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Topics

Expository Writing, Organisms: Life and Growth

Grades

3rd, 4th, 5th

Subjects

Science, Biology, English Language Arts

Duration

60 minutes

Regional Focus

North America, United States, USA - Northeast, New Jersey

Format

Google Docs, Google Slides

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This lesson plan is licensed under Creative Commons.

Creative Commons License

What About Bees?

Created By Teacher:
Last Updated:
Mar 29, 2024
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SubjectToClimate

Synopsis

This lesson introduces the importance of bees to humans, our food supply, and how children can create a healthy habitat for bees. 

 

Step 1 - Inquire: Students generate ideas in response to the question "Why are bees important to us?" Then students watch a video of the book Bee and Me by author Alison Jay.

 

Step 2 - Investigate: Students create captions for the book Bee and Me to demonstrate the importance of bees. 

 

Step 3 - Inspire: Students develop a plan for how they will help bees in New Jersey.

Accompanying Teaching Materials
Teaching Tips

Positives

  • This lesson creates a collaborative learning environment as students engage with a variety of ELA applications to develop an action plan.

  • The story highlights the value of friendship and the need for beekeeping.

  • The story also suggests solutions for readers to help bee populations, such as growing flowering plants.

  • The video on pollination provides a foundation for students to understand the importance of pollinators.

  • Students are prompted to take action and develop a plan to make a difference, even at a young age, right in their own New Jersey schoolyards or backyards.

Additional Prerequisites

  • Students will need a basic understanding of what pollination is and examples of pollinators (bees, hummingbirds, moths, etc.).

  • Additionally, students should observe pollinators, such as bees, in their natural habitat, if possible.

  • Teachers should be prepared with crafting materials and paper for letter writing.

Differentiation

  • For remote learning classes, students can have access to teacher slides and digital resources to participate from home, as needed.

  • This lesson provides opportunities for students to learn about the topic using various modalities including visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile.

  • Groups of students with mixed abilities can collaborate on their storybook scripts and action plans.

  • Learning is structured around explaining or solving a social or community-based issue.

  • Extension activities include:

    • Sharing action plans with peers, other school community members

    • Creating an outdoor pollinator garden on school grounds. Most home and garden supply stores will offer free seeds to schools.

    • Join the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge. It’s free!
Scientist Notes

This lesson plan discusses pollination, bees' role in pollination, and how climate change may affect both bees and pollination. The climate change fact sheet provided is accurate, up to date, and includes references for more information. This lesson helps students think about how nature and the climate are connected. This resource is recommended for teaching.

Standards

This resource addresses the listed standards. To fully meet standards, search for more related resources.

Primary Standard

  • Science
    • LS4: Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity
      • 3-LS4-4. Make a claim about the merit of a solution to a problem caused when the environment changes and the types of plants and animals that live there may change.
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