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Planning a pollinator garden

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Materials:

Internet access and reference books for research

notebooks

Background Information:

You don't need a lot of space to start a pollinator garden. Even a few containers of flowers can attract hungry bees and butterflies. To plan a pollinator garden, students will need to know the basic needs of wildlife - food, water, shelter, and places to rear young:

Food sources (host plants). Although pollinators in their adult stages generally thrive on flower nectar and/or pollen, larval stages generally have a penchant for plant leaves. Good plants for pollinators include: aromatic herbs (coriander, catnip, mint, parsley, lavender), annuals (marigold, phlox, bachelor's button, zinnia, cosmos, salvia), and perennials (bee balm, Shasta daisy, iris, coneflower, lobelia, delphinium). Try to plan a combination that ensures something is blooming at all times during the growing season.

Another option is to allow a section of your schoolyard to revert to wild grasses, weeds, and wildflowers (e.g., milkweed and Queen Anne's lace).

Water. Pollinators such as butterflies will gather and sip at shallow pools, mud puddles, and birdbaths; bees and wasps can use mud as a home-building material. Mud puddles also provide important minerals for some pollinators.

Sites and materials for nesting and overwintering. Leave cut plant stems exposed, place flowerpots with drainage holes bottom-up on the ground, leave twigs and brush in small piles, create mud puddles, or put out pieces of string or other light fibers. Students can even build nesting structures for certain types of bees and bats.

Another important consideration: Do not use pesticides and herbicides in or around your pollinator garden. Even organic pesticides derived from plants and microbes can be harmful to pollinators as well as pests. Herbicides may wipe out key plants (weeds) that are important food plants for pollinators. Diverse plantings are less likely to have severe pest problems and are more likely to attract pest insects' natural enemies: predatory insects and birds. If certain plants are continually plagued with pests, replace them with less susceptible species or varieties.

Laying the Groundwork:

If possible, have students spend at least a couple of sessions observing flowers and their visitors in the schoolyard and/or at home. Ask the following guiding questions:

What types of insects or other animals are visiting which flowers?

Are some flowers visited more often or only by certain creatures?

Is there more activity at certain times of day?

What kinds of paths do the insects take as they move among flowers?

Which types hover and which perch?

How do the flowers they visit seem designed to support these habits?

Does a mixed planting draw more different kinds of pollinators?

Students' observations should lead to more questions, some of which they can answer through systematic observations and some through further research.

Exploration:

1. If you don't already have a garden site, have the class scope out a location that receives at least six hours of full sun each day. If your growing space is limited, consider growing the pollinator plants in containers filled with a rich, well-drained soil mix

2. Next, research pollinator species native to your region.

3. Find out what specific plants and habitat features these creatures need to thrive and reproduce. In general, the greater variety of plant types you have (trees, shrubs, perennials, annual flowers and herbs), the more pollinators you'll attract. Since pollinators have different needs during different life cycle stages, maintaining diversity will also make your site more of a full-service oasis.

Consider the following when creating your plant list:

Use as many plants native to your region as possible. Native plants have evolved closely with native creatures and are well suited to meet their needs. In fact, some pollinator species are entirely dependent on the availability of certain native plants. (Your state's agency of natural resources and/or conservation and native plant societies are excellent resources to tap. They may also have Web sites that offer plant lists and habitat information.)

*Note: Never dig plants from the wild unless the area is slated for destruction and development and you have permission from the landowner. The best source for native plants is a local nursery or native plant association that offer plants that have been grown, not gathered.

Whether using native or nonnative plants, shoot for old-fashioned varieties. Many garden varieties have been bred to look or smell nice for humans, but they often lack accessible nectar or pollen for animal partners.

Choose a range of flower shapes and sizes to suit the feeding preferences of a variety of pollinators.

Include a variety of flowers that bloom throughout the season. By doing so, you will accommodate different pollinators' preferences and provide a sequence of pollen and nectar sources throughout different life cycle stages. For instance, flowering shrubs and trees tend to blossom early in the season, providing nectar or pollen when other food is scarce.

Making Connections:

Possible discussion questions:

Why are native plants so important to our pollinators?

Why is it important to include a variety of plants in our garden?

Learn about the Monarch butterfly migration patterns. Discuss the importance of gardens for migrating pollinators.

Branching Out:

Science - Study the life cycles and anatomy of pollinators that visit your garden.

English - Choose a favorite fruit, vegetable, or nut crop, and research it and its pollinating partner for a written report and/or oral presentation.

History/Social Studies - Discuss how the changes brought to your region by colonizing humans have altered the habitats of pollinators, and how different things might look if pollinators had been on the "planning commission" all along.

English - Create an advertisement for your pollinator garden written for pollinators. The ad should be designed to entice them to visit your garden.

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Internet access and reference books for research notebooks You don't need a lot of space to start a pollinator garden. Even a few containers of flowers can attract hungry bees and butterflies. To plan a pollinator garden, students will need to know the basic needs of wildlife - food, water, shelter, and places to rear young: Food sources (host plants).

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ABC gardening - A BUZZ around town

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A Buzz Around Town - Gardening Australia

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Costa meets a group of super-keen city gardeners who don’t let small gardens stop them – they’re spilling their bee-friendly plants out onto the streets!

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Fun Bee Facts for Kids, Parents and Teacher

Most of us are afraid of bees. In fact, a single bee can ruin an entire summer day. But should we be so scared of these important insects? Let's learn some fun bee information for kids.

There are about 20,000 different types of bees in the world.

Only female bees sting!

A bee's stinger is part of their reproductive design. Only the queen can use it for reproduction, but all female bees can sting.

A queen bee can be hard to distinguish from the colony, but has distinct features like size, color, pollen baskets, and antennae.

Bee venom is stored in a sack attached to the singer.

Bees can see all colors except the color red.

Their sense of smell (along with their sight) helps them find flowers they need to collect pollen, which is their preferred food source.

They carry pollen on their legs and body from flower to flower.

Bees can drop pollen while they're flying, which helps pollinate other flowers and plants. This creates symbiosis and allows plants to keep growing, which keeps our air breathable. We need bees in order to survive!

Some bees of course also eat honey! Honey bees make honey and use it to feed their young and so they have something to eat during the winter, when they can't get pollen from flowers as easily.

Honey bees make honey by following a lengthy 10-step process!

The buzz you hear around a bee is the sound of their wings beating thousands of times per minute.

Smoke can calm bees. Beekeepers use this to keep bees calm when collecting honey or moving a hive.

Hives have queen bees, worker bees, and drone bees.

Queens and worker bees are all female. Drone bees are all male.

A drone bee's only job is to mate with the queen to create new bees.

Worker bees clean the hive, collect pollen and nectar to feed to the whole colony, and take care of the babies.

Watch a bald-faced hornet face off with a yellowjacket in episode 1 of Bug Battles!

Bumblebee Facts for Kids

Bumblebees can be scary, but they are very beneficial for the planet. They pollinate crops and plants, which allow plants to continue growing, which allow us to have air to breathe. No bumblebees, no humans.

They are very social bees. They live in large "families". Unlike honey bees, bumblebees can sting more than once, because their stingers are smooth and do not get caught in the skin when they fly away. Read on to learn more facts about bumblebees for kids. You can also learn how to make a paper plate bumblebee!

What Do Bumblebees Eat?:

Bumblebees eat pollen and nectar. Worker bees gather this from flowers and bring it back to the colony to feed to the other bees and to the .

Where Do Bumblebees Live?:

Bumblebees live around patio areas, decks, attics, or under roof beams. But would it surprise you to know that bumblebees often instead nest in the ground?

If you see a hive in a tree, it is probably not bumblebees. But just like other bees, if they are disturbed, bumblebees will buzz loudly, and they will defend their nests. That means stings.

Can Bumblebees Harm You?:

The bumblebee sting is one of the most painful types of stings. Swelling and irritation can last for days after you are stung. Additionally, they can sting multiple times in a row, versus other bees that die after stinging.

Bumblebees will defend their nests if disturbed. They can chase nest invaders for long distances, following you until they attack.

What to Do If a Bumblebee is Near You:

Don't panic when you see a bumblebee. Trying to squish it or shoo it away could cause it to sting you to protect itself. Instead, stay still and hope that it goes away.

If you see a number of bumblebees near you, observe from a safe distance and be sure to tell an adult. No one in your household should try to remove a bumblebee nest on their own. It's better to contact a pest control professional who knows how to rid you of bumblebees safely. More information can be found about bumblebees and how to get rid of them at the official National Pest Management Association website.d be sure to tell an adult.

Also learn how to make a bumblebee bookmark and a paperplate bumblebee!

Honey Bee Facts for Kids

Honey bees live in large "families" and can be found all over the world. The honey bee is the only social insect whose colony can survive many years. This is because they have a plan to survive winter months. They huddle together and eat honey when its cold out and most flowers are dead.

Honey bees pollinate flowers and plants to feed themselves and help those plants grow. They pollinate more than 100 crops in the U.S.

Unlike bumblebees, which can sting multiple times, honey bees can only sting once. Their stingers are barbed and tear off when they try to get away. This kills them. They also flap their wings 11,000 times per minute. This is why it sounds like they are "buzzing".

What Do Honey Bees Eat?:

Honey bees eat honey! They make honey from the pollen and nectar they collect from plants and bring back to their colony. They store the honey in honeycombs in their nests, which they use in the colder months.

Where Do Honey Bees Live?:

Honey bees typically live in tree crevices, but will occasionally build nests in attics or chimneys. Nests vary in size depending on how big the colony is.

How Do Honey Bees Impact Humans?:

Honey bees do sting. They can only sting once, but the stings can be extremely painful if the stinger is not immediately removed from the skin. People who are allergic to insect stings will have an even more severe reaction.

There is a chance that honey bees could build their nest in your home, likely somewhere high. This can pose a real threat if not immediately dealt with by a pest control professional.

What to Do If a Bumblebee is Near You:

Don't panic or make sudden movements if you are near a honey bee. Yelling, moving suddenly, or trying to hit a bumblebee can actually cause it to sting you. Staying still might allow it to explore and then leave without issue.

If you find a nest in or near your home, contact a pest control professional immediately. You don't want someone in your house trying to handle it on their own and getting hurt. You can visit the honey bee page of the official National Pest Management Association website to learn more.

Carpenter Bee Information for Kids

Carpenter bees get their name from their habit of working with wood. But instead of building things with wood like human carpenters, these bees destroy wood by drilling holes into them to make their homes. Unlike some other types of bees, carpenter bees prefer to live alone instead of in big colonies and hives. Their stingers are not barbed like honey bee stingers are, which means they can sting over and over again.

What Do Carpenter Bees Eat?:

While carpenter bees are known for chewing wood, they don't actually eat any of that wood. Like other bees, carpenter bees eat pollen and nectar from flowers and plants.

Where Do Carpenter Bees Live?:

Carpenter bees drill through and live in soft woods to lay eggs and protect their larvae as they develop. Female carpenter bees will chew a tunnel into a piece of wood to build a nest gallery. The bits of wood she chews and deposits outside the nest are called "frass".

The tunnel openings usually look about one or two inches deep, but they can be up to 10 feet long! These tunnels usually have several rooms where the bees hold their eggs and food. It's like little homes within your home! But while that's certainly cool, it can also cause damage to your structure.

What Do Carpenter Bees Do to Humans?:

Carpenter bees are helpful to humans because they pollinate plants that can be ignored by honey bees, allowing for the spread of more pollen. However, drilling into the wood in your home is harmful to humans since it can potentially cause damage. Therefore, as soon as you see a carpenter bee, you want to make sure you tell a grown-up so they can call a pest control professional to make sure everything is safe.

What to Do If You See a Carpenter Bee:

The good news is, since carpenter bees like to be alone, seeing one doesn't mean you have a hive in or near your home. But you still want to have a pest control professional inspect the area to make sure there aren't any problems. You may want to study the bee, but be sure to keep a safe distance and avoid scaring it, since they do sting. You can learn more about carpenter bees at the official National Pest Management Association website.

Killer Bee Facts for Kids and Adults

You could easily mistake an Africanized "killer" bee for a regular honey bee, as they look very similar. But they do have different wing measurements. Also, though the name "killer" bee sounds scary, their venom is no more dangerous than a honey bee's. However, they do tend to attack in larger numbers, which does make them more dangerous to humans, especially those who are allergic to bee stings.

Africanized killer bees can only sting once because their stingers are barbed and tear off when they try to get away. Despite their name, they can be found in South America and the Western and Southern United States.

What Do Killer Bees Eat?:

Like all bees, killer bees eat pollen and nectar from flowers and plants. They carry it from flower to flower and bring it home to their colonies.

Where Do Killer Bees Live?:

Killer bee colonies are fairly small. This allows them to build nests in some unique places. Killer bees can live inside tires, crates, boxes and empty cars.

What Does a Killer Bee Do to You?:

A single killer bee poses the same threat as a honey bee. They can sting you once, and the sting may be painful, but unless you have an allergy, there likely won't be any serious or lasting concern. Where the greater risk comes in, especially those who are allergic, is that killer bees can attack in greater numbers, resulting in more stings.

What to Do If You Find Killer Bees:

If you see one, there's a chance there are more. If you are chased by killer bees, run in a zigzag pattern and seek shelter in a house or car. Do not jump in the water! These bees can be very patient, and will wait around until you come up for air.

To learn more about Africanized killer bees or for information on how to get rid of killer bees in your home, review the additional information available on the Africanized killer bee page of the official National Pest Management Association website.

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Did you know that bees can see all colors except the color red? Find more fun facts about honey bees and bumblebees for kids in our student pest guide.

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Bees are essential to our natural world which can be translated into the classroom through some fun bee facts! Whether you're starting a unit on pollination, sustainability or insects, bees bee-long in the mix.

The teacher team at Teach Starter has put together some incredible tidbits on these tiny yet mighty creatures to help you get started. Keep reading for bee facts, books about bees and how you can incorporate them into your lesson plans. We're buzzing to share these with you!

Bee Facts for Kids

Did you know that bees are so important they have their own day named after them? The UN designated May 20 as World Bee Day to spread awareness of the importance of pollinators and to strengthen measures aimed at protecting bees.

Here are some un-bee-lievable bee facts to share with your students!

1. There are over 1500 different species of native Australian bees, varying in size from the large 24 mm yellow and black carpenter bees to the teeny-tiny 2 mm Quasihesma bees.

2. It is estimated that worldwide, there are about 20,000 species of bees! That's a lot of buzzing.

3. Bees have existed for more than a whopping 100 million years.

4. Bees are essential pollinators because they transfer pollen between the female and male plant parts, allowing plants to produce seeds and fruit.

5. Honey bees have brains about the size of a sesame seed.

6. About 35 percent of invertebrate pollinators (especially butterflies and bees) face extinction globally.

7. Only female bees can sting! This is because female bees use the same mechanism to lay eggs as they do to sting.

8. Do you know someone named Melissa? If so, their name is derived from the Greek word for honey bee.

9. The 'waggle dance' is a way honeybees communicate with each other to direct nestmates on where to find the best source of food.

10. Bees use the sun as a compass giving them an amazing sense of direction.

11. Approximately 70 percent of 20,000 bee species around the world are solitary. This means that instead of living together in groups, female bees will build a nest, lay an egg and seal it off - never interacting with their offspring.

12. Honey bees live in hives (also known as colonies) and are divided into three groups: the queen, workers and drones.

13. The queen bee in a colony lays eggs and runs the entire hive. She can lay up to 2,500 eggs a day!

14. Worker bees are all female and have many jobs including building and protecting the hive and pollinating flowers while they forage for food.

15. A single worker bee might fly up to 800 kms in her lifetime! She will visit between 50 and 100 flowers during a foraging trip.

16. Bees have two stomachs. One stores nectar and processes it into honey, while the other is for eating.

17. Male bees are called drones and their job is to mate with the queen bee to ensure the continuation and survival of the colony.

18. About 90 percent of wild plants and 75 percent of global crops are dependent on animal pollination. That means some of the food you eat would not exist if it weren't for pollinators!

19. 3,000 year old honey was found in King Tutankhamen 's tomb in 1922. It was still edible!

20. Bees have four wings! The two on each side hook together to form a larger pair when they're flying and then they unhook when they're not.

21. The sound of a bee's wings is what makes the classic buzz. They beat 11,400 times per minute!

22. Honey bees can fly at a speed of about 25 kms per hour. That's one speedy insect!

23. Bees live in many homes besides hives. Bumblebees and honey bees often live in nests or hives but solitary bees nest in the ground. Some solitary bee habitats include wetlands, quarries, gravel pits and sand dunes.

24. Worker bees can create a new queen bee if the previous one dies. They will select a young larva and feed it special food called "royal jelly" to ensure it develops into a new fertile queen.

25. Ancient Greeks minted coins with bees on them.

26. Bees build their honeycombs with hexagonal cells. These shapes give them the most efficient means of storing honey and baby bees.

27. Honey bees have a sense of smell 50 times more powerful than a dog. This is because they have 170 odorant receptors.

28. The honey bee is the only insect that produces food eaten by humans. Honey bees make honey for the hive to eat during the winter months, but they'll produce two to three times more honey than they need, allowing us to have a sweet bite!

29. The colour of honey is dependent on the flower types bees visit. Sometimes honey is very light coloured or dark like molasses.

30. Fermented honey is known as mead and was first produced in ancient China around 7,000 BCE.

How to Use These Bee Facts in the Classroom

Make a bee hotel! While teaching your kiddos about solitary bees, try this bee house activity so students can take their creations home and give their buzzing friends a safe place to lay their eggs.

Watch a video on how honey bees get their jobs with the help from National Geographic. This video will give your students some visual closeups of these amazing creatures.

Get your class outside and plant bee-friendly flowers around the school! After checking in with your school's admin, consider planting asters, alliums, bee balm, black-eyed susans, coneflowers, lavender, sunflowers and zinnias.

After getting permission from parents first, have a honey tasting session. Try to collect a few different types of honey from the grocery store, the farmer's market or a local farm and have your students first observe and describe the colour of the honey before comparing the tastes.

Read a book about bees to your students or add some of these titles to diversify your classroom library:

Use this hexagons mini booklet to learn about this important geometric shape along with its role within a bee's world.

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30 Buzzing Facts About Bees to Excite Kids About Nature

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Everyone benefits from the busyness of bees which is why these bee facts will help inspire your students to appreciate and protect them!

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Beneficial Garden  |  Planning a beneficial garden with Costa