Develop a model mimicking an animal pollinating plants
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2nd Grade Science › Develop a model mimicking an animal pollinating plants
What does the term mimic mean? Example: I can use a straw to mimic the beak of a hummingbird.
Imitate, copy, or impersonate
Extremely small or tiny
The theatrical technique of moving silently
A type of plant used to season food
Explanation
To mimic means to copy, impersonate, or imitate something or someone. If I want to mimic the behavior of a hummingbird and model a tool that is similar to its beak, the straw would be a good fit. It is a similar shape, size, and has the same function. I could copy or mimic a hummingbird's actions and collect liquid.
Andy's teacher asked them to draw a model of an animal pollinating plants. Which of the following should he draw?
Squirrel
Hummingbird
Frog
Sunflower
Explanation
If Andy is drawing an animal that pollinates plants, he could model a hummingbird to represent the pollinator! Squirrels and frogs are not pollinators, and sunflowers are not an animal! Hummingbirds move from flower to flower, spreading pollen to help fertilize plants so new ones can grow.
Bumblebees pollinate flowers that have nectar and pollen. The pollen from one flower sticks to them while they feed, and it is dropped into another flower when they move to the next plant to eat.
If humans wanted to use something that mimicked a bumblebee to pollinate their flowers, which item would be best?
Felt
Velcro
Tape
All of the answers are correct
Explanation
To build a model of a bumblebee, a human could select felt, velcro, or tape as the material to make the animal. Felt is soft, textured, and made of cloth so the pollen dust would stick to the fabric. Velcro is textured, and things stick to it. The tape is very sticky, and pollen would attach itself to the sticky side to be carried around. All of the answer choices are correct and could be used to model a bumblebee.
Hummingbirds pollinate tube-shaped flowers that have nectar and pollen. Their beak picks up pollen from one flower while they feed, and it is dropped into another flower when they move to the next plant to eat.
If humans wanted to use something that mimicked a hummingbird to pollinate their flowers, which item would be the worst?
Straw
Paintbrush
Twig
Sponge
Explanation
The items that would best be used to mimic an animal pollinating a flower would be the paintbrush, twig, or the straw. They would be thin enough to fit into the flower and have the end transfer or pick up the pollen. The sponge would be too broad and would not have the right materials for the dust to stick.
Bats are a common pollinator of plants. Many people are afraid of bats and think they are dangerous or even attack people! Bats are very helpful to humans because they help spread pollen from plant to plant. What feature do bats have that help them get from plant to plant to spread pollen?
Wings
Ears
Stomach
Lungs
Explanation
Bats fly from plant to plant eatings fruit and picking up pollen as they move. When bats fly, they use their wings. When a bat lands on another plant, some of the powder falls off and is deposited into the stamen of the flower for reproduction. New plants are formed when this pollen is spread, and new seeds form.
What is pollination? Example: Pollination is an important part of the life cycle.
The transfer of pollen to create new plants
Littering or releasing chemicals into the environment
When caterpillars emerge from their cocoon
When a adult animal teaches a baby animal something
Explanation
Pollination is the transfer of pollen to new plants for fertilization. Bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies are just a few animals that help the pollination process. The animals go from plant to plant, spreading the pollen.
Hummingbirds pollinate tube-shaped flowers that have nectar and pollen. Their beak picks up pollen from one flower while they feed, and it is dropped into another flower when they move to the next plant to eat.
If humans wanted to use something that mimicked a hummingbird to pollinate their flowers, which item would be best?
A straw
A cup
A spoon
Your hand
Explanation
The best tool to use for mimicking a hummingbird's beak would be a straw. It is thin and can fit inside the tubular flowers to collect pollen or nectar. It could be moved easily from plant to plant for fertilization.
Miranda's teacher asked them to draw a model of an animal pollinating plants. Which of the following should she draw?
Bat
Butterfly
Bee
All of the animals are pollinators
Explanation
If Miranda is drawing an animal that pollinates plants, she could draw any from the list; they are all pollinators! Bats, bees, and butterflies all move from flower to flower, spreading pollen to help fertilize plants so new ones can grow.
Michael is creating a model of an animal that pollinates plants. He knows that while the animal stops at a flower to eat, it gets covered in pollen. The pollen sticks to the animal as it flies to the next flower. There the powder is rubbed into the flower, and new material is picked up to be spread.
Which material would be best for building his animal to transport pollen?
Felt
Tinfoil
Paper
Plastic wrap
Explanation
Michael should select felt as the material to make his animal. Felt is soft, textured, and made of cloth so the pollen dust would stick to the fabric. Plastic wrap, tinfoil, and paper are all flat and slippery, so the pollen would not stick so it can be carried around.
Heidi is making a model of a bumblebee for her pollinator project. She knows the bee moves from plant to plant spreading pollen dust, so what it is made of is very important. The pollen has to stick to the body so it can be flown around.
Which item would be right to use to mimic the body of a bumblebee?
Cottonball
Rock
Golf ball
Magnet
Explanation
The body of a bumblebee gets covered in pollen as it moves from flower to flower. The dust sticks to their soft, fuzzy hair. A cotton ball would be the best choice for a material that mimics the body of a bee. It is also fuzzy and soft, so dust will stick to it. A golf ball, rock, and magnet are smooth, and pollen dust would be less likely to hold.