Pollinators are important! They are fundamental in keeping ecosystems healthy, and they help plants reproduce. 80% of crops depend on bees and butterflies. Without pollinators, we would struggle to provide enough food to live. Ecosystems would lose biodiversity and many plant species would not survive.
The goal of this Greenstars meeting was to educate young kids about the importance of bees and the harmful impact of pesticides. We did this by following the Roots&Shoots 4-Step Formula. The first step is to Get Engaged. We presented a slideshow about how bees have a vital role in the environment for the students. The second step of the formula is to Observe. The students stood in a circle as \"bees.\" In order to represent pollination, the kids passed down paper flowers one by one until they reached the end of the circle. The game was played a second time, but this time a \"pesticide\" chose a few bees to \"die\" or leave the circle. The remaining bees attempted to pass the flowers as efficiently as before. This game expressed the difficulty it is for plants to flourish with a lack of pollinators. The next step is to Take Action. Prepped by the high schoolers, bee hotels made from recycled plastic bottles were distributed out to the kids. We explained the importance bee hotels have on bee populations and provided them with stickers and colored tape to personalize their hotel. When they finished, we paired each bee hotel with a flower and instructions on how to set everything up in their yard. Finally, the fourth step is to Celebrate! To conclude our meeting, we handed out graham crackers with frosting and bee sprinkles and watched the Bee Movie.
