Laura Frericks

The bumble bee is round and fuzzy with black and white strips going down its body. There are a few hundred bumble bees per nest, and these nests are vacated after about one year of occupation (Sugden, 2006). Bumble bee colonies are found in underground vacated mouse or bird nests and sometimes even in empty wall spaces! A new colony starts in these places each spring with a new queen. This queen will line the new home with grass or moss and then gather pollen and nectar to store for her young. The first offspring, which are about 5-20 worker daughters, are responsible for nest growth, the gathering of food, and taking care of the young. The gathering of this food, which is primarily nectar and pollen is extremely important to the bee colony. Bees are dependant on nectar for energy, and pollen for protein. Bees are the most important pollinating insect because through the pollination, the bees and the flower are benefited. Throughout the summer, the queen continually lays eggs and by the end of the summer, males and females are produced. These kings and queens mate, and then the fertilized females go to a different site, hollow trees or dry protected places to live in during the winter. All other bumble bees still in the colony will die (“Bumble Bees” 2005).

Bee Stinger Bee Eye Bee Face Bee Antenna

The three images: the one I drew, the one I found on the internet, and the four from bugscope are all different. The one I drew had little detail and no color. The one on the internet was a real photo of a bee with color. The last four photos were from bugscope. These pictures were close-ups of bee parts (stinger, eye, face, and antenna). The difference in all of these photos was the attention to detail. Specifically in regards to the stinger. The one I drew was just a black triangle, but the one on bugscope was very detailed, with a claw at the end. By viewing bugscope, I was able to notice small details on the body of the bee that I would have never noticed before.

 The NSES that Bugscope applies to is Content Standard C: Life Science  As a result of these activities, all students in grades k-4 should understand: The characteristics of organisms Life Cycles of organisms Organisms and environments

 Bugscope, the microscopes used, and the ESEM are all authentic because they show what was once, “living bugs.” This activity is authentic because it shows students the real bug instead of cartoon pictures, and lets them manipulate what they want to learn about. This activity gives meaning for the students because the bugs are real, and the students encounter the bugs on a daily basis. It is also authentic because the lesson is student run, not teacher run; not too mention fun!

 Buzz-Buzz, Busy Bees  By: Dawn Bentley  Are You a Bee?  By: Judy Allen  Bees  By: Deborah Hodge

 The first way that Bugscope can be used for a cross-curricular assignment is doing a writing assignment on the students’ initial reaction to the images, and what changed about their thoughts on what each insect looked like from what they think now.  A second way to implement another subject is to have the students do a before and after drawing of the insect. This will implement art into the science classroom!

 images.informe.org/agriculture/pi/images/bee.jpg images.informe.org/agriculture/pi/images/bee.jpg   jpg  “Bumble Bees.” (August 10, 2005). Iowa State University Department of Entomology: Iowa Insect Notes. Retrieved March 9, 2008 from  Sugden, Evan A. (2007). Everything about Bumble Bee. Retrieved March 9, 2008 from ods/insects/bees/bumble_bee/ ods/insects/bees/bumble_bee/  