Honey, Why You BEE So Sweet- Free Lesson

Imagine a picnic without bees! Marvelous, delightful, bee sting free... except, after this lesson you'll realize there wouldn't even be a picnic without bees!

The students will understand the importance of honeybees due to their role in bee pollination that help produce many fruits. 

1) A Honeycomb

2) The video Magic School Bus #1: School Bus in a Beehive (Scholastic)

Observe a honeycomb, count the sides of a honeycomb cell, what shape do you see? Explain the pattern of a honeycomb is a tessellation where there are no gaps or overlapping in the pattern.

*For an activity on tessellations please see, Tessellations with Crackers.

Discuss the purpose of honeycombs:
1) storing nectar
2) making honey
3) raising larva

Describe how honey bees go from flower to flower collecting nectar. Pollen from the flowers stick the tiny hairs on a bee’s legs, as the bee lands on another flower the pollen is transferred to the new flower. Some plants need the help of pollinizers such as bees to help them reproduce. There are many foods that are pollinated by the help of bees. Many students may have aversions to bees as they sting and some could be allergic to bees as well. Have students take a poll if they would prefer to live in a world with or without bees.

Have students plan a picnic for their family and friends. Have them make a list and include some of the nutritious fruits they would have at their picnic and any condiments they may add to their sandwiches.

After students have completed their list, read off the list provided of foods that are bee pollinated.

Students should cross off any item off their picnic foods that have been read off the list.

Have students see what remaining food items remain available for their picnic if we lived in a world without bees.

List of Foods Pollinated by Bees:

Strawberries
Kiwi
Tomato –no ketchup
Vanilla -no vanilla ice cream
Cranberry
Blueberry
Pear
Peach
Plum
Cherry
Lemon
Lime
Cucumber- no pickles
Watermelon
Broccoli
Mustard
Coconut
Alfalfa- cows eat it, so no milk, or hamburgers or steaks

Review with students why honey bees are so important for us to have fresh fruits and vegetables.