First Graders Study Bees
Villas Elementary School - Friday, March 2, 2007,
1:00 PM
Teacher: Mrs. Becker
Sue Becker is the teacher for this
above average group of first graders. Mrs. Becker was Old Man Riggs'
daughter's teacher and now is his granddaughter Logan's teacher as well.
The students had been studying about the bees (several books from the
library) and Mrs. Becker used a non-fiction reading story about bees for
her science and/or social studies during the week.
When Logan mentioned that her
grandpa kept bees, she had Logan invite him to her class. Logan has
helped her grandpa (Old Man Riggs the "Honey Bee Man") prepare honey by cranking the handle on
the extractor, so she already had a little bit of hands-on experience.
Mrs. Becker had showed her students
an excellent video on beekeeping immediately prior to Old Man Riggs'
arrival. The students were already well prepared (primed) and
immediately recognized all the equipment from their studies during the
week. Many hands went up for even the hardest of questions about
bees and beekeeping. Oh yes, and their answers were correct!
You can see from the students' sketches and comments (at bottom of this
webpage) that they are really into some advanced aspects of bees and
beekeeping.
Mrs. Becker said that her first
graders attention span is about 30 minutes for listening and that they
would benefit greatly from looking at physical things. Old Man Riggs found
this to be true. They loved the hands-on stuff. Mrs. Becker
said the students know quite a bit about bees... and indeed they did!
In preparation for the class, a child-safe,
bee-tight, single frame observation hive was constructed with
unbreakable Plexiglas and tight-fitting cover strapped in place as
an extra precaution. The frame contained eggs, larvae, capped
brood, pollen deposits, nectar, and capped honey cells... plus busy
bees of course
Beekeeping equipment was displayed and explained.
Equipment included basic hobbyist level essentials: 2-frame
extractor, smoker, full bee suit, hat, veil, gloves, bee brush, and
uncapping knife. Items displayed were the observation hive,
empty queen cage, beeswax, empty wax comb, comb honey and bottled
honey.
Click on images below to view larger drawings
and read student comments
Click on images above to view larger drawings
and read student comments
Thanks to Logan's Dad (Robbie Riggs)
for the excellent photography and for helping his old man with the
equipment and with the students' questions. Thanks to Maw for helping
the children try on bee hat, veil, and gloves and for providing crackers.
Thanks to Logan's Mom (Crystal) for her help and for dispensing the honey
onto the crackers. Thanks to Sue Becker for inviting Old Man Riggs
(Logan's grandpa, "Honey Bee Man") to the classroom and for teaching the students about
bees and beekeeping. Thanks to Mr. Roy Beckford and Jerry Hayes for
their help, advice, encouragement and for their positive comments about
this webpage:
"Mr. Riggs, Great job with the kids
and hooray to Mrs. Becker for reinforcing such positive attitudes at
such young ages." Fitzroy B. Beckford (Roy)
Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent,
University of Florida, IFAS,
Lee County Extension
Protecting and preserving Florida’s beekeeping industry is a key
component of their mission, and managed honey bee colonies are
essential to sustaining Florida agriculture. They are
working with the apiary industry and experts worldwide to address
the many issues related to the hybridization of the Africanized and
European honey bees. For more information, call the state’s
toll-free helpline number at 888-397-1517 or visit
www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi
.
