Science Science and BEES This topic encourages children to look more closely at these small living creatures, revealing an exciting world to explore. Because the bee has been so well researched and documented it provides a really good example of a fascinating life system. Children can use a hand lens or microscope to look at the anatomy of the bee and other common insects. Honeybees are cleverly adapted to live through the winter whilst bumble bees and solitary bees hibernate. Honeybees have antennae for touch when they are in the dark hive, a long tongue to reach nectar inside flowers and pollen sacs on their legs to transport the pollen back to the hive. It is a good opportunity to get out into the School grounds and survey the flowers available to bees in the area. The children can observe bees foraging and make and test simple hypotheses. Learning topics Looking at minibeasts Looking at minibeasts drawings Different sorts of bee Is it a bee?Looking at a bee Looking at a bee magnified Types of bee In the hiveIn the beehive pg2 How a honey bee grows Hexagons Parts of the hiveParts of the hive continued Hives Cells in the honeycomb Watching beesInside the beehive worksheet Useful resources Close up of Apis mellifera proboscis Apis mellifera (Honey bee) Bombus terrestris (Bumblebee) Colletes hederae (Ivy mining bee) Close up of Apis mellifera from above Bee pupae – by Waugsberg Julie Vernon – Pollen from various flowers ED- Leaf Cutter Bee; Ants nest Apiary Asian Hornet Colouring Sheet Bumblebee in flight Butterfly – Peacock Butterfly Bees collecting water Cricket DragonflyDrone Fly Frame Moth Queen cells Swarm White tailed bumblebee Minibeast Hunt - https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2019/04/minibeast-hunt/ Lesson plan: Minibeast Trackers - https://www.edenproject.com/learn/schools/school-lesson-plans/lesson-plan-minibeast-trackers Instar magazine – A digital magazine for young entomologists - National Insect Week - Instar Magazine Looking at honeybee under microscope - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKrm6NRhG6I The Bee, Magnified: Microscopic Photography by Rose-Lynn Fisher - https://time.com/3801423/the-bee-magnified-microscopic-photography-by-rose-lynn-fisher/ Common bumblebees - http://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/ Why do bees make hexagons with Brian Cox - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxDEcODUEP0 Slow motion video of various bees - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUNFNhF8V1o A huge thank you to our generous Bees in the Curriculum Sponsor National Bee Supplies Manage Cookie Preferences