Second-graders at Fairbanks Road School welcomed guest speaker and beekeeper Pat Bono, a project director from NY Bee Wellness, to their classroom on the afternoon of May 16. They have been studying bees this semester, and looked forward to learning more about the important role honey bees play in pollination and food production. They also wanted to know why there is a decrease in the honey bee population, and what they can do to help.
Bono was fresh off another presentation she had done earlier that morning for several classes at Churchville-Chili High School on the same subject. Students in the Wildlife Ecology class at the high school listened intently as Bono explained the life cycle and lifestyle of the honey bee, their vital importance as pollinators for fruits, nuts and vegetables, and the role of the beekeeper in supporting their health. She demonstrated hive set up, explained how the colony is handled, and showed a glassed-in sample frame with bees, larvae, wax cells and honey.
The students at the elementary school were also awed by the close-up look at working bees in the frame that Bono shared. They have conducted a great deal of research, and came to the presentation prepared with many questions. “Why do bees die after they sting?” “How do bees make new colonies?” “What kind of vegetables do bees pollinate?” “Why are bees having problems today?”
The Fairbanks Road School classes take the lead to create a pollinator-friendly environment at the school district’s learning garden, located near the school on Fairbanks Road.
“When researching honey bee conservation, our students found that it is helpful to plant native perennial plants for pollination. They decided that the Churchville garden would make the perfect spot to help attract more honey bees,” said teacher Jamie Snook.
The second-graders will be busy planning and planting a bee-buffet of nectar-filled flowers in the garden this spring. (The district seeks volunteers to help care for the garden during the summer. Check the district website for more information at www.cccsd.org/garden).
NY Bee Wellness educates beekeepers and the public on honey bees and provides resources to maintain healthy honey bee colonies. They provide workshops, education on honey bee disease and health issues, and research – www.nybeewellness.org.
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