The Buzz About Bees

A Web Quest on Honey Bees

by Chris Elrod

Introduction | Task |  Process | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion


Introduction
In our unit on plant growth and development we have been studying the life cycle of plants. We have just begun to study pollination and the role that honey bees play in this stage of a plant's life. But did you know that bees are facing many threats to their survival and that their population is decreasing at an alarming rate? Bees are more important to us than you might think. What will happen if we do not have enough bees?
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TheTask
The local beekeepers association has learned that you have been studying the life cycle of plants and the role bees play in pollination. They are concerned that the public is not aware of the decrease in the honey bee population and the consequences of not having enough honey bees. They want you to produce a two minute commercial that educates the public on the importance of honey bees. You and your team will investigate several different resources and gather information to create a commercial that addresses these issues.
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The Process
Step One
Before you can begin to create your commercial, you will be assigned to a team of 3 students to gather the information you need. In your team, each of you will be given a role in collecting information. Here is a list of roles and responsibilities:

The Pollinator: You should gather information on the role bees play in the pollination of plants. In your notes you need to describe how bees are important in pollinating plants and list the plants that honey bees pollinate.

The Producer: You need to find out what products bees make. In your notes you need to list the products and describe how these are used in everyday life.

The Problem Hunter: You will investigate the reasons for the decrease in the population of honey bees. In your notes discover and describe the various problems bees are facing.

Step Two
Locate the Resources section of this web quest and gather information from the Internet links and classroom resources. Record the information you find in your notes. (You will be handing in your notes at the end so it is important that you write your name and your role at the top of each page.)

Step Three
Share your notes with your team. Make sure that all team members have contributed information and completed their assignment.

Step Four
Create your team commercial. There are four areas you need to consider in making a good commercial:

Content
You need to include factual information you have collected. This should include:

  • the importance of honey bees in pollination
  • a list of plants that honey bees pollinate
  • the products honey bees give us and how they're used in our every day life
  • the threats facing the honey bee population

    • Creativity
    You want your commercial to interest your audience. You should consider the following suggestions:
  • A commercial slogan or hook- Examples: "Milk Does A Body Good", "Just Do It"
  • Visual elements- Examples: drawings, photos, props, costumes
  • Other creative elements- songs, skits, etc. If you have other ideas, check with your teacher to approve your idea before you begin.

    • Persuasivness
    You need to make sure your commercial convinces others. You should ask yourself:
    Does this commercial convince others that honey bees are important to us? Will the audience be more concerned about the honey bee population?
    Presentation
    You need to make sure that we can hear and understand your commercial! You need to remember to:
  • Speak clearly and with expression
  • Speak at the proper volume and speed
  • Face your audience (no backs to the video camera!)

    •  

     

    Step Five
    Practice your commercial with your group. You will be given a time to have your commercial videotaped. Commercials will be shown in class and your classmates will be the "test audience."

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    Resources

    Online Resources
    When you go to a web site, please remember to click on the back button to return to the web quest.
    General information links:
    Honey Bee Facts
    Bee Facts for Kids
    Beekeeping site  - Good general info for all team members.
    Ask the expert -Ask any bee or pollination related question to the Agriculture Network Information Center.

    Links for Pollinators
    Riverdeep Bee site
    Just what are bees, anyway? -Info from GEARS (Global Entomolgy Agriculture Research Server) scroll down to "Why are Bees So Important?".
    Bees and Seeds
    An Apple for Your Teacher- Bees and Apple Pollination
     

    Links for Producers
    Bees and Candlemaking
    Beeswax
    How bees make honey
    About Honey and its Uses
     

    Links for Problem Hunters
    Honey Bee Info -Scroll down to "Problems of Survival", "Disease" and "Natural and Chemical Enemies"
    What Is Happening to our bees?
    Mites and Disease

    Classroom resources:
    Books
    The Magic School Bus: Inside a Beehive by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen
    The Honey Makers by Gail Gibbons
    Honey Bees by Sharon Kankoen
    Horray for Beekeeping by Allison Larin, Niki Walker and Bobbie D. Kalman
    The Life and Times of the Honey Bee by Charles Micucci
    Questions and Answers About Bees by Betty Polisar Reigot
    A Reason for a Flower by Ruth Heller
    A Seed Grows: My First Look at a Plant Life Cycle by Pamela Hickman and Heather Collins
    Other resources
    Pollination The Mini Page, June 1991

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    Evaluation
    Individual:
    Each member must hand in notes taken during the web quest. Evaluation will based on whether you have gathered the information described in the Process section.
    Group:
    Your commercial will be evaluated based on the four areas described in the Process section: Content, Creativity, Persuasiveness and Presentation. A rubric will be used to evaluate your commercial.

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    Conclusion

    Honey Bees play a very important role in the life cycle of many plants. They also provide other products that we use in our every day lives. We should all be concerned about our honey bee population.

    Still interested in learning more about bees? Here are some more links!

    Additional Fun Sites on Bees
    Bee Kids from Burleson's Honey Web Site
    Facts and Fun for Kids from Honey.Com
    Just for Fun from Janice Green's ...Of Bees, Beekeepers and Food site
    B-Eye- See the world through the eyes of a honey bee!
     

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    Last updated 6/30/04
    Send comments to Chris Elrod