Pollinator Protector

Ignite your students’ passion for science with an exhilarating virtual journey! Join us as we delve into the vibrant world of invertebrate pollinators worldwide. Dive into the captivating world of pollinator partnerships, unveil the profound impact humans have on these essential relationships, and lead dynamic discussions on shaping a more sustainable planet. With guidance from pollination experts, your students will discover how everyone can become a pollinator protector through community science!

Curriculum Standards Supported: 

Colorado Academic Science Standards  

• SC.MS.2.5 Organisms and populations of organisms are dependent on their environmental interactions both with other living things and with nonliving
• SC.MS.2.5 Ecosystems are dynamic in nature; their characteristics can vary over time. Disruptions to any physical or biological component of an ecosystem can lead to shifts in its populations.
• SC.MS.2.12: Biodiversity is the wide range of existing life forms that have adapted to the variety of conditions on Earth, from terrestrial to marine ecosystems.
• SC.MS.3.10: Human activities have altered the biosphere, sometimes damaging it, although changes to environments can have different impacts for different living things.
• SC.MS.3.11: Human activities affect global warming. Decisions to reduce the impact of global warming depend on understanding climate science, engineering capabilities, and social dynamics.
• SC.HS.2.4 Organisms interact with the living and nonliving components of the environment to obtain matter and energy
• SC.HS.2.6 A complex set of interactions determine how ecosystems respond to disturbances.
• SC.HS.2.7 Organisms interact in groups to benefit the species.
• SC.HS.2.9 Variation between individuals results from genetic and environmental factors
• SC.HS.2.12 The environment influences survival and reproduction of organisms over multiple generations.
• SC.HS.2.13 Humans have complex interactions with ecosystems and have the ability to influence biodiversity on the planet.
• SC.HS.3.11 Sustainability of human societies and the biodiversity that supports them requires responsible management of natural resources, including the development of technologies

Next Generation Science Standards

• MS-LS1-4: Use argument based on empirical evidence and scientific reasoning to support an explanation for how characteristic animal behaviors and specialized plant structures affect the probability of successful reproduction of animals and plants respectively.
• MS-LS2-5 Evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services.
• MS-ESS3-3: Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.
• HS-LS2-7: Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.
• HS-LS2-2 Use mathematical representations to support and revise explanations based on evidence about factors affecting biodiversity and populations in ecosystems of different scales.