“Mariana Becomes a Butterfly”

Allie RaymondAbby McAbee

About Mariana• lives in the Dominican Republic• has a Papa and a Tia Leti• favorite plant is Ohelo berry plant• loves butterflies

Mariana’s Problem• favorite plant, Ohelo, is not growing• berries are in seeds• insects pollinate seeds• seeds aren’t getting pollinated-

why??

Why Don’t Bugs Come?• Ohelo is from Hawaii• not shaped like D.R. plants• bugs can’t get the pollen out

What Mariana Does• watches her garden for insects• records in her journal pictures and

words• sees no insects visiting Ohelo• What can she do??

Solutions• bring insects from another country• use a puff ball to transfer pollen• make her own pollinator

What She Chooses• insects can harm other plants and

people• puff ball is too big• So…. she makes her own!!

What Kids Learn• Science- what is an engineer? pollination scientific process pesticides butterfly life cycle• culture- Domincan Republic Spanish words

Critique• Age: 2nd and 3rd • liked this activity for younger

elementary students• directions not clear, though• lots of information in the book for

age level• activity is fun and engaging

Our Experiment

What We did• made a hand pollinator• tested aluminum foil and pipe

cleaners• pipe cleaner worked much better• why? – furry like insects legs– thinner– picks up pollen easier– less pollen falls off