Background

Did you know that pollination is one of the most important ecological processes on the planet? The basic transfer of pollen from the male parts of a plant to the female parts is vital for reproduction of about 90 per cent of the seed-producing plant species in the world. 

Pollination creates fertile seeds, and fertile seeds contain the promise of renewed life, year after year, generation after generation. Pollination is a fundamental function in ecosystems, and pollinators, which are often referred to as keystone species because many other species in their ecosystem depend on them, play a critical role. 

Indeed, without pollination, many plants could not reproduce. Food webs and, therefore, ecosystems would collapse. We would quickly run out of food, medicine, wood products — almost everything we and wildlife need to survive on this planet. Without pollination, the world as we know it would be a different place.

Through this educational kit students will learn more about the importance of pollinators and go from awareness to action! 

Click on the Educator Guide to get started!

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Learning Objectives

Students will:

1. Understand the pollination process.
2. Identify biotic and abiotic pollination agents.
3. Identify some ways that plants have adapted to attract pollinators.
4. Describe the importance and value of the pollination process to humans.
5. Identify possible threats to biotic pollinators.
   
6. Identify actions that people can take to contribute to healthy pollinator habitats.
   

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