Pollination Role Play

Students act out the process of pollination and fertilization by taking on the roles of flower parts and a bee. Through role play, they learn how pollen is transferred from one flower to another, leading to fertilization.

1. Assign children roles as flower parts (sepals, petals, stamens, stigma) and one child as the bee.
2. Use props to represent the different flower parts, such as hats, headbands, or other classroom items.
3. Organize the children into two groups to form two flowers. Each group should include sepals, petals, stamens, and a stigma.
4. Begin with both flowers as buds, with petals, stamens, and stigma crouched down and sepals covering them.
5. Have the bee “visit” the first flower, buzzing and collecting pollen (represented by a small item like a pom-pom or ball).
6. The bee then flies to the second flower, which waves its petals to attract the bee.
7. The bee deposits the pollen onto the stigma (e.g., brushing Velcro hooks against a woolly hat to simulate pollen transfer).
8. Repeat the process, allowing students to switch roles to experience different parts of the pollination process.

Pollination Game - New Haven Spectacular Seedlings:

📄 Science- pollination and fertilisation role play - Mother Shipton: https://www.mothershipton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Pollination-and-fertilisation-role-play.pdf

• Add more bees to show how multiple pollinators affect fertilization chances.
• Use colored pom-poms to represent pollen from different flowers and demonstrate cross-pollination.
• Extend the activity by discussing what happens after fertilization, such as fruit and seed formation.

• Ensure students move carefully when acting as bees to avoid collisions.
• Use soft props (hats, pom-poms, scarves) to prevent accidental injury.
• Supervise role swaps to keep the activity orderly.

• What is the role of petals in attracting pollinators? (They provide color and scent to draw bees and other insects.)
• Why does the bee carry pollen from one flower to another? (While feeding, pollen sticks to the bee and is transferred to the stigma of another flower.)
• What happens after pollen lands on the stigma? (A pollen tube grows down to the ovule, leading to fertilization and seed formation.)
• How do sepals protect a flower before it opens? (They enclose the bud and shield developing parts from damage.)
• Why is cross-pollination important for plants? (It increases genetic diversity, making plant populations stronger and more resilient.)