Celebrating Pollinators: Working Scientifically in June

Working scientifically at EYFS, KS1 and KS2: Pollinator investigations 

June is one of the busiest months in the garden - and not just for us! As flowers burst into bloom; bees, butterflies and other insects are hard at work pollinating. This seasonal buzz makes June the perfect time to explore pollination with your class. Whether you’re working with EYFS children or teaching KS2, pollinators offer a brilliant hook into ecosystems, life cycles and the role of insects in plant reproduction. Developing Experts’ science units on these topics are a great place to start, but if you’re looking for quicker, stand-alone activities, read on to discover more. 

Simple Pollination Investigations for EYFS and KS1 

For younger pupils, here are some brilliant ways to explore and introduce working scientifically: asking questions, observing closely and recording results through drawings or simple charts.

• Go on a mini-beast hunt around the playground or school garden and see what pollinators you can spot (bees, hoverflies, butterflies and beetles all count!)
• Observe colours and movements, including which flowers are most popular.
• Try a simple pollen transfer activity using cotton buds and flower models to show how pollen moves from one plant to another. You can even use coloured powders to visually demonstrate pollination. 

Exploring Pollination at KS2 

KS2 pupils can build on these foundations by designing their own investigations. Which flowers attract the most insects? What time of day do bees visit most often? The pupils can plan an enquiry, collect data in tally charts and interpret their results, developing essential working scientifically skills as they go. 

This is also a great opportunity to explore how pollinators fit into wider ecosystems. Try building a bee hotel or researching different types of pollinating insects. These activities link beautifully to learning about food chains, habitats and the impact of environmental change.

If you’re currently teaching one of our pollinator-related units, such as Plants or Living Things, try expanding discussions with these deeper thinking questions: 

• What would happen if we lost our pollinators and how can we prevent this from happening? 
• Why do some flowers attract more insects than others? 
• Do pollinators prefer wild plants or garden plants? 
• Why do some plants rely on wind instead of insects to pollinate them? 
• How can we design an investigation to find out which flowers bees like best? 

These pollinator-themed deeper thinking questions are a great way to develop working scientifically skills while learning about a real-world topic. 

Why now? 

With pollinators most active in June, this is a brilliant time to take science learning outdoors. It’s relevant, engaging and ties in perfectly with National Curriculum topics like life cycles, ecosystems and plant reproduction - while also building essential working scientifically skills across every key stage.

To explore teacher-made resources and units on ecosystems, plants and living things, head to Developing Experts now. You’ll find curriculum-aligned resources and science investigations that support working scientifically skills from EYFS to KS4.