September 2024 Blog: Discover the Buzz
Buzz buzz! Bees are a crucial part of our ecosystem as they maintain a larger part of our native plants and flora through pollination. What is pollination? Pollination is the process of moving pollen from the male part of a plant to the female part of a plant. Pollination is how plants make seeds. It helps plants grow and gives us food to eat. Without pollination, we wouldn’t have many of the fruits and vegetables we enjoy! But bees do not pollinate on purpose. What they want is the sweet nectar inside of flowers!
Small but mighty, bees can travel up to 5 miles in a day to collect nectar and pack their hind legs, or pollen baskets, full of pollen! At Bee-ology, our seasonal program, children will dive into the amazing world of bees and discover their crucial role in our ecosystem. Through hands-on activities, outdoor explorations, and interactive demonstrations, Bee-ology aims to ignite a passion for bees and nature in young minds. Some of our previous lessons include…
- Learning about Bee Anatomy: Children will learn about the different parts of a bee by creating their own out of recycled materials.
- Honey Tasting: Children will observe different types of honey and discuss why they may look and taste differently.
- Native Flower Seed Balls: Children will create seed balls to plant in their own gardens and learn how to support local bee populations.
The main goal of Bee-ology is to increase awareness about bees, understand their roles in the ecosystem, and learn how to protect them. Illinois is home to about 400 different species of bees, such as bumblebees, Mason bees, leafcutter bees, sweat bees, and more! Unfortunately, many factors contribute to the decline of native bee populations, so it is up to us to learn more about how we can help them!
Families love what we do in Bee-ology.
- “I liked the interactive activities and the real science elements.” (June 14, 2023)
- “Very sweet way to teach kids about the importance of bees and honey!” (July 23, 2023)
Join us on this buzzing adventure and help your child develop understanding and enthusiasm towards local bees. Plus, visit our Honey Bee Hideout exhibit year round to learn more about the roles of honey bees in our environment. While you’re playing in the exhibit be sure to check out the live beehive footage!
We can also learn more about bees and how to care for them by reading books and articles!
*Some* of our favorite books about honeybees:
- Bees: A Honeyed History by Piotr Socha
- The Bee Book by Charlotte Milner
- The Life and Times of the Honeybee by Charles Micucci
- Honey, a Gift from Nature by Yumiko Fujiwara and Hideko Ise
Other resources to learn about native bees: Wild About Illinois Native Bees! Native Bees | Insects | Illinois Extension | UIUC The ABCs of Our Native Bees | Chicago Botanic Garden Meet Chicago’s Native Bees – Field Museum
Join us for Bee-ology every 2nd and 4th Wednesday from 10 to 11 am (Dates and locations TBD)
–Jasmine Pichardo, Education Specialist II