Rationale:

The Landed Learning Project strives to provide young people with the knowledge and experiences to make informed choices about food consumption. Pollination is a natural process that is essential for the development of many fruits. Without bees and birds, pollination would be seriously decreased with devastating consequences. During 2006-2007, beekeepers noticed a sudden decline in their hives. This phenomenon has been named “Colony Collapse Disorder”. One current theory suggests that cell phone usage may be contributing to the disorientation of bees and the ultimate collapse of the hives. By understanding the necessity of pollination for food production we can make choices in our lifestyles and in our food consumption that protect bees and other pollinators.

Student Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to:

• Explain the process of pollination and its role in plant reproduction (fruit and seed development)
• List the 3 pollinators and describe the role of pollinators in pollination
• Explain the importance of bees in food production
• Observe bees at work and identify their pollen baskets

• Q&A- Polination