Integrate Bees into the Curriculum - Schools Who Keep Bees

1.

Plant a wildlife garden full of perennials and shrubs so pollen and nectar are available all year round.  Our Gardening for Bees page and Planting for Bees blog have further useful information.

2.

Set up a wildlife camera outside the hive so you can monitor the activity remotely.

3.

Collect pollen pellets dropped each week – use a pollen chart and a knowledge of seasonal flowering plants in the area to discover what the bees are foraging on.

4.

If microscopes are available, the pollen pellets can be compared with pollen collected from plants in flower.

5.

Create a video diary of what is happening in the hive week by week – this could be a blog or a photo diary.

6.

Use the honey to produce different biscuits, sweets and cakes. Other food products such as jams and marmalades may be considered.  Click here for some recipes to try.

7.

Test the honey to see if it contains monosaccharides and disaccharides.

8.

Test the pollen for proteins, oils and fats.

9.

The bees can be studied under the microscope to find out more about their anatomy.

10.

Keep records of each hive and its productivity in terms of bees and honey.

11.

Learn how to put parts of the hive together.

12.

Design an attractive hive based on a knowledge of the bee’s sensitivity to different colours and patterns.

13.

Test the viscosity of honey.

14.

Test how hygroscopic honey is.

15.

Design marketing logos for your honey and posters for school fairs.

16.

Design labels for jars and honey pots.

17.

Set up a business plan to study the economics of the honey production.

18.

Produce artwork related to bees, textile design and graphic designs.

19.

Study the use of wax in society from medieval times.

20.

Investigate modern day products that rely on wax and honey.

21.

Find out about the economic importance of pollinators.

22.

Investigate why are insects in decline?

23.

Learn about the processing of honey.

24.

Learn about the processing of wax.

25.

Learn how to make candles.

26.

Learn how to make wax crayons.

27.

Use wax in art; eg tie dyeing.

28.

Make beeswax flowers.

29.

Learn about bee senses  – taste, smell, sight and how they communicate.

30.

Learn about the bee’s sting and how it affects the human body.

31.

Research the history of the uses of honey.

32.

Research the history of the uses of beeswax.

33.

Try making vinegar.

34.

Find out about bees in different religions and their significance.

35.

Make a logo for your own Bee Club.

36.

Make bee models.

37.

Compete at the National Honey Show.

38.

Keep hive records and honey records.

39.

Link with other schools and community groups to share your knowledge.

40.

Train to take the Junior Basic Assessment.

41.

Apply to become a BBKA Beacon School.

42.

Use beekeeping to support DofE, Guide and Scout Awards.