Introduction
In this unit, my young students will learn about the importance of understanding and preserving biodiversity through the study of bees. To introduce this complex topic to Kindergarteners and give us a launching point for discussion and awareness, the unit begins with a read-aloud, Please Please the Bees by Gerald Kelley. This picture book tells the story of a bear who eats honey made by the bees who live in his yard, a total of three jars each day, delivered to him by the bees themselves. Benedict fails to maintain and preserve the area to keep the bees healthy and happy, so they go on strike, refusing to produce honey. The story shows the reliance the “animals” in this story have on each other and how an imbalance can occur. In this story, plants and flowers are essential for the survival of the bees and the bear. This unit covers the study of bees and their role in preserving biodiversity. We will discuss problems they encounter, including their recent problem with varroa mites, and learn about methods to help save them by planting nectar-producing plants and building bee boxes.
As a Kindergarten teacher in a self-contained classroom at Edgewood Magnet School in New Haven, I find the neighborhood/ magnet setting a rewarding environment, with students coming to school each day from a variety of home circumstances and with differences in academic levels. As a result of these variables, the children arrive with differing levels of background knowledge and life experiences. The classroom is a mixture of varied ethnicities, economic strata, and social and emotional strengths and weaknesses. Edgewood is a STEAM school with curricula focused on science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. This planned unit aligns with the philosophy of the school. The use of scientific inquiry allows all students at all levels to learn in an inherently differentiated environment, learning new concepts and experiencing science in the classroom and outside, not only on the school property but across the street at Edgewood Park. This unit will support the place-based learning that Edgewood Magnet School encourages. Trips to Edgewood Park to visit the ponds and river for hands-on investigation and experimentation will be modeled on experiences from the seminar.
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