PART II: DESIGN FOR INSTRUCTION

Central Idea
As part of a storyline in which the students act as bee stewards, they will explore the
bee itself, the role bees have in both their world and ours, and the bees relationship to
pollinators through a series of inquiry-based lessons.
The following essential questions inform my unit goals and instruction:
1. What impact do animals have on their environment? What role do they play?
2. How are bees, humans and the environment all connected?

Unit Goals
1. Students will learn all about bees, specifically, their anatomy, life cycle, how they
live, and the similarities and differences between the many types.
2. Students will learn about the characteristics and function of pollinator plants,
specifically in relation to bees.
3. Students will learn about how to care for bees and the importance of bees to
humans and the environment.
These goals are based on The Oregon State Dept. of Education Standards for Science:
Grades 3, 4 & 5:
3.1 Structure and Function: Living and non-living things vary in their characteristics and
properties.
3.2L.1 Compare and contrast the life cycles of plants and animals.
4.2 Interaction and Change: Living and non-living things undergo changes that involve
force and energy.
4.2L.1 Describe the interactions of organisms and the environment where they live.
4.3 Scientific Inquiry: Scientific inquiry is a process of investigation through questioning,
collecting, describing, and examining evidence to explain natural phenomena and
artifacts.
4.3S.1 Based on observations identify testable questions, design a scientific investigation,
and collect and record data consistent with a planned scientific investigation.
4.3S.2 Summarize the results from a scientific investigation and use the results to respond
to the question being tested.
5.2 Interaction and Change: Force, energy, matter, and organisms interact within living
and nonliving systems.
5.2L.1 Explain the interdependence of plants, animals, and environment, and how
adaptation influences survival.

Rationale
Bees are the worlds most important pollinator of food crops. It is estimated that one third
of the food that we consume each day relies on pollination mainly by bees. Bees also
pollinate plants and grains that are fed to cattle, so there are implications for the meat and
dairy industry too. Bee communities, both wild and managed, have been declining over
the last half-century as pesticide use in agricultural and urban areas increased. Because

bees are so important to us, it is important that students learn all they can about them in
order to help steward them into the future.
In this unit, students will study the many different types of bees and their importance to
humans and the environment. They will learn all about the anatomy of bees, pollination,
and how bees are cared for. They will be creating a number of projects around each topic
including, informational posters, original cartoon comics, journal entries, writing pieces,
and even some scientific experimentation. To do this, they will be exploring and
researching bees through use of the internet, videos, expert guest speakers and hands on
raising of Mason bees in the school garden.

Plan for Pre-Assessment and Post-Assessment

Unit Goals

Pre-Assessment
Item/Component and
Criteria for Scoria

Post-Assessment
Item/Component and
Criteria for Scoria

Students will learn all about

bees, specifically their
anatomy, life cycle, and the
similarities and differences
between the many types.

1.List as many examples of

types of bees as you can. (One
point per correct example.)
3.What shape do honeybees
use to create the cells of their
hive? (One point for
hexagon.) Why do they use
this shape? (One point for an
acceptable answer.)
6.Label the parts of a
honeybee on the picture below
and answer the question that
follows. (One point for each
correctly labeled part.)
*Do all types of bees have the
exact same body parts? (One
point for no.)
5.List as many examples of
pollinator plants as you can.
(One point per correct
example.)

1.List as many examples of

types of bees as you can. (One
point per correct example.)
3.What shape do honeybees
use to create the cells of their
hive? (One point for
hexagon.) Why do they use
this shape? (One point for an
acceptable answer.)
6.Label the parts of a
honeybee on the picture below
and answer the question that
follows. (One point for each
correctly labeled part.)
*Do all types of bees have the
exact same body parts? (One
point for no.)
5.List as many examples of
pollinator plants as you can.
(One point per correct
example.)

2.What is a beekeeper and

what type of equipment do
they use? (One point for an
acceptable answer and one
point per correct example.)
4.Why are bees important to
humans and the environment?
(One point for an acceptable
answer.)

2.What is a beekeeper and

what type of equipment do
they use? (One point for an
acceptable answer and one
point per correct example.)
4.Why are bees important to
humans and the environment?
(One point for an acceptable
answer.)

Students will learn about the

characteristics and function of
pollinator plants, specifically
in relation to bees.
Students will learn about how
to care for bees and the
importance of bees to humans
and the environment.

Plan for Administration

I will give the students the pre-assessment that follows. I will administer the assessment
before I begin any work on the unit. I will let the students know that this is simply a way

Tromley/ The Buzz on Bees!

for me to find out what kind of information they already know about bees and
beekeeping. I will also let them know that they should not feel any stress while
completing it and proving an answer of I dont know yet is okay. I will tell them that
after we have finished our storyline, I will give them the same assessment again (postassessment) to see how much they have learned. Students will be asked to complete the
assessment individually so that I can collect student gains or losses in kind.
Name: KEY
1. List as many examples of types of bees as you can.
Acceptable responses include these and other correctly identified bees:
Honey bees
Leafcutter bees
Carpenter bees
Sweat bees
Digger bees
Bumble bees
Yellow jackets
Mining bees
2. What is a beekeeper and what type of equipment do they use?
Acceptable answers include the following key points:
A beekeeper is a person who raises and cares for bees. They use a smoker and a
beekeepers suit including a veil, ankle straps, boots, gloves, and pockets.
3. What shape do honeybees use to create the cells of their hive? Why do they use
this shape?
Acceptable answers include the following key points:
Honeybees use a hexagon shape to create the cells of their hive. This shape
creates the maximum amount of space for honey and larva without wasting any
space in the hive. The hexagon is most efficient.
4. Why are bees important to humans and the environment?
Acceptable answers include the following key points:
Bees are important to humans and the environment because they are pollinators.
If there were no bees, many plants, including flowers, fruits, and vegetables,
would stop growing.
5. List as many examples of pollinator plants as you can.
Acceptable responses include these and other correctly identified pollinator
plants:
Blue Eyed Mary
Blue Gilia
California Poppy
Farewell to Spring
Common Clarkia
Showy Tarwood
Lavender
6. Label the parts of a honeybee on the picture below and answer the question that
follows.

Tromley/ The Buzz on Bees!

*Do all bee types have the exact same body parts?
No

Tromley/ The Buzz on Bees!