Contents: activities recommended for various education levels No Topic Type of activity Grades 4 - 9 FET (Gr 10-12) Agricultural College University Life Science Agricultural Science Farm worker 1 Pollination terms and definitions Mix ‘n match √ √ √ √* √* 2 Plants and pollinators Field trip observations or research project √ √ √ 3 and pollinator diagram Labelling √ √ √ √* √* 4a Know the parts of the plants that we eat Examine food and create bar √ √ √ √ √* √* 4b Food-crop/plant-pollinator table Complete the table – observations √ √ √ 4c Food-crop/plant-pollinator table (advanced) Complete the – observations, research √ √ 5 Importance of pollinators and pollination discussion √** √ √ √ √ √ 6a Threats to pollinators Group/class discussion √** √ √ √ √ √ 6b Threats to pollinators – what can we do? Group/class discussion √** √ √ √ √ √ 7 Pollination as an ecosystem service Discussion, reading lists, essay assignments √ √ 8 Honeybee forage Group/individual assignments or essays √ √ 9 Field studies Ideas for field studies √ √ √ √ √ * These activities could be useful for college/university level, but may need to be modified to be slightly harder. ** These activities would need modification for use at the lower grades.
NOTES to educators: This activity could follow on from 4a or be used alone (it is meant to REPLACE 4b at the higher levels). This activity could be used over lunch or over several days where all meals could be monitored. This activity could also be used as a research project, e.g. crops grown in the school garden or in farms surrounding the town. EXAMPLE ANSWERS Food Crop / plant Part of plant Scientific name of crop Pollinator (if applicable) Scientific name or order of pollinator Interesting fact about pollinator or about the pollination Is this a managed or wild pollinator? (optional) apple apple tree Malus domestica Honeybees, but also Hymenoptera and other insects. Apis mellifera and others Correct pollination vital for shape of fruit and therefore export quality. Apple growers bring in managed honeybee hives to ensure correct pollination. avocado avocado tree fruit Persea americana Honeybees (commercial) other bees, wasps, flies and possibly moths. Apis mellifera and others Nearly half of the annual avocado produce of 90,000t is exported. Pollinators are usually managed. broccoli broccoli plant flower/stem Brassica oleracea Honeybee needed for the seed production, not the vegetable itself. Apis mellifera Pollination by honeybees increase the seed yield on broccoli. Managed pollinators usually required for commercial seed production. carrot carrot plants root Daucus carota Honeybees and other insects needed for the seed production, not the vegetable itself. Apis mellifera and others Bees essential for hybrid seed production. Managed pollinators usually required for commercial seed production. onion onion plant leaves / stem Allium cepa Honeybees (commercial) and insects needed for the seed production, not the vegetable itself. Apis mellifera and others. Vegetable seeds are usually produced separately to the vegetable itself. Klein Karoo area of SA plays a big role in the global seed production market. Managed pollinators usually required for commercial seed production.
potato potato plant underground stem Solanum tuberosum Vegetative reproduction usually. Potato flowers are pollinated by insects as well as through Pollination is needed to create new varieties of potato seed, not for the potato itself. Self-pollination possible, but sometimes managed honeybees used. berries (raspberry, blackberry, strawberry) berry plants fruit Rubus spp Honeybees (commercial)and other bees and insects. Apis mellifera and others. Most cultivars are with insufficient resulting in imperfect fruits, as berry weight and form depend on the number of pollinated drupelets. Managed honeybees are essential for the industry. sunflower oil sunflower seeds seed Helianthus annuus Honeybees, bees and insects. Apis mellifera and others. SA is the world’s 10th largest producer of sunflower seed for oil. In the sunflower region beekeepers take their hives to the fields because of their interest in honey. mango mango tree fruit Mangifera indica Ants, flies and other insects. Empididae spp and others Honeybees do not particularly like mango. Wild pollinators. rooibos tea rooibos plant leaves Aspalathus linearis Pollen wasp. Ceramius clypeatus Only the seed production requires pollination. Wild pollinators.