Bees Pollinate the Poppies

Last week we learned how bees help the gardens grow.

I loved the connection between art, nature and science in our Experience Preschool lesson, “Bees Pollinate the Poppies”.  At circle time we talked about bees, as a visitor to the garden. What do we know about bees?  #1 answer: They sting. Yes, they do but their most important job is – pollinating!

We sang the following song to “Skip to my Lou”

BUZZ, BUZZ, BUMBLEBEE
Buzz, buzz, bumblebee.
Buzz, buzz, bumblebee.
Buzz, buzz, bumblebee.
On a big red flower.

We looked at these two beautiful works of art – I love that Experience Curriculum includes examples of famous art which serves as not only education but inspiration!

Poppies by Robert Vonnoh (1888)

Meadow with Poppies Szinyei Merse, Pál (1896)

First, we painted our grass green. See the inspiration this 4-year-old took from the art example?

Next, we added red paper torn into flower shapes.

The next step really shows the pollinating process. Using a dampened cotton ball, the child dips it in a plate of cornmeal. Then dabs it on the glue on each flower, “pollinating” it.

This was so fun, connecting art and science. The process art, with several steps, resulted in beautiful poppy paintings of our own!

The June Experience Curriculum kit will be the Alphabet House. Don’t miss it; it’s going to be great!