A Learning Activity is a strategy a teacher chooses to actively
engage students in learning a concept or skill using a digital tool/resource.
You may save this Learning Activity to your hard drive as an .html file by
selecting “File”,then “Save As” from your browser’s
pull down menu. The file name extension must be .html.
Phase:
During/Explore/Explain
Activity:
Show students the video about Red Mason Bees using the digital tool. During the video, ask students to listen and write down any facts (evidence) about Red Mason Bees such as lifestyle habits (are they solitary bees or social?), growth, reproduction, life-cycle, etc. After watching the video, lead a discussion about any facts they gathered. Would Red Mason Bees be beneficial to a farmer or gardener? Why? (one Mason Bee can do the pollinating work of 100 honey bees, not aggressive bees, won't sting, solitary workers, easy to observe). Tell the students they will be making their own bee hotels to encourage Mason Bees to pollinate in their area. Distribute the materials.
Materials:
paper 8 1/2" x 11" (several sheets per bee hotel, for the tubes)
liquid, non-toxic white glue
wooden pencil (one per student)
a coffee can (one per bee hotel)
non-toxic clay
paint
empty toilet paper rolls
string
Directions:
First, paint your coffee can if you would like and set aside to dry.
Cut the paper in half so that you have two sheets, measuring 5 1/2" x 8 1/2". Place your paper flat on the table and place a pencil just below the paper's midline. Apply a thin layer of glue along the top edge of your paper. Fold the bottom of your paper over the pencil, keeping the sides of the paper even and using your fingers to tightly wrap the paper. Hold your paper tightly as you roll towards the glue line. Once you reach the glue line, press it across to make a seal and wipe away any excess glue left on your tube or work surface. If the pencil is free of excess glue, your mason bee paper tube should slide right off with ease. Wipe off the pencil if it has any excess glue. Repeat this process until you have as many paper tubes as needed to fill the can.
After letting your tubes fully dry for one day, come back to the project and make a cookie out of the non-toxic clay.
Use the tube like you would use a cookie cutter, but leave the clay "cookie" in the end of the tube's hole. Once the clay dries, the plugged end will work as the tube's "back door" for the Mason Bee. (If you don't plug the back, the bees will spend their time doing it before they start to build the pollen plug.)
Squirt glue inside the bottom of the coffee can and place the toilet paper rolls inside. Then fill the spaces between and inside the toilet paper rolls with the paper tubes.
Tie the string around the coffee can and hang it against a flat surface and located in an area protected from high winds.
Assessment Strategies:
Assess students on successful completion of their bee hotel. Have students complete an exit ticket by giving one reason for encouraging Mason Bees in their area.
Advanced Preparation:
The teacher will need a projector and computer with internet access to play the video.
Variation Tips (optional):
The tubes may also be made from paper straws that can be purchased rather than rolled. Students can construct bee hotels in pairs, groups, or individually.