This page will be updated frequently with educational resources for teachers and students to use along with their nest box.

Videos

The videos below provide an introduction to the Bees@Schools program and how we will be using the data you are helping us collect!

View the introduction here in English.
Introduction Video Transcript (EN)Download
View the introduction here in French.
Introduction Video Transcript (FR)Download

The video below shows the process that is used to construct the bee hotels used for this program. There are many many ways to make bee hotels, but since these are used for a scientific study, they must all be identical. Each bee hotel has 30 cardboard tubes, 10 each of 3 different sizes. The different sizes are used to attract and accommodate differently sized bees.

The video below shows how the nested in cardboard tubes are opened and processed. Each tube is carefully cut open and the contents divided into two sterile tubes with one containing larvae and pollen and the other containing leaf nesting material. Once this is done, the samples are ready to begin the process of DNA barcoding.

Links to other resources

What’s the Buzz?? This educational pamphlet was developed as part of a knowledge mobilization project funded by GIER at the University of Guelph. It was done in collaboration with award-winning children’s writer Kira Vermond and outdoor education specialist Al Woodhouse. Read more about the project here.

Here, you will find a wonderful set of observer cards that students can print out and use to guide their own bee observations in their backyard or neighbourhood. The cards include more in-depth information on bee anatomy and identification that may be more suitable for older students.

This document, made by Peter Kevin, provides general information on pollination and the wild bee lifecycle.

Resonating Bodies is a series of art installations and community outreach projects which focus on the biodiversity of pollinators indigenous to the natural and urban ecosystems of Canada and beyond. They have information on bee biodiversity, making your own bee hotel, and many other relevant topics . They have also designed bee trading cards that that discuss DNA barcoding, bee biodiversity, and and some of the special traits bees have that make them such efficient pollinators.

This online guide shares some helpful tips for gardening with pollinators in mind, although bear in mind that it is based in the UK and you will want to make sure you are planting flowers native to you region.

The School Malaise Trap Program, also run by the University of Guelph, has numerous resources on DNA barcoding and insect biodiversity in general.

Check out this short story, written by Steinke lab alum Mieke! Follow Tina B., a honey bee who has some important info to share about our pollinators.