Be a Bee
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Provided by: KidsGardening|Published on: July 31, 2026
Activity - ClassroomScientist Reviewed
K123
Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This hour-long classroom activity teaches pollination by having students act out the work of honeybees, creating bee costumes and collecting model pollen and nectar to bring back to a hive.
- Students learn flower anatomy and discover how forager bees communicate the location and quality of food through the waggle dance.
Subjects: Science
Authors: KidsGardening
Region: Global
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Preparation:
- Teachers need to sign up to the KidsGardening newsletter to be able to download the resource.
- Build the flowers (or the simpler pollen) and the honeycomb ahead of class time.
Materials:
- To make their bee costumes, each student will need:
- One plastic headband
- Two pipe cleaners
- One piece of easel paper
- One piece of string approximately 12 inches long
- Two pieces of string each approximately 24 inches long
- Markers to decorate
- To make each flower, you will need:
- 2-liter bottle
- 20-oz. soda bottle
- Three to four 6-inch wooden dowels
- Six 2-inch Styrofoam balls
- Construction paper
- Tape
- Yellow paint
- Glitter
- Alternatively to the flowers, you can use a bucket or tub, paper, and yellow Styrofoam balls to simulate pollen.
- To make the honeycomb, you will need:
- At least seven 8-oz plastic drinking cups (better if recycled!)
- Cellophane tape
Classroom Implementation:
- The Branching Out section is a strong entry point for discussing climate change and threats to pollinators.
- Use the glitter left on students and inside the model pistils as a concrete visual to discuss the mutualistic relationship between flowers and pollinators.
This classroom activity engages students in understanding how bees serve as pollinators. All key terms are printed in bold and clearly defined in the text. The ‘Branching Out’ section of the resource invites classes to investigate challenges facing pollinators, an excellent point to discuss climate change. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
