Montana Pollinator Ecuation Project

Lesson plans for K-8 covering the importance of pollinators to agriculture and our food.

We would like to welcome you to the Montana Pollinator Education Project (MPEP)! This educational project has many components, including posters, pollinator ID cards, lesson plans, illustrations, and resource documents. The project was a collaborative effort between the following organizations: DNRC, NRCS, the Montana Department of Agriculture, and the Gallatin County Conservation District. Other agencies whose help was certainly appreciated include Montana State University Entomologists and the Xerces Society. Many photographers donated their photos so that students could see actual exceptional photos of pollinators, to them we give a huge thanks!

Pollinator Lesson Plans

Is it a Bee? (Grades 2-4)
Brief: Students will understand the visual elements of bee identification.
Is That a Social Bee? (Grades 3-6)
Brief: Students will understand social or solitary nature of bees.
Pollinator Watch! (Grades K-3) (To be taught in late spring)
Brief: Students will design flowers to attract pollinators, studying the attractive quality of colors, shapes, and patterns.
Price of Pollination (Grades 6-8)
Brief: Students will understand that part of our food cost is for the rental or purchase of pollinators.
The Buzz on Bumble bees (Grades 5-8)
Brief: Students will understand the individuality and vital importance of Bumble bees.

Learning & Bulletin Board Resources

Pollinator ID & Information Cards

Montana Wildflower Illustrations

Montana Pollinator Illustrations

Teachers may order a complete color set of the pollinator cards, a poster, seeds for a pollinator garden, and other educational materials through the contact below. (Postage fees will be charged for orders outside of the continental U.S.) Contact Montana Agriculture in the Classroom to place an order.

Additional Resources

Bee Basics - An Introduction to Our Native Bees
Blue Orchard Bee Fact Sheet - Utah bees fact sheet
Bumble Bee Rearing Guide - Raising Bumble Bees at Home (A Guide to Getting Started)
Go Wild USFWS Student Guide - Pollinator species are disappearing at alarming rates
Montana Bee Guide - Montana Bee Identification Guide from Montana State University
MPEP Recommended Reading List and Resources - Reading list for students and teachers
Nesting Block Design for Pollinators - Build a nesting block from UDSA
Pollinator Activity Book - Fun activities in a coloring book format from USDA
Pollinator Fact Book - Attracting Pollinators to your garden from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Pollinator Guide - Plants for Montana - Selecting Plants for Pollinators
Pollinators Book - Help Save Our Pollinators - the little Humbugs
Polyester Bee Nest - Born in a plastic bag from the Washington Post
Reed Nest for Pollinators - Building a reed nest from USDA

Educational Extensions: Online Videos & Websites

Be sure to share any other resources you find excellent for teaching about pollinators by sending the links to us. We will add them to our list and share them!