Unit Overview

Students use their understanding of the interactions of plants and insects to engineer a tool that can be used for pollination. Pairs well with Computer Science Essentials: Creating Animations. 

  • Grade 2  
  • Setting: In school 
  • Science connection: Pollination, life cycles of plants 
  • 5 lessons (9 class sessions) 

Standards alignment

We’ve developed each EiE unit with careful attention to educational standards in both science and technology/engineering. View Standards Alignments.

Unit Map

Students are introduced to the concepts of engineering and technology. (30–40 min.)

The class reads a storybook in which a girl named Mariana living in the Dominican Republic explores the field of Agricultural Engineering to figure out why her ohelo plant won’t make berries. (90–120 min., 3 sessions)

Students learn about agricultural pest management. (40–50 min.)

Students conduct experiments to observe how well different materials pick up and deposit pollen from model flowers. (85–95 min., 2 sessions)

Students follow the steps of the Engineering Design Process to imagine, plan, create, test, and then improve their own hand pollinators. (110–120 min., 2 sessions)

Videos

View all unit videos on YouTube

Sample How-to Video

Sample Classroom Video

What's Included?

  • Teacher Guide (PDF)
  • Illustrated Storybook (PDF)
  • Print Materials (PDF)
  • Additional Resources