Environmental Science Environmental Science and BEES Bees have been around for about 27 million years. They can be very good at protecting themselves against predators using their sting. They can however be killed with chemicals which farmers sometimes use to keep their crops pest and disease free. This topic first covers the basic principles of sexual reproduction in plants. It stresses the importance of thorough pollination for good fruit production. It explains why bees are so very important as pollinators of many of our crops, and touches on the threats to our bee population. Children at Key Stage 1 should be able to pick up the idea that bees move pollen around and that this helps fruit to form but at Key Stage 2 they will be able to appreciate the mechanism properly In the first instance the ovaries are the most important part. Flowers with developing ovaries are very useful to show the seeds forming (using magnifying glasses). Apple, cherry, strawberry, peas, beans, oil seed rape and wallflowers are all useful although using the edible ones makes the point best. We look at honey and it's properties in this section. Children should be encouraged to use all their senses to explore the honey. Different types of honey can be compared with each other for taste, texture and colour i.e. clear honey, soft set honey, hard honey and heather honey. It can also be interesting to investigate honey from different flower sources. Learning topics Do plants need bees? Bee quiz Threats to honeybees Do flowers need bees?Do flowers need bees 2 Pollination word game How seeds are made The story of honeyCollecting honey and beeswax Wax scales Useful Resources Ants Nest Apiary Bumblebee in flight Butterfly – peacockButterfly Bees collecting water Cricket DragonflyDrone Fly Frame Moth Queen cells Swarm White tailed bumblebee Pollinator ID sheet - https://www.buglife.org.uk/bugs/bug-identification-tips/ Easy recipes using honey - https://www.kidspot.com.au/kitchen/recipes/easy-honey-joys-recipe/kcnv229p Rowse - https://www.rowsehoney.co.uk/ Making rolled candles - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5HJxwWdlTM Making dipped candles - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUQyHQRAOxI Making moulded candles - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GhxDwZCo5A How seeds are made - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zxfrwmn/articles/zfn6t39 Inside a seed - https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2021/03/plant-life-cycle-seeds-shoots-roots/ Honey- How it’s made - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT6IQx26eHk Wasp Love Game - https://fo.am/activities/wasplove/ A huge thank you to our generous Bees in the Curriculum Sponsor National Bee Supplies Manage Cookie Preferences