STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 14: Making a Bee Model Option A Kennewick School District

Overview During this lesson, students will make an anatomically correct model of a bee. This activity draws on what students have learned about bees through observing and using them as tools for pollination. This is a hidden slide for teacher information. STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 14A: Making a Bee Model

Lesson Objectives  Students construct an accurate model of a bee.  Students work together on a group project. This is a hidden slide for teacher information. STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 14A: Making a Bee Model

Background Ideally, students will create their own bee models. Children are far more interested in and invested in models springing from their own imaginations. Realistically, however, it is not always possible to expend the time and effort for original creations. So suggestions for two kinds of bee models are described in this lesson. The first is a stick puppet, and is the easier of the two (see Figure 14-1). The second is a three-dimensional, self- standing model requiring a great deal more skill. There are two separate lists of materials and directions, a style that is different from the usual format. All other elements of the lesson are the same. This is a hidden slide for teacher information. STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 14A: Making a Bee Model

Procedure 1. Group students into cooperative work teams, and give them time to brainstorm about:  What the model should look like  What materials they should try to collect (continue to suggest recycling)  What each member of the team will be responsible for 2. Have a class discussion about the bee models. Talk about how the bee should relate to the flower model in size. Help students learn from the experience they gained in building and evaluating the flower models. 3. Encourage children to create their own designs. If this is not possible, you may want to use one of the plans below. A complete stick puppet is shown in Figure This is a hidden slide for teacher information. STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 14A: Making a Bee Model

Materials list—Option A For the body:  1 copy of the bee drawing (Figure 14-2) or a freehand drawing. For backing:  Stiff paper OR  Poster board OR  Cardboard STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 14A: Making a Bee Model For the handle:  Paint stirrer OR  ruler OR  Heavy cardboard Materials list continued on next slide… For wings:  Clear plastic 2-liter soda bottle OR  Transparency film For the stinger:  cardboard OR  Popsicle stick

Materials list (cont.)—Option B For hair:  Fuzzy fabric scraps OR  Yarn STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 14A: Making a Bee Model Other supplies:  Glue  Colored markers  Stapler  Scissors For the tongue:  Pipe cleaner OR  Soda straw For pollen basket:  Sponge pieces OR  Cotton balls OR  Fabric scraps

Directions  1.Pass out an outline drawing of the bee. Use it as a base upon which to build.  2.Glue the bee drawing to a heavier piece of paper used as backing.  3.Cut out the bee glued to the backing.  4.Color the bee with crayons or markers. STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 14A: Making a Bee Model

Directions  5.Then get creative! Add all sorts of interesting embellishments. For example, cut four transparent wings from plastic soda bottles and staple them to the bee. Add on a stinger or “hair.” Staple on a soda straw or a pipe cleaner for a tongue. Glue sponge pieces or cotton balls to the rear legs to represent pollen baskets. STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 14A: Making a Bee Model

Directions  6.Attach the bee to the stick. A stapler will probably work fine for most materials. STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 14A: Making a Bee Model Figure 14-1 Stick puppet

Clean up and put all supplies where they belong. STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 14A: Making a Bee Model

Critique another group’s model for accuracy. Think about:  Does it show the correct number of parts?  Are the body parts in the right places?  Can the group explain the model to you?  Is it neatly done?  Is it attractive?  How much effort does it show? STC Plant Growth and Development Lesson 14A: Making a Bee Model