Time/Duration: Five 30-min classes
Learning Principles:
- Learn about the invention process; learn about leaf cutter bees and how they are important to the environment
- Use a ruler to make sure the tubes in the prototype are the right size
- Gain fine motor skills by sketching a bee house and using various craft materials to build the house
- Write about the bees, learn invention-related vocabulary and present to the class
Subject areas/Standards:
K-LS1-1, K-ESS3-3, 1-LS-1, K-2ETS1-1, K-2-ETS1-2, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.Rl.K.4/Rl.1.14, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K.1/SL.1.1, CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.MD.A.2, CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.MD.A.1
Breakdown of lessons:
Meeting 1: Learn about leaf cutter bees and their importance in the environment; research the problems they face by humans and animals
Meeting 2: Brainstorm solutions to the problems the bees face and sketch a design for their home
Meeting 3: Build the home
Meeting 4: Finish building the home and create a poster with sketches and thoughts to present
Meeting 5: Present the homes and posters to the class; option to extend the same type of lessons with other insects or animals
Materials:
- Assorted office materials such as:
- Paper
- Index cards
- Paper and binder clips
- Rubber bands
- Recycled materials such as:
- Paper towel and toilet paper tubes
- Folded thin cardboard (i.e., cereal boxes)
- Egg cartons
- Plastic or cardboard milk/juice containers
- Straws
- Packing materials (i.e. peanuts)
- Assorted plastic utensils
- Duct tape and masking tape
- Scissors
- Craft supplies such as felt, markers, and crayons (for decorating the house)
Did you know, not all bees live in hives and make honey? The leafcutter bee uses leaves to make a tube shaped nest to lay eggs in. Learn more in this Cricket Media article!
Click here to download description.
