bee bath

Bees are an integral part of our ecosystem as they ensure biodiversity. They pollinate our crops so that plants can produce fruits and vegetables, and provide us with delicious and healing honey. The bee population has been on a steady decline and one way that you can help these little critters survive is to make your own bee bath. Not only will you help to protect our ecosystem, but it’s a simple activity for you and your littles to do together.

---

bee bath instructions

1. Fill a shallow dish with small stones and pebbles of varying sizes.
2. Pour fresh water into the dish so that the top layer of pebbles pokes out above the waterline. The protruding pebbles will give the bees a place to land.
3. Find a shady and protected place in your garden or on your property to put the bee bath. 
4. Be sure to check on the water level of your bee bath from time to time. 

Enjoy the new friends buzzing around your garden!

---

beeswax bee modeling

Lily and Rose students have a piece of beeswax sent home in their kit. They can model a little bee friend and do a puppet show. (Can you make a bee with your beeswax and do a puppet show for me?)

Beeswax Warming Song 
Here in my hands a gift from the bees, from a honeycomb tucked high away in the trees.
Warm in my hands, the gift comes alive, what will it now become, what will I try?

---

song of the bee

Zoom, zoom zoom,
Bees among the bloom
Zoom, zoom, zoom,
Bees among the bloom
Golden gifts sweet scented honey,
Flowery fragrant soft and sunny,
Zoom, zoom, zoom
​Bees among the bloom

---

the story of the thirsty bee

After telling the story you can guide several activities by asking  questions like:

• I wonder if we can make a garden well for the bees? What would we need etc.
• I have some work to do now. You can do your work and make a story book about the bees. What will you need? Etc.
• How will you model a bee from your beeswax? I’d love to see a puppet show of the story…
• Lets’s make some tea with honey from the bees. How will you do it?

• What will YOU come up with? Imagine...

Outside on a sunny spring day, a little bee was dancing his way through the meadows and gardens. He could hear the flower fairies singing their magical growing song and see them painting the flower petals all the colors of the rainbow. As he flew nearer, his heart was full of wonder. Very carefully, so as not to disturb this joy, he hovered over the golden center of a dandelion. “Come, have a rest!” said the dandelion, her face basking in the glow of the sunshine. The little bee landed softly so as not to harm his friend. “Please, drink a little nectar to take home to your hive family,” offered the dandelion. The little bee sucked up some nectar through his straw-like tongue. “Yum,” he buzzed. He flew up to do a little dance and noticed that his legs were full of gold dust. “The gold is a special gift for you to share with all the flowers you visit. Only be sure to bring a little home to your hive family,” said dandelion. Little bee buzzed and danced a song of thanks, then off he flew. He visited many flowers that day. His tummy grew so full of nectar that he was thirsty. He flew over the river, but it was rushing so fast that he thought he might get washed away. He found a puddle but it was so muddy that he thought he might get stuck. He searched and searched and finally he came to a pretty garden with many flowers and vegetables and fruit trees. There he saw a little tray filled with pebbles upon which he could settle. Between the pebbles was fresh spring water! He drank until he knew it was enough. He was just about to dance his way home when he saw a child carefully watering the garden plants. He danced around the child, singing a buzzing song of thanks. He was so grateful. Then off he went to bring his treasures back home to his hive. 

​That night the child drew a story book about the little bee, while drinking a warm cup of tea with sweet honey from the bees. Each day (s)he went to the garden to make sure that the pebble well was always full for the bees.