Build an Insect Hotel

Provided by: Mongabay Kids |Published on: December 6, 2025

Activity - Classroom

345

Synopsis

In this activity from Mongabay Kids, students will learn what insect hotels are, why pollinators and other insects need them, and how environmental changes threaten insect populations.
Students will understand how providing habitat materials can support pollinators, promote biodiversity, and help ecosystems remain healthy.

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Subjects: Science

Authors: Mongabay Kids

Region: Global

Languages: English

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Teaching Materials

Positives

Having all the information on one, brightly-colored page makes this resource easy to print and distribute to students.
This activity will encourage hands-on engagement with local biodiversity.

Prerequisites

Students should understand that animals have different habitat needs and that pollinators play an important role in plant reproduction.
Teachers may want to preview vocabulary such as pollinator, habitat, host plant, and insect hotel, especially for students new to ecology topics.
Teachers should be aware that the downloadable PDF does not include the note about using natural, untreated materials. If students will be taking this sheet home to make their hotels, teachers should print one of the PDFs, add the note, and make copies of the edited PDF to distribute to students.

Differentiation & Implementation

Students can compare different natural materials (straw, wood, bark, pinecones) and discuss which insects might prefer each, reinforcing habitat–organism connections.
To extend learning, students may sketch a simple insect hotel model before building, helping them visualize compartments and nesting materials.
Classes with limited outdoor access can create a smaller indoor model and observe which insects, if any, visit over time, promoting careful observation and discussion.
Students who are unfamiliar with which insects are native to their region may benefit from a mini-lesson or research activity to explore this topic.
Teachers can use this resource to make connections to Sustainable Development Goal 15, Life on Land.

Scientist Notes

Teaching Tips

Standards

Resource Type and Format

About the Partner Provider

Mongabay Kids

Mongabay Kids is the dedicated youth education initiative at Mongabay, an award-winning nonprofit environmental and conservation news organization. We provide free, age-appropriate news, features, activities, and multimedia resources that inspire curiosity, ecological understanding, and action. Designed for children ages 8-14, families, and educators, Mongabay Kids empowers the next generation to explore, celebrate, and protect the natural world.

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