ClassX Video Lessons Grade Grade 1 Bumblebees | All About Bees | Waggle Dance with Climate Science | Circle Time with Khan Academy Kids
Hello, friends! I’m Paul from the Khan Academy Kids team. I’m so happy you’re here with us today for circle time. Just like at school, circle time with us is a chance to connect, read stories, and do fun activities together. Today, I’m joined by my friend, Sophie. Say hi, Sophie!
Hi everyone! I’m Sophie, and I’m super excited about today’s circle time because we’re going to learn about one of my favorite creatures: bees! We’re reading a book all about bumblebees. As I walked here, I saw bees buzzing around the blooming flowers, and they seemed so happy that spring is here. Let’s dive into our book called “Bumblebees” from the Khan Academy Kids Library.
Bumblebees are big, fuzzy insects with small wings that buzz as they fly. They have large, hairy bodies and can be black, yellow, and orange. Isn’t it interesting that bumblebees are hairy, just like a dog or a cat? Let’s see what these busy bees do with flowers.
Bumblebees live in forests and fields, often nesting in grass or the ground. They have long tongues to suck up nectar from flowers. As they drink nectar, they get covered in pollen, which helps plants make seeds and fruit. In spring, the queen bee builds a nest, lays eggs, and gathers food. Worker bees hatch first and find food for the colony. They care for new larvae, which grow into pupae and then become adult bees. By summer, the nest is buzzing with life!
Bees have an important job helping plants grow by moving pollen from flower to flower. Let’s take a look at our friend Lorraine’s garden, where bees are busy buzzing around her rosemary bush. They’re using their long tongues to slurp up nectar while helping plants by moving pollen around.
Our friends at Climate Science have a special video to show us how bees find flowers and tell other bees where to go. Bees are pollinators, which means they help plants make seeds. They also make sweet honey from nectar. But how do they find nectar? Bees do a waggle dance to show other bees where to find flowers. One dance move tells the direction, and another tells the distance. Let’s try our own waggle dance to help the bees!
Thanks for joining us for circle time today! If you want more fun activities, books, and videos, check out the Khan Academy Kids app, which is free in the App Store. That’s all for now. Bye from Sophie, Paul, and the Khan Academy Kids team. Bye, friends!
Bee Observation Adventure: Go on a nature walk with an adult and try to spot some bumblebees. Look for them around flowers and observe what they are doing. Are they buzzing from flower to flower? Can you see them collecting pollen? Draw a picture of what you see and share it with your friends or family.
Waggle Dance Fun: Practice the waggle dance just like the bees do! Create a simple obstacle course in your backyard or living room. Use your body to show the direction and distance to a “flower” (this could be a toy or a piece of paper). Invite your family to join in and take turns being the bee leader.
Build a Bee Hotel: With the help of an adult, create a small bee hotel using materials like paper tubes or bamboo sticks. Place it in your garden or a safe outdoor area. Watch and see if any bees come to visit. Remember, bee hotels provide a safe place for solitary bees to rest and lay eggs.
