Collect before transferring
A bee’s first plant visit collects pollen from an open flower. Visit a different compatible partner to transfer it.
Pollination Garden
Guide a bee between compatible apple and pear plants, then observe separate stages of fruit development.
Grades 2–5 · Biology
Your goal
Transfer compatible pollen to Apple B. A successful transfer does not make fruit yet.
Reduced motion is on. The controls still update the scene.
The bee has no pollen yet. Its first plant visit collects pollen from an open flower.
Each labeled scene represents a separate plant. The apple pair and pear pair stand for varieties selected to be compatible within each fruit type. Pollen from the same plant or the other fruit type does not work in this model. On each plant visit, the bee collects fresh pollen from an open flower. A plant with developing fruit still has another open flower that supplies pollen. Pollen comes from flowers, not fruit.
Pollination transfers pollen to a flower. Fertilization and fruit development happen later. These stages assume successful fertilization and suitable growing conditions after compatible transfer. Real compatibility depends on the species and variety, and a visit does not guarantee fruit. The enlarged pollen, simplified bee loads and development observations are illustrations, not a prediction of days or harvest.
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Learn with Pollination Garden
Pollination Garden introduces elementary students to pollen transfer and the later development of fruit. Guide a bee to collect pollen from an open flower on one apple or pear plant, then visit its compatible partner. Watch which flowers receive useful pollen, then advance development observations to see fruit beginning and small fruit as separate stages. Plants with developing fruit retain another open flower that supplies fresh pollen. The garden explains why pollen from the wrong fruit type does not work and why a bee visit alone never guarantees a harvest.
What to look for
Match the partners
Apple A and Apple B form one compatible pair. Pear A and Pear B form another. Pollen from the other fruit type does not work here.
Observe later development
After compatible transfer, advance two development observations to reach small fruit. A visit alone does not make fruit.
For teachers and curious learners
Transfer compatible pollen between different plants and distinguish pollination from later fruit development. Ask students to predict what will happen, change one setting, and explain what they observe. Learn gives a starting point. Practice and Challenge offer new goals with the same scene.
Each labeled scene represents a separate plant of a compatible variety. Plants with developing fruit retain another open flower that supplies fresh pollen. Later stages assume successful fertilization and suitable conditions. Bee loads and development intervals are illustrations, not a harvest prediction.