Choose Learning Type ▼

The Buzz About Bees

Activity

Observing Pollinators in Action

Find a quiet spot in the garden and watch the busy bees at work. What do you notice about: Where they like to land? How they move from flower to flower? The yellow pollen on their legs? Try making your own flower and bee from clay or recycled materials based on what you observed! Tip: Stay calm and quiet – bees are more interested in flowers than in you!

Science Seed

Bees are important pollinators! They help plants create new seeds, supporting entire ecosystems. When a bee collects nectar from a flower, it stores it in a special part of its body called the honey stomach. Back at the hive, the forager bee passes their collected nectar to worker bees and the worker bees deposit the enzyme-rich nectar into honeycomb cells. They fan the nectar with their wings to get rid of excess water, which thickens it into honey. Bees also collect pollen in special “baskets” on their hind legs, called corbiculae. Bees groom or comb themselves to clean and spread out pollen, ensuring they can carry as much as possible. When a bee lands on a flower, its branched hairs attract pollen grains, which then transfer to other flowers as the bee moves. This is pollination!

move to the next activity

earn Badges

Badges can be earned through hands-on experiences within each of the 16 branches of science, or “Science Slices.” You can earn a badge in each branch of science by doing four activities in these categories. We also encourage participants to keep a Nature Journal to record their memories, and to express themselves creatively through writing or drawing after each activity. We recommend that each child (and parent if they’d like) write or draw in a journal after each activity, with expectations of your children that match their age (the goal is self-expression, not perfection).

Explore Geraldine Palmer Elementary

join Families in Nature

It is our vision to inspire all families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists. Becoming a member of Families in Nature will give your family the opportunity to have adventures in nature, experience field science, develop as youth conservation leaders, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Memberships are free for everyone.

Who are we?

Families in Nature works to create opportunities for nature connection with the purpose of sparking a deep love and desire to protect, conserve and restore the environment. Our mission is to connect children and their families to nature and to each other through time spent learning, playing, and volunteering outdoors. It is our vision to inspire ALL families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists.

This project was made possible by HEB.