Bumblebees have been a focus with the toddlers at RisingOaks Early Learning | John Sweeney. This interest developed when we told the toddlers about world bee day. “What’s that?” Amari asked. We followed their lead, talking about bees and their benefits to help plants. We watched a short video of bumble bees collecting pollen from the flowers and how they turn it into honey for us to eat.
Once the toddlers were engaged in learning about the bumblebees we added some paper flowers around the classroom and gave the toddlers some bumble bees to buzz around the room collecting their pollen. Some of the toddlers pointed to where the flowers were, helping their friends when they were looking around. We extended this learning by creating an activity that allows the toddlers to see what it looks like when bees actually collect pollen from the flowers. Bees were crafted using popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners for the legs. Container lids were places out to resemble flowers and crushed cheerios were added to the lid. Each toddler was given a bee to fly to the flowers and get the “pollen” stuck to the bees legs. Furthering their learning with a visual hands on activity that allows the toddlers to explore and learn in their own way.
We wrapped up this inquiry by creating a bee hive collage. Stamping with honey comb shapes, painting with black and yellow and sticking on our little bees. The toddlers have really enjoyed learning about nature's helper and now they know that bees play a key part in our world in helping flowers and plants grow to creating homey for us to eat.
