How many times have you been stung by a bee?
To many people, bees can be scary and bring anxiety (“Don’t swat that bee!!”). The chances of you being stung are declining, however, because the number of bees are declining around the world. Did you know that bees pollinate around one-third of our food crops and about 90% of wild plants? If bee populations decrease, so does our ability to feed ourselves.
Teach Children to Advocate for Bees
Let’s teach children how they can become advocates for bee survival while we participate in as many activities that we possibly can until bee populations increase and legislation around the world supports bee life.
Welcome Mr. Van der Monde
Today I want to welcome a guest teacher from Australia. He will impart his wisdom and his creative ideas for bee education and World Bee Day 2019. Nathan van der Monde, (follow him on Instagram @mrvandermonde) is a teacher who loves plants just as much as I do and is here to share alongside me a bunch of ways you can save the bees, starting with both of our favourite books.
Amanda’s Favourite Book About BEES
One of my favourite books to share with my third grade students is written by Suzanne Slade and illustrated by Carol Schwartz. The book is called “What if there were no Bees?”.
This lovely book talks about how bees are a keystone species in our ecosystem and how without them many animals, including humans, would be affected if they were gone. It is an informational gem that includes a section called “It’s Critical” which shares additional facts on bee life.
Mr. Van der Monde’s Favourite Book About BEES
A book that sparks the imagination of my students and myself alike, that is part picture book, part informative text, is The Honeybee, by Kirsten Hall. The writing is simple yet precise and has a fun rhythm to it, which makes it a great read-aloud. However, it is the bright and beautifully depicted illustrations that truly set the tone for the text. Although the honeybee’s immediate plight is worrisome, the book ends with a positive note and inspires us to fill the world with the flowers they need to make honey and pollinate the planet.
Activities to Try Today!
While many people are afraid of the dreaded bee sting, it is imperative that we educate ourselves and future generations on the importance of bees and bee survival. Just reading about bee life won’t change their endangered status, but awareness is just the beginning to help their survival. The next steps to save the bees is to take action. No, still don’t swat the bees!
We have gathered several activities that you can do yourself or with children that can make a positive impact on the survival of pollinators around the world. Which one will you try first?
Bee Hotels and Bee Gardens
A great way to support native bees (we have over 1500 species of native bees in Australia, many of these solitary bees) is to create ‘bee-hotels’ to house these little heroes. Solitary bees use holes in tree trunks made by burrowing insects – but these are becoming rarer due to the rise of sprawling developments and the clearing of trees for agricultural use.
To remedy this, I create ‘bee hotels’ with my students by bundling up cut bamboo pieces the length of a tin can (I find 10cm – about 4’’ – the perfect length), and then using jute string to tie the can with the bamboo pieces inside, to a protected area in a tree at eye level. Here’s an image to give you an idea of the end result:
Photo Credit Georja Ryan
There is a great set of instructions on the website below:
https://www.discoverwildlife.com/how-to/make-things/how-to-make-a-bee-hotel/
Another fun activity is to plant out a bee garden using plants that are native to your area, known to be of use to the native bees that will use your ‘bee hotel.’ Some universal plants that bees will love are lavender, salvia, and thyme. You can plan out the garden as a Math activity using grid paper for teaching coordinates, or as a measurement and geometry task. Growing the plants from seed is also another way of making it a Science task. Be sure to include a water source full of pebbles so your bees have a place to drink too!
Make a difference with SEED BOMBS
One of my favourite activities to do with kids of all ages is to create seed bombs. Once these seed bombs are made, you can distribute them anywhere you want those plants to grow. Be sure to choose flowering seeds that are sure to attract bees (or butterflies) so that you can provide bees their favourite nectar to snack on.
The recipe to make seed bombs is simple. Start with a clay product – I like to use Crayola air dry clay (affiliate link) because its easy to find and it is a great medium to use with children. You will add in some soil or compost in equal proportion to the clay. The last step is to add in your wildflower seeds (affiliate link) that are suitable for your area and a little bit of water. Mix your ingredients together in a bowl. Once the ingredients are well mixed, you can roll the mixture into small or medium balls. The balls you roll are now SEED BOMBS!
Once you have your collection of seed bombs, it is time to distribute them. You can have kids run around placing them in the desired location or you can grab a slingshot (affiliate link) and really bring excitement to seed dispersal!
Why not try these?
If you’re not sure if the above activities are right for you, try out some of these un-BEE-lievable ideas:
- Field trip to an agriculture museum
- Visit an apiary
- Learn about honey through a taste test and comparison
- Organize an art competition on the topic of beekeeping and pollinators
Do you have more ideas for us to add to this list? Let us know on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. Find our links below.
Follow Nathan Van der Monde on Instagram: @MrVanderMonde
Follow Amanda on Instagram: @TheCactusClass
Show your love for Bees on WORLD BEE + Everyday
To keep our minds on bee awareness and far from stinging our feet, I have included wallpaper for your desktop and your phone.
Today and everyday, we can continue to do small things to take action on the behalf of bees.
Download desktop wallpaper here.
Download Iphone wallpaper here.
BEE Quotes + Wallpapers
We also wanted to share with our readers, some of our favourite BEE quotes. Which one is your favourite? Here are a few of Mr. Van der Monde’s favourites:
“Concerning the generation of animals akin to them, as hornets and wasps, the facts in all cases are similar to a certain extent, but are devoid of the extraordinary features which characterize bees; this we should expect, for they have nothing divine about them as the bees have.” – Aristotle 384 BC-322 BCThe busy bee has no time for sorrow. – William Blake
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