joint Venture is a partnership of federal and state agencies, non-governmental organizations, and academic programs that are working together to support and coordinate efforts to protect the monarch migration across the lower 48 United States. This web site has information about: habitat conservation and enhancement; education; and research and monitoring.
National Honey Board
http://www.honey.com
The National Honey Board is a federal research and promotion board under USDA oversight that conducts research, marketing and promotion programs to help maintain and expand markets for honey and honey products. The web site has recipes featuring honey as well as information about the many benefits of honey.
Our Future Flies on the Wings of Pollinators (U.S. Forest Service)
http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/index.shtml
There are abundant resources about pollination and pollinators, as well as a page of links at http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/links.shtml.
Partners for Sustainable Pollination
http://pfspbees.org/
- Educates the public about the importance of bees and how to help support bee friendly farmers by purchasing their locally produced food.
- Partners with local conservation districts in workshops for landholders interested in increasing forage value for pollinator and honey bee nutrition.
- Partners with beekeeping industry leaders in support of state and national policies and programs to improve honey bee health, including technical and financial assistance to help growers plant for bees.
- Encourages bee friendly farmers to invite beekeepers to place hives on their land for forage.
- Collaborates with lead scientists and other supporters involved in honey bee and native pollinator research.
Pollinator Partnership
http://pollinator.org/resources.htm
Check out a thorough list of links from the Pollinator Partnership.
Pollinator Partnership: Bee Friendly Farming
http://pollinator.org/bff.htm
Bee Friendly Farming (BFF) is a program that provides guidelines for farmers and growers interested in promoting pollinator health on their lands.
Pollinators (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
http://www.fws.gov/Pollinators/Index.html
This web site features pollinators, threats, activities, information about how to help pollinators, as well as an extensive page of links at http://www.fws.gov/Pollinators/PollinatorPages/Links.html. There is also a PowerPoint Presentation entitled “The Birds, The Bees and The Beetles” recommended for use with school groups, nature centers, 4-H, etc. at http://www.fws.gov/Pollinators/PollinatorPages/Outreach.html. For more information about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's interest in pollinators, go to http://www.fws.gov/Pollinators/pdfs/PollinatorNew030508.pdf.
Pollinator of the Month (U.S. Forest Service)
http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/index.shtml
Pollinator of the Month will highlight the interdependency of certain species of native North American wildflowers and their animal pollinators. Most plants have a flower morphology, color, blooming period, and/or scent that will attract a particular type of pollinator to reap its food rewards of nectar and pollen.
Xerces Society for Invertabrate Conservation
https://www.xerces.org/
The Xerces Society web site includes lots of information about invertebrates.
Interactive Games
The Great Plant Escape
http://urbanext.illinois.edu/gpe/tg/index.html
Each of the lessons in this program is interdisciplinary, designed to introduce fourth through fifth grade students to plant science, and increase their understanding of how foods grow. Activities enhance student's math, science, language arts, social studies, music and art. You have many options in this program. Choose any or all of the suggested activities for your class. Many activities are for students to work independently and some are for group work.
Pick the Pollinator
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/nature/pollination-game.html
This web site provides an Interactive exercise in which students can match pollinators to plants. Flowering plants represent about one-sixth of all Earth's known living life-forms and are important to the survival of most other species. But how did these immobile organisms manage to spread so far? One answer is pollination, or plant sexual reproduction. Pollination – typically from animals, wind, and water – carry pollen from one flower to another, where fertilization takes place. In this game, students can match seven plants with their pollinators and learn some of the reasons why flowering plants have come to dominate the botanical world.