Bees
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Approach: One to one Level: Year 4 and year 8
Focus: Adaptations for habitat
Resources: 2 pictures, recording book
568Kb
Questions/instructions:  
 
% responses
y4
y8
Hand student picture 1.

Here is a picture of bees. Bees are very helpful. They make honey.
Resource information in lieu of copyright:

Pic 1: Smith, P. (photo.) (1994); Visuals Canterbury: Lincoln: Natural Sciences Image Library..
Description: Swarm of bees inside hive.
   
1. What else do bees do that is helpful?
not marked
•
•
Hand student picture 2.
This bee is very busy at work in this flower.
2. What do you think it is doing?
Resource information in lieu of copyright:

Pic 2: Thompson, C. (photo.) (1994); Visuals Canterbury: Lincoln: Natural Sciences Image Library.
Description: Closeup of bee getting nectar from a flower
   
Explanation:
comprehensive
2
5
quite strong
5
10
has general idea
11
29
no relevant ideas
82
56
Use of the nectar in flowers:
gathering/getting nectar (specific)
27
24
gathering/getting food (general)
47
41
eating nectar
3
4
eating something
9
8
no relevant response
14
23
will take nectar/food back to hive
17
17
nectar/food will be used to make honey
40
35
3. What are the features of a bee that help it to live and survive? Tell me as many as you can think of and I’ll write them down for you.
Record student’s ideas. Then point to each feature recorded and ask the following question:

4. How does this feature help the bee to live and survive?
Repeat question 4 until all features on the recording sheet have been discussed.
    
Mentioned:
wings - to move around
82
94
mouth - to eat, bite pests, manipulate wax, get nectar, brush pollen from body:
two or more uses
2
6
one use
37
46
eyes - to see flowers, detect movement,
see predators
42
58
antennae - to smell, touch, locate
21
42
hairs and other features - to capture, transport, remove pollen
10
23
stomach/inside of body - for food, transport of food/nectar
5
3
legs - carry pollen, move on flowers/surfaces
38
46
stinger/sting - protect, discourage predators
56
75
dance behaviours - to communicate directions and distance to nectar sources
2
4
5. How do bees help fruit growers?
Explanation:
comprehensive
1
4
quite strong
6
10
has general idea
15
18
no relevant ideas
78
68

Total score:
11–19
6
12
9–10
17
27
7–8
26
26
5–6
26
20
0–4
25
15
Subgroup Analysis [Click on charts to enlarge] :
Year 4
Year 8
Commentary:
Most students revealed quite limited understanding of the role of bees in pollination and its importance in horticulture. Pasifika students were distinctly less successful than other students at both year levels.