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Goal

My goal is to create a habitat for insects that all Spruce Creek Elementary students can observe, while learning about insects, pollination, and plants, and the importance of protecting these vital pollinators.  

 

Category

Learning Aids - Sunshine state book sets, robotics kits, puzzle boards, science models, engineering supplies, etc. 

 

What will be done with my students

This summer, I visited Germany for 3 weeks and spent most of that time in the country with relatives. As we biked and walked the many paths, I discovered multiple insect hotels built near fields, pastures, and farmlands, and learned that these have been built to encourage pollination and build up the population of pollinating insects. I was immediately inspired to bring this idea back to Spruce Creek Elementary to enhance our garden area.

This grant will fund 3 permanent insect hotels, which will be located near the current Futures-funded garden. Students and teachers pass this central area on a daily basis. Students will first learn about insect hotels and their purpose, then plan where to locate them, and finally observe both the insects that arrive and their pollinating activities.

Small Bug Hotel kits will be purchased for my fourth-grade students. They will create their own hotels with these kits, which will be sent home with students so they can observe the insects at their homes.

Students in my classroom will research local pollinators and work together to create presentations (posters, multimedia projects, written reports) to present to younger grades. These presentations will include their observations at their personal bug hotels.

All of these activities directly support science and ELA standards, which are listed below.

SC.4.N.1.5 Compare the methods and results of investigations done by other classmates.
SC.4.N.1.6 Keep records that describe observations made, carefully distinguishing actual observations from ideas and inferences about the observations.
SC.4.N.2.1 Compare the observations made by different groups using multiple tools and seek reasons to explain the difference across groups.
SC.4.L.16.1 Identify the processes of sexual reproduction in flowering plants, including pollination, fertilization, seed dispersal, and germination
SC.4.L.16.4 Compare and contrast the major life cycles of Florida plants and animals, such as those that undergo incomplete and complete metamorphosis.
SC.4.L.17.4 Recognize ways plants and animals, including humans, can impact the environment.
ELA.4.C.2.1 Present information orally, in a logical sequence, using nonverbal cues, appropriate volume, and clear pronunciation
ELA.4.C.4.1 Conduct research to answer a question, organizing information about the topic, using multiple valid sources
ELA.4.C.5.1 Arrange multimedia elements to create emphasis in oral or written tasks.
ELA.4.C.5.2 Use digital writing tools individually or collaboratively to plan, draft, and revise writing 

 

Benefits to my students

According to pollinator.org, pollinators are currently threatened by many habitat issues, including pollution, climate change, and changes in land use. Through this project, students will learn the importance of protecting pollinators, which will increase awareness in both students and their families and hopefully lead to action as students mature. They will develop research and collaboration skills as they work cooperatively to learn more about pollination. They will compare their observations to other students’, and they will also develop their presentation skills when presenting to and interacting with younger grade levels. In addition, they will see how science and ELA skills are interwoven together.  

 

Budget Narrative

Money will be used to purchase two children's books to support instruction. Hotel for Bugs is focused on SEL, while Bug Hotel is an informational text about bugs and creating sustainable environments for insects. I will purchase 4 large permanent insect houses for our school. These will be placed near the Futures-funded garden so the insects are close to flowering plants. I will purchase more annual flowering plants. Lastly, kits will be purchased so students can make their own bug hotels, putting what they have learned into action in their own homes and neighborhoods. 

 

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