Bumblebees are essential members of our ecosystem, helping to pollinate plants and contribute to our food production. As fascinating as they are, they can sometimes find their way into our homes. Recently, I found a dead bumblebee in my house, which I believe might have been the unfortunate victim of one of my cats. Instead of disposing of it, I decided to turn this situation into a valuable learning opportunity for kids. In this article, I will share some activities that I suggest doing with kids of different ages if they find a bumblebee.
The other day, my kids came home and were immediately drawn to the bumblebee I had found. They excitedly gathered around, asking questions like, “How did it die?”, “Is it a boy or a girl?”, “What kind of bumblebee is it?”, and “Why is its booty orange?”. They made observations like, “Wow, it’s so fluffy!”, “The wings are pretty!”, and “The back legs are big!”. Their curiosity was piqued, and they eagerly grabbed the microscope and a computer to find answers to their questions. For about 15 minutes, they were completely absorbed in their bumblebee investigation, but soon hunger took over and they moved on to other things. Inspired by their interest, I’ve decided to keep the bumblebee and create an open-ended, flexible lesson plan to build upon their fascination when we have more time to focus on it.
Just observing a bumblebee corpse on its own can be quite fascinating and an end in itself, of course. In case the opportunity arises for you with a bumblebee or even a similar insect, here are some leveled ideas for pushing beyond a simple observation to a more pedagogical experience:
The Bees’ Knees
Materials Needed:
- A dead bumblebee (if available)
- A small dish or container
- A ziplock bag
- Paper or journal and drawing materials
- Internet access for research
- Microscope
Young Kids (Ages 4-7):
- If you find a bumblebee with young kids, I suggest asking them to carefully observe the bumblebee and just make observations and ask questions about it and then draw a picture of it. Encourage them to include details, like the fuzziness, the wings, and the colors.
- After they’ve completed their drawings, help them use the internet to research and label the different parts of a bumblebee, such as the head, thorax, abdomen, antennae, wings, and legs.
- After they’ve completed their drawings, help them use the microscope to examine the bee’s legs. Explain to the kids that the hairs on the bee’s legs help with the collection of pollen. You might want to read this article together and discuss how these leg hairs function.
Middle Grade Kids (Ages 8-12):
- If you find a bumblebee with middle grade kids, I suggest having them follow the same steps as the young kids: Observe and ask questions, draw a picture of it, and label it (using the internet to assist).
- Ask them to use the internet to try and identify the species and sex of the bumblebee. There are approximately 250 species of bumblebees worldwide, and learning to identify them can be an exciting challenge.
- Help them use the microscope to examine the bee’s legs. Direct them to this article about the bee’s leg hairs: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/environment/under-microscope-bees-knees. Ask them to give an example of some other example of hairs helping to collect something, like the hairs in our nose, which catch and stop allergens. Encourage them to think about how similar structures can serve the same purpose in nature, a concept known as convergence.
Older Grade Kids (Ages 13-18):
- If you find a bumblebee with older grade kids, I suggest having them follow the same steps as the middle grade kids: oberve and ask questions, draw the bumblebee, and label the bumblebee, using internet as a resource to label the different parts of a bumblebee, such as the head, thorax, abdomen, antennae, wings, and legs, and also use the internet to identify the species and sex of the bumblebee, presenting evidence for their conclusions.
- Encourage them to examine the bee’s legs under a microscope, with the challenge that they don’t damage the bumblebee. Invite them to read the same article mentioned above for the middle grade kids, and encourage them to think about convergence in nature, and how different organisms have developed similar structures to serve the same purpose.
- In addition, have them research the impact of bumblebees on our food production. They should identify a food they enjoy that relies on bumblebee pollination. For example, even if they’re not fans of healthy foods, they may be surprised to learn that bumblebees are the only known pollinators of potatoes worldwide. Bumblebees are also important pollinators of tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, melons, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, strawberries, and many other crops.
Buzzing with New Knowledge about Bumblebees
These multi-level educational activities can easily be built up or cut down, as fits your needs and learning objectives. There’s so much you can do with a bumblebee to observe, and it really starts with asking questions. You can take things further with the internet or a microscope, but these activities are flexible! You don’t have to stick to science and research based ideas. Kids are amazing poets and artists, and might want to write, draw, or sculpt, inspired by bees. There are historical links to bees as well. Hippocrates, Tolstoy, and Sting were all beekeepers. Also, examining bees is a fun and engaging way for kids of all ages to learn about the importance of bumblebees in our ecosystem. By observing, drawing, and researching these fascinating insects, children can develop a greater appreciation for these fuzzy friends and their essential role in nature. So, next time you encounter a bumblebee, remember it is part of an ecosystem of possibilities!
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