Teacher Idea Packet for Plant & Animal Partners A Desert Discovery Class for Grades 1-2
(formerly Desert Gardeners)

Investigate pollination and seed dispersal to discover how plants and animals depend upon each other. Using puppets, identify basic flower parts and learn how seeds and fruits are produced. Identify the special adaptations of hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators that help them gather nectar from specific flowers. Students will meet some live seed dispersers.

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Introduction includes the following:

• To the Teacher
• Objectives
• Arizona Academic Standards Correlation
• Resources
• Vocabulary
• Activity Overview

• Bats, Bees, Birds, and Blossoms
  • Bats, Bees, Birds, and Blossoms Student Handout
  • Pollination Partners Page
  • Pollination Crossword Student Handout
• Flower Dissection
  • Student Handout

Post-Visit Activities

• Pollination Strategies Model Patterns:
  • Bat Model
  • Bee Model
  • Butterfly Model
  • Hummingbird Model
• Traveling Seeds (student handouts)
  
  
• Creating a Nature Journal
  • Common Butterflies and Moths in Your Garden
  • Journal Observation Sheet
• What's the Buzz on Native Bees?
  • Student Handout
  • Teacher Answer Sheet
• Bats: Need Nectar, Will Travel