Year 3 - Science
Pollination
What plants do and what they need
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit explores the functions of different parts of flowering plants, including roots, stems, leaves, and flowers. It investigates plant requirements for growth and the role of flowers in pollination, seed formation, and dispersal. Emphasis is on practical enquiries, and data presentation.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain how flowers are pollinated.
Key Notes
- Pollination is when pollen is transferred from an anther to the stigma of a flower.
- Pollinators are animals that pollinate plants by carrying pollen on their bodies when they take nectar from a flower.
- Flowers pollinated by animals are usually brightly coloured and have a pleasant smell.
- Pollen can also be transferred by the wind.
- Wind-pollinated flowers usually have small, dull coloured flowers and no smell.
Vocabulary To Learn
- anther: The anther is a part of the stamen that produces and holds pollen.
- pollen: Pollen is a very fine powder made by the anthers of a flower.
- stigma: The stigma is a sticky part at the top of the female parts of a flower.
- pollination: Pollination is when pollen from a male anther is transferred to the female stigma of a flower.
- pollinator: A pollinator is an animal that pollinates a flowering plant.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may think that bees and other pollinators pollinate flowers to help them out, rather than it being a by-product of them getting food from the flower.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
Pollination is when pollen is transferred from an anther to the stigma of a flower. Pollinators are animals that pollinate plants by carrying pollen on their bodies when they take nectar from a flower.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'anther'
The anther is a part of the stamen that produces and holds pollen. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Pupils may think that bees and other pollinators pollinate flowers to help them out, rather than it being a by-product of them getting food from the flower. Correction: Explain that pollinators visit flowers to get something for themselves (nectar and/or pollen), not to intentionally pollinate flowers.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Comparing what plants need in different habitats Study Guide
- How water is transported in plants Study Guide
- Life cycle of a flowering plant Study Guide
- Nutrients and fertilisers for plants (non-statutory) Study Guide
- Plants without roots Study Guide
- Seed formation and seed dispersal Study Guide
- The function of flowers Study Guide
- The function of leaves Study Guide
- The function of roots Study Guide
- The parts of a flower Study Guide
- What plants need: do Study Guide
- What plants need: final review Study Guide
- What plants need: plan Study Guide
- What plants need: review Study Guide
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