Protecting Bees: An Interdisciplinary Lesson

Students learn about the importance of bees and how humans can impact their survival.

Inquire: Students watch a video to learn about the mason bee and work together to match new vocabulary words about bees.

Investigate: Students read about the importance of bees and the threats they face.

Suggestions

• This lesson encourages collaboration between students to develop their understanding of the importance of bees.

• This lesson encourages students to be both creative and observant by combining science, math, and art practices.

• This lesson can be used in science when learning about the natural world and in math when practicing addition and subtraction.

• The Inspire section can be completed on a separate day or the activities can be completed in different class periods with the math problems in math class and the “Grand Opening” sign in a writing section.

Additional Prerequisites

• Specific materials are necessary to make the mason bee hotel. Each group will need a tin can, scrap paper, a pencil, tape, two toilet paper rolls, and liquid glue. Gather sufficient materials before teaching the lesson.

• Some students may be allergic to bees. If this is the case, it may be best that the bee hotel not be placed near the classroom.

• The Vocabulary Cards can be printed so that each student has access to every term and definition.

• Print the What Is a Bee? Writing Pages (2/student; front and back), Vocabulary Game Cards, and Bee Math Worksheets before teaching the lesson.

• Teachers may choose to print the Student Reading for students to follow along. See booklet printing directions in the Student Reading document.

Differentiation

• Watch the video Build a Beehouse! at 0.75 playback speed by clicking on Settings →Playback Speed. This will allow emerging bilingual students and younger students to catch more interesting bee facts!

• Writing activities are differentiated with optional sentence frames.

• Vocabulary Game Cards with pictures are available for students who are new-to-print or beginning readers.

• The Bee Math activity is differentiated for students with different proficiencies in addition and subtraction; choose the level that best fits your students’ needs.

• Younger students can use counters or beans in the math activity to visualize the bees being added and subtracted.

• Although the video makes it easier to visualize the steps, the beehouse can be made by just following the instructions in the Student Document.

• As an extension, older students can investigate how their city or town's actions impact local bee populations positively or negatively.

Learners can create projects that will protect bees in their neighborhood and gain knowledge about bees and their special functions in pollinating plants. The lesson passed our review for science credibility after a careful examination of all the contents.

Primary Standards

• Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
  • ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
    • K-ESS3-3 Communicate solutions that will reduce the impact of humans on the land, water, air, and/or other living things in the local environment.
  • LS1: From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
    • K-LS1-1 Use observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals (including humans) need to survive.
• Common Core Math Standards (CCSS.MATH)
  • Operations & Algebraic Thinking (K-5)
    • CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.OA.A.2 Solve addition and subtraction word problems, and add and subtract within 10, e.g., by using objects or drawings to represent the problem.
    • CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.OA.A.1 Use addition and subtraction within 20 to solve word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions, e.g., by using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.
    • CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.OA.A.1 Use addition and subtraction within 100 to solve one- and two-step word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions, e.g., by using drawings and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.

Supporting Standards

• Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
  • Reading: Informational Text (K-12)
    • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.K.10 Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding.
    • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.1.10 With prompting and support, read informational texts appropriately complex for grade 1.
  • Speaking & Listening (K-12)
    • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K.1 Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about kindergarten topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.
    • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.1.1 Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 1 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.
• National Core Arts Standards
  • Visual Arts: Standard 1 - Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
    • VA:Cr1.2.1a Use observation and investigation in preparation for making a work of art.