The Busy Buzzing Bee

Title: The Busy Buzzing Bee
Description: A fun lesson all about bees and why they are so important to our ecosystem.
Season: All year
Length of Activity: 30 minutes
Age: 4-8
Button: Start the Activity

The Busy Buzzing Bee
Have you ever sat and watched a bee? You might have observed it buzzing from one place to the next almost as if it were in a hurry to get somewhere. But what is it doing? And where is it going?

In North America, there are 3,500 known native bee species. They fly from flower to flower looking for nectar to feed the baby bees and the queen of the hive. Unknowingly, the pollen of the flowers they visit clings to the hairs on their bodies like tiny dust mops. As they fly, it then sprinkles over our gardens like magic.

Today we are going to discover how pollination works through this fun bee activity with our number one pollinators: bees.

Supplies and Tools needed:

● A piece of cardstock paper
● A pencil and some crayons
● A pair of scissors
● A popsicle stick or small branch
● Scotch tape
● Sugar (or something similar)

Getting started

Step 1: Use your cardstock paper and draw a picture of a bee. It doesn’t need to be perfect. Use your imagination! If you need one for reference, here is a free printable.

Step 2: Once you have drawn and colored your bee, cut it out.

Step 3: Then, tape your stick or branch to the back bottom part of your bee.

Step 4: Tear off two long pieces of Scotch tape and stick the ends together to form a circle, then tape each circle to the back of the bee’s wings.

Step 5: Pour a few spoonfuls of sugar onto the plate and dip the back of your bee’s wings in it. You should see that the sugar sticks to the tape.

Step 6: If you aren’t already outside, take your bee outside and let it “fly” around your yard or garden. Notice how the grains of sugar blow off in the wind and settle on the plants around you.

Taking it Deeper
Now that you have a clear idea about how bees help pollinate our plants, let’s learn a little bit more about what makes bees so special.

Before we begin, what do you already know about bees? Make a list of what you know and then add to it as you learn.

Further Reading
The Whole Kids Foundation has created this amazing free resource full of fun facts and activities to take your knowledge about bees to a whole new level. Or if you prefer more of a rhyming children’s book, this is our favorite.

Further Watching
Here is a lovely video all about the busy buzzing bee.