STEM Activity: Pollen Paint Lab

Have you ever picked a flower and noticed yellow dust on your fingers? That’s pollen! Flowers make pollen to help start new seeds that will grow into new plants. With help of pollinators and air currents, this microscopic powder spreads everywhere like glitter to ensure plant reproduction. 

If you are curious to discover what is inside a flower, you can start by exploring the petals, stem and pollen. Watch your investigation bloom into a STEM masterpiece when you use pollen to create art. 

Materials Needed

• Bowl 
• Cotton swab 
• Cut flowers from the garden or grocery store (daffodils, lilies and tulips for best results)
• Tweezers or toothpicks 
• Vegetable oil
• White paper 

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Look at all the parts of the flower. Observe the stem. The stem helps the flower get nutrients from the soil. 
    
2. Flower petals are often the most colorful and fragrant part of the flower. Enjoy the fragrance of the petals by smelling them! Begin gently dissecting the flower by pulling back and plucking each petal off. Place the petals on a piece of paper. Notice how the petals connect. The connection point is called the receptacle. 
    
3. Next, look at the stamen at the center of the flower. The stamen contains pollen. If you see the yellow or orange dust, you have found the pollen! To harvest the pollen, use tweezers or toothpicks to remove the pollen-covered stamen and place it in a bowl. 
    
4. Mix equal parts of pollen with vegetable oil to make your paint. Continue adding small amounts of oil and mixing until you have the color and consistency you like. 
    
5. Ignite your creativity and use a cotton swab to create an oil painting with the natural hues of pollen. 

What Are We Discovering?

Natural pigments can be made from plants, insects and even minerals. You used pollen as a raw material to create naturally dyed paint. Many inventors have used plants to develop innovations beyond paint, including those to improve plant yields and develop medicines. 

Biopesticides are derived from substances found in nature, like microorganisms and plants. They are less toxic than conventional pesticides, and they decompose quickly, reducing their potential to pollute soil and water. Entrepreneur, entomologist and National Inventors Hall of Fame® Inductee Pamela Marrone developed and brought to market effective, environmentally responsible, nature-based products for pest management and plant health. As an industry leader, Marrone continues to spread awareness about the use of biological pesticides (biopesticides) and educates the public about their benefits. 

Find More STEAM Experiences

Want to hear more about the buzz on pollination or develop more natural pigments for art? Keep exploring our blog to discover the newest STEM and STEAM challenges.