Bee-utiful Bee Field Trips

            Do you know what the biggest pollinator in the world is?

HINT:  We have them right here inside the Calhoun County Library!

The Calhoun County Library held special field trips for 4^th graders in the county to come visit our bees the last week of April. Due to spring blooming and summer around the corner, we had a lot to talk about which resulted in hour-long visits for the students. They rotated through four stations, each for 15 minutes, and they danced, sang, crafted, and learned so much about bees.

1^st Station: Each group made a bee-related craft. We made bee antennae headbands and a queen bee on a stick. While doing this, we taught the bee anatomy of antennae, wings, thorax, abdomen, etc.

2^nd Station: Each group went outside to our pollinator garden located right next to the library. We learned about what colors bees are attracted to and even learned a fun fact that bees cannot see the color red. While in the garden, we held a small scavenger hunt, looking for pollinators that were “hiding” in the garden.

3^rd Station: Each group watched two videos about the Waggle Dance that honey bees do to communicate with each other. A waggle dance is what a bee does with their abdomen to let the other bees know what direction and how far to go for the best flowers and pollen. During the last video, we taught them how to do the waggle dance themselves.

4^th Station: Each group got to visit our real-life bees! We taught the students about how a beehive functions and the stages that they go through from start to finish. Beehives are where bees take the pollen to make the honey, protect the queen, and also lay eggs. Beehives are their homes. Through the clear glass on our hive, we had a sneak peek inside and the students absolutely loved it. Some were a little scared, but after they realized that the bees could not get out or harm them, they were fully engaged.

Once every group visited all four stations, we gave the students a gift. Every child got a bee book and a goodie bag with many bee-related gifts, including a honey stick, a bee bracelet, bee stickers and tattoos, and honey candy. We had so much fun celebrating our bees and introducing them to the students.

Guess what? You do not need to be in school to come visit these bees. You can have your very own field trip and see what the buzz is all about!