The Honey Bee

Introduction

The Missouri State Beekeepers Association and the St. Louis Zoo are teaming up to find a small group of student educators.  The team that presents the most informative and creative presentation will be chosen to educate visitors at the St. Louis Zoo about honeybees, the importance of honeybees to our environment, their diminishing numbers, and the Missouri State Beekeepers Association's mission to help honeybees thrive.   

MO- Missouri GLEs

Subject: ScienceStrand: Strand 4: Changes in Ecosystems and Interactions of Organisms with their EnvironmentsBig Idea: 1. Organisms are interdependent with one another and with their environmentConcept: C. All organisms, including humans, and their activities cause changes in their environment that affect the ecosystemGrade: fifth

Task

You will work in groups of 5.  You will present a final project that will include the parts below in the form of a poster, Power Point, Glogster,  or Voki.  BEE informative and creative.

Part 1: Present basic information about honeybees: life cycle, colony, queen
Part 2: Answer the question: How are honeybees important to our environment and why should we care if their numbers are diminishing? Note: look at pollination and foods source
Part 3: Answer the question: Why are honeybees disappearing? Note: explore environmental issues such as pollution, types of plants honeybees prefer, and what humanity interferes with their survival.
Part 4: Answer the question: What can humanity do to help protect honeybees?
Part 5: How does the Missouri Bee Keepers Association and other associations lead this effort through their mission statement and activities.

Process

Part 1: Use the following links to help to help you find information on the basic information about honeybees, their life cycle, colony life, & queen.  

Present basic information about honeybees: physical features, life cycle, colony, queen, homes, protection, pheromones, and predators in your presentation. Use pictures, diagrams, and short videos. You could also create a 3-D model of a honeybee or hive or a diarama of their nataural habitat.  Again BEE creative. 

Watch these videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=x7cX2cjFunw

 Read these articles:

http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Apidae/

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/animals/creaturefeature/honeybees/

Part 2: Use the following links to help you answer the following question: How are honeybees importat to our ennvironment and why shuld we care if they go extinct?  Explore pollination and food source. List your information in your presentation.  You can use pictures and diagrams along with your information to enhance the audiences' understanding.

Read these articles: 

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/07/19/crops-that-would-disappear-without-bees/

https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/beneficials/beneficial-60_pollinators-_honey_bees.htm

http://www.nrdc.org/wildlife/animals/files/bees.pdf

Part 3: Use the following links to help you answer the following question: Why are honeybees disappearing?  Explore environmental issues, human interference, types of plants honeybees prefer, and pollution.  List your information in your presentation.  You can use pictures and diagrams along with your information to enhance your audiences' understanding.  

Watch these videos:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykq3q5XDjnY

Read these articles: 

http://www.animalplanet.com/endangered-species/diminishing-bee-populations.htm

http://marcygoodfleisch.hubpages.com/hub/Are-bees-disappearing-What-will-happen-if-bees-become-extinct

Part 4: Use the following links to help answer the following questions: What can humanity do to help protect honeybees? List your information in your presentation.  You can use pictures and diagrams along with your information to enhance your audiences' understanding.

Read these articles: 

http://www.buzzaboutbees.net/save-the-bees.html

http://www.goodbyecitylife.com/animals/safety.htm

Part 5: Use the following links to help answer the following questions: How does the Missouri State Beekeepers association lead the effort to help protect honeybees throught their mission statement and acivities?  List your information in your presentation.  You can use pictures and diagrams along with your information.  

Read these articles: 

http://www.outdoorplace.org/beekeeping

http://www.extension.missouri.edu

http://mostatebeekeepers.org/

Watch these videos:

http://www.fox2now.com

Teams should:

1. Meet together to decide what type of presentation they will complete and any extra visuals they will use.

2. Teams should decide which members will research which part.

3. Teams will research their individual part.

4. Teams will educate other team members on their part and decide if they collectively have enough information.

5. Teams will individually work on their portion of the presentation.

6. Teams will collaboratively work together to construct a seamless visual presentation.

7.  Teams will practice together presenting their presentation.

8. Teams will present their presenttion to the class.  

Evaluation
CATEGORY 1 Point 1 Point 1 Point 1 Point
Part 1 Describe Basic Characteristics of Honeybees Describe the Honeybee Life Cycle Describe the Honeybee Colony Life Describe Purpose of the Queen Honeybee
Part 2 How are honeybees important to our environment and why should we care if they go extinct? Explore pollination and food source List your information in your presentation. You can use pictures and diagrams along with your information to enhance the audiences\' understanding.
Part 3 Why are honeybees disappearing? Explore environmental issues, human interference, types of plants honeybees prefer, and pollution. List your information in your presentation You can use pictures and diagrams along with your information to enhance your audiences\' understanding.
Part 4 What can humanity do to help protect honeybees? List your information in your presentation. You can use pictures and diagrams along with your information to enhance your audiences\' understanding.  
Part 5 How does the Missouri State Beekeepers association lead the effort to help protect honeybees throughout their mission statement and activities? List your information in your presentation. You can use pictures and diagrams along with your information.  
Conclusion

The honeybee is a fascinating creature.  They are a vital contributor to our food source.  In recent years, their numbers have diminished. Scientists are still evaluating why their numbers are dropping.  It is important that humanity works toward the goal of increasing their numbers and protecting their existence.   

Credits
Teacher Page


MO- Missouri GLEs

Subject: Science
Strand: Strand 4: Changes in Ecosystems and Interactions of Organisms with their Environments
Big Idea: 1. Organisms are interdependent with one another and with their environment
Concept: C. All organisms, including humans, and their activities cause changes in their environment that affect the ecosystem
Grade: Sixth