Unit Overview

Students use their understanding of the interactions of plants and insects to engineer a tool that can be used for pollination.

  • Grades 1–5 (Designed for grades 1–2; includes modifications for grades 3–5.)
  • Setting: In school
  • Science connection: Pollination, life cycles of plants
  • 5 lessons (8–9 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., 2–3 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 Story (PDF)
  • Print Materials (PDF)
  • Additional Resources