• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

sloely

enjoying life slowed down

  • clutter free
  • simply frugal
  • natural remedies
  • grow your own
  • non toxic living
  • Simple Parenting

See Like A Bee : Spring Nature Hunt For Kids

March 8, 2018 by Alice 1 Comment

See like a bee wild flower nature hunt: - for a seriously fun wildflower nature hunt with kids learn to see what the bees see #flowers #wildflowers #bees #naturehunt #naturelover #flowers #pollination #plantscienceSpring really is on its way.

Wild flowers are popping up all over.

And it’s the best time for a wildflower nature hunt.

But for a seriously epic wildflower hunt your kids will love.

They’ve got to learn to see like a bee!

You what?

Well the thing is, wild flowers depend on clever little bees pollinating them …

https://sloely.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Wildflowernaturehuntbees.mp4

AND bees have awesome colour vision.

But they see different primary colours to us.

So they see wild flowers in a very different way.

Different Primary Colours

Bees – like us – have three photoreceptors in their eyes.

So all the colours they see are based on three primary colours.

BUT whilst our photoreceptors see blue, green and red.

The bees see blue, green AND ultraviolet.

See like a bee wild flower nature hunt: - for a seriously fun wildflower nature hunt with kids learn to see what the bees see #flowers #wildflowers #bees #naturehunt #naturelover #flowers #pollination #plantscience

We obviously can’t see the ultraviolet.

AND the bees CANNOT see red!

Wild Flower Colours

Now your local wild flowers don’t give a monkeys about what you and your kids can see.

I’m afraid.

The wild flowers care about the bees.

And do everything they can to get the bees to visit them.

SO if you head out into the park or the woods in spring, you’ll see many wild flowers are different shades of blue or purple or violet …

See like a bee wild flower nature hunt: - for a seriously fun wildflower nature hunt with kids learn to see what the bees see #flowers #wildflowers #bees #naturehunt #naturelover #flowers #pollination #plantscience

Find The Blue Flowers

So the first thing to look for on your wildflower hunt?

ALL the blue and purple and violet flowers you can.

In London our wonderful woods – yep we have forest right here in London! – will soon be covered in carpets of bluebells and violets …

See like a bee wild flower nature hunt: - for a seriously fun wildflower nature hunt with kids learn to see what the bees see #flowers #wildflowers #bees #naturehunt #naturelover #flowers #pollination #plantscience

You may have different wild flowers around you.

It doesn’t matter.

And don’t worry if you don’t know their name.

The bees don’t either 😉

Just spot all the blue and purple flowers you can.

Oh AND errm …. the yellow ones.

See like a bee wild flower nature hunt: - for a seriously fun wildflower nature hunt with kids learn to see what the bees see #flowers #wildflowers #bees #naturehunt #naturelover #flowers #pollination #plantscience

Because – you see – they’re NOT really yellow! 

Yellow Flowers Aren’t Yellow!

You what?

Yep, if you’re gonna see like a bee remember yellow IS blue!

There’s a fab picture here showing what the bee sees on a flower we thought was yellow!

That’s the ultra violet at work for you.

AND it’s the same for the white flowers

See like a bee wild flower nature hunt: - for a seriously fun wildflower nature hunt with kids learn to see what the bees see #flowers #wildflowers #bees #naturehunt #naturelover #flowers #pollination #plantscience

Because – yep you guessed it – white is actually blue. For bees.

So stage two of your wildflower nature hunt is …

… look out for all the yellow AND white wild flowers.

See like a bee wild flower nature hunt: - for a seriously fun wildflower nature hunt with kids learn to see what the bees see #flowers #wildflowers #bees #naturehunt #naturelover #flowers #pollination #plantscience

And as you’re spotting those flowers buzz in close.

So you can truly see what the bee is seeing. 

Buzz In Close

And you know what?

This is when your mobile phone actually earns it’s keep.

Because the camera makes an outstanding magnifying glass as it lets you see the details the bee spots so easily including the signposts in the middle of the wildflowers …

… which mean, “come this way!”

See like a bee wild flower nature hunt: - for a seriously fun wildflower nature hunt with kids learn to see what the bees see #flowers #wildflowers #bees #naturehunt #naturelover #flowers #pollination #plantscience

Come This Way

On some wildflowers the signposts are pretty clear.

On others like these celandine they’re harder for us to spot …

See like a bee wild flower nature hunt: - for a seriously fun wildflower nature hunt with kids learn to see what the bees see #flowers #wildflowers #bees #naturehunt #naturelover #flowers #pollination #plantscience

They would be much clearer if we could – like the bees – see ultraviolet.

But the common destination of all these wildflower signposts is yummy pollen.

The wildflowers use colour differences to tell the bee “food this way“.

So the bees will spread the flower’s pollen.

And critically take it to the stigma of another flower.

That’s the tiny tube right at the centre through which pollen must travel to fertilise the flower’s eggs.

See like a bee wild flower nature hunt: - for a seriously fun wildflower nature hunt with kids learn to see what the bees see #flowers #wildflowers #bees #naturehunt #naturelover #flowers #pollination #plantscience

So while you’re buzzing in all those wildflowers get some pollen on your fingers …

… take it off to another flower …

… and see if you can spot the stigma to drop it on.

And there you go.

A fantastic wildflower nature hunt in which you learn to see like a bee.

And actually pollinate some flowers.

For more simple but powerful plant science experiments and nature activities do check out these posts and follow me on Pinterest:

  • Dissecting Daffodils With Kids
  • Growing Pussy Willow Catkins
  • Petal Paintings To Explore Pollination
  • Feather Writing On Tree Bark
  • Growing Mushrooms With Kids
  • Growing Zucchini With Kids
Spring Flower Scavenger Hunt For Kids

Filed Under: Plant Life Cycle Activities For Kids Tagged With: Pollination Activities For Kids

Previous Post: « Feather Writing On Tree Bark Scrolls
Next Post: Declutter Boxes In Basements & Attics »

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. Flower Crafts For Kids says:
    March 16, 2018 at 1:03 pm

    […] It’s the perfect time for a wild flower nature hunt. […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar



PRIVACY - DISCLOSURE - ADVERTISE - COPYRIGHT

Footer

Clutter free …

Gentle Declutter Method - Just 10 Things
Declutter List Of Things To Declutter Right Now

Grow your own …

Spring Vegetable Planting List
Natural Mosquito Repellents For Garden And Camping
How To Grow Raspberries In A Small Garden
Growing Rosemary From Cuttings In Water

Natural remedies …

How To Relieve Lower Back Pain Long Term At Home
Natural Remedies For Stomach Ache & Indigestion
PRIVACY - DISCLOSURE - ADVERTISE - COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2023 · Foodie Pro Theme by Shay Bocks · Built on the Genesis Framework · Powered by WordPress

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT