“Guard bees make sure that no other bees come in the hive from other Page from a student’s journal
hives.”—Charlie
What did we learn?
ety of levels, I hope to have made science
an exciting part of their everyday life.
The assessment for the unit came in two
even after they have become second grad-
parts. The first part was a creative build-
ers, I sometimes hear my students singing
ing exercise. I paired the students and
the song: “Head, Thorax, Abdomen” as
provided a variety of recycled materials
they walk down the hall, and I know they
and gave them the assignment of designing
have made and retained a connection that
an imaginary bee. Their bee had to have
will hopefully spark further inquiries and
all the correct parts [head, thorax, abdo-
discoveries in the scientific world. !
men, five eyes (two compound and three
simple), six legs, antennae and wings] and
could include extra, imaginary parts. Once
Resources
the bees were complete each pair pre-
sented their creation to the class.
Carle, eric. The Honeybee and the Robber. New
york: Penguin group, 2001.
The second part was for each child
Houghton, gillian. Bees, Inside and Out. New
to reflect and write or draw about what
york: PowerKids Press, 2004.
he or she learned (see drawings). The
Milton, Joyce. Honeybees. New york: grosset &
knowledge the kids demonstrated and the
Dunlop, 2003.
Nelson, Robin. From Flower to Honey. Minneapo-
revelations they recorded exceeded my
lis: Lerner Publications Co., 2002.
expectations. While many of the activities
Rockwell, Anne F. Honey in a Hive. New york:
required a lot of materials and preparation,
HarperCollins, 2005.
giving my students a variety of ways to
Warner Home Video. Magic School Bus: Bugs,
incorporate information about bees made
Bugs, Bugs! (video). Burbank, CA: Warner
Laurie Nakauchi-Hawn is
Home Video, 2004.
it worthwhile.
a kindergarten/first-grade
teacher at the Friends
By studying an organism that kids see
School in Boulder, Colo-
frequently (bees) and helping the students
rado. integrate scientific information on a vari-
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