Gateway's Bee Garden

Students will investigate how bees help with pollination and why they are important for food production. Students will design a bee garden and propose the building of it on school grounds. 

Duration
Multiple days
Lesson Type
Project Based Lesson

Essential Question

What type of bee garden can we design and build to attract, sustain, and protect bees?

Grade(s):

  • 3

Subject(s):

Recommended Technology:

Chromebooks

 

Other Instructional Materials or Notes:

science journals, small posterboard, markers, grid paper, teacher and teacher/student rubrics, books about bees and pollination, examples of brochures/infographics

Lesson Progression

Day One - Introduction to unit, Driving Question, Key Vocabulary , Expectations, setting up the science journals

Day Two - 

  • Teams discuss what they’ve learned so far and generate 3 – 5 things they would like to know more about or are curious about. Document these in the journal.
  • Teams brainstorm where they might find resources to help in their investigation.

Day Three - 

  • Teams revisit the 3 -5 items for further exploration and where they may find the resources. Give students time to game plan where they need to acquire the resources: school library, public library, online, community, etc.
  • St. write 2 questions or responses to today’s lesson that they will share with the guest speaker tomorrow.

Day Four - 

  • St create a mini-poster highlighting guests key topics.

Day Five - Through discussion, collaboration, and documentation students will create a flow chart (rough draft) highlighting key elements from this weeks lessons.

Day Six (this begins week Two) - 

  • Teams create their “Top Ten” list of plants/flowers they’d like to plant in the garden

Day Seven - 

  • St. will visit sites for building a flower garden. (T can share a couple of sites OR teams can find appropriate sites on their own) and write ideas/ possibilities in the journal

Day Eight - 

  • Teams rough draft what kind of garden they would like to build

Day Nine - Each teams draws out a “blueprint” for how large the garden will be and where it will be located.

Day Ten - Teams will create a flipgrid, powerpoint, brochure, or letter outlining their project, its importance, and the cost of the project to present to their school, their parents, and their community.

Teacher Notes

Talk with Admin about the project idea- cost, materials, location, will we need to coordinate with the grounds people

Contact resources for guest speakers - options for in person OR Zoom

Talk with staff - is there someone at the school who gardens? Are they willing/able to help? Would they be able/willing to speak to the class and be an onsite resource?

Reach out to staff/volunteers/PTA, etc., for possible help with and contributions for the project.

May want to contact local building suppliers/hardware stores for donations of supplies.

Are there any grants that may be available for bee-friendly gardens/environmental projects?

Project Design Rubric

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Project Based Teaching Rubric

This rubric helps guide the planning for a PBL. Insures that the core principles of PBL are identifiable.

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Rubric for Discipline-Based and Inter-Disciplinary Inquiry Studies

This rubric is a more in-depth planning tool to create a PBL that incorporates the core principles of PBL.

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How to build a pollinator garden

We at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service know that pollinators are the engine that run healthy habitats. While we’ve been actively working to restore and conserve millions of acres of land, we need your help. Whether you have a few feet on your apartment balcony, a yard in need of landscaping or several acres, you can make a difference. Follow this easy step by step guide to build your own pollinator garden and help ensure the future is filled with pollinators.

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Highlighting the Importance of Pollinators

Together we can improve pollinator habitat, rebuild populations and raise awareness for these essential species. Talk to your friends, neighbors and family and share online with your friends around the globe!

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Assessments

Assessments include: Teacher evaluations, Exit Tickets, peer feedback, rubric (teacher and teacher/students created), "Numbered Heads Together Strategy," guest speaker feedback.