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Home » Blog » Homeschool Nature Study: Bees and Buzzy Insects

in HomeSchooling· Nature Studies

Homeschool Nature Study: Bees and Buzzy Insects

Enjoy an example of a homeschool nature study of bees and buzzy insects. The whole family can join in the Outdoor Hour Challenge fun!

Enjoy an example of a homeschool nature study of bees and buzzy insects. The whole family can join in the Outdoor Hour Challenge fun!

Homeschool Nature Study: Bees and Buzzy Insects

As I wiped the counter clean of drips from the breakfast dishes, I spied, through the kitchen window, a bumblebee buzzing the pink mimosa blossom. Then a butterfly at work on another. Yes, today was the day to learn more about what was buzzing around in our backyard. Before we went out, we peeked through the window at the sunflowers. We didn’t see any bees on the flowers. But, all we had to do was step outside…

Right at the top of the back door frame we’ve been watching a paper wasp for weeks. The wasp has been making a nest (which we considered knocking down several times simply because this is right where everyone goes in and out and right next to the family table). It’s been a first hand look at what we learned is the metamorphosis of the wasp.

Next, right ON the door handle, a praying mantis. We weren’t even outside yet!

Also, some type of interesting moth on the outside of the door. Must investigate that further.

Stepping out further into the backyard, we saw honeybees on sunflowers…bees rolling in pollen in the althea bush.

Enjoy an example of a homeschool nature study of bees and buzzy insects. The whole family can join in the Outdoor Hour Challenge fun!

A new sunflower was blooming!

Enjoy an example of a homeschool nature study of bees and buzzy insects. The whole family can join in the Outdoor Hour Challenge fun!

A bumblebee buzzed an althea too.

Enjoy an example of a homeschool nature study of bees and buzzy insects. The whole family can join in the Outdoor Hour Challenge fun!

We turned around and saw a honeybee finding the pollen in the purple morning glory.

We almost didn‘t notice this little guy. Can you spot him too?

Then we were pushed inside (running!) when we saw a yellow jacket, remembering that there was a nest in the ground in the same spot last summer.

Enjoy an example of a homeschool nature study of bees and buzzy insects. The whole family can join in the Outdoor Hour Challenge fun!

Safely inside we talked about the industry of the bees, the hive. We learned from an insect picture book about the cycle of metamorphosis.

Suggest That Each Child Choose a Different Bee to Study Then Compare Results

Each child picked a type of buzzing, stinging insect:

Enjoy an example of a homeschool nature study of bees and buzzy insects. The whole family can join in the Outdoor Hour Challenge fun!

Honeybee Nature Study

Youngest girl was quite taken with the ‘baskets’ for carrying pollen on the honeybee’s legs. She made sure to draw them.

Enjoy an example of a homeschool nature study of bees and buzzy insects. The whole family can join in the Outdoor Hour Challenge fun!

Yellow Jacket Homeschool Study

Middle girl and I remembered the mean sting of the yellow jacket. As did Eldest boy who bore the brunt of a swarm of angry ones when he and his Dad were mowing the lawn last summer.

Carpenter Bee Nature Study

Eldest girl remembers seeing carpenter bees (similar looking to bumblebees ) at Mama Ann’s. Their buzz is so loud!

Studying a Paper Wasp

Eldest boy was glad we didn’t knock down the paper wasp nest. Yes, indeed, the nest in our door is a globular shape with a single, thin hanger.

We talked about how we have had, on occasion, the opportunity to study an abandoned hornet’s nest. My uncle brought one to us last summer when he cut down a limb. Fascinating piece of nature!

I also thought it interesting that ants and honeybees are classified together. Being industrious builders and workers.

…and it was eleven o’clock…which was time for a little something…

~Winnie the Pooh

Then, of course we ended our study with a snack of honey. Talking of the Tupelo plant we saw up at my Daddy’s house. Tupelo honey being what we use to make our homemade bread and top off our toast.

Maybe we’ll venture out in the backyard in the morning more often! Thanks to Homeschool Nature Study for the inspiration.

Pssst. We went out the next morning and guess what we saw? Even more bees and buzzy insects!

-July 2011

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5 Comments

About Hodgepodgemom

Tricia faces a daily dose of chaos homeschooling five children. The biggest lesson she’s learned? At the end of the day – when the dishes are put away and the children are tucked in bed – truly what matters is each child’s relationship with the Lord. Raising children is a God-given privilege and, folks, the time is short.

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Comments

  1. Barb-Harmony Art Mom says

    July 27, 2011 at 7:44 AM

    Insects everywhere! It must have been hard to choose which ones to focus on. Your family could spend the whole summer just on insects and not run out of subjects to study. 🙂

    Wonderful entry for this challenge and it illustrates so well how we don’t need to travel farther than our own backyards to find something to learn about in our nature study. My favorite image is the first one with the butterfly on the mimosa…so pretty. Thank you for sharing everything with the OHC.

    Reply
  2. All Things Beautiful says

    July 27, 2011 at 8:09 AM

    Oh, my…I love their journal pages. They are wonderful. I love how they were each free to pick what they wanted to illustrate. I felt like I was there with you!

    Reply
  3. Nana says

    July 29, 2011 at 1:18 PM

    Beautiful, beautiful pictures! Glorious learning opportunitites! Wonderful memories!
    Forever,
    Nana

    Reply
  4. Angie W. says

    July 31, 2011 at 10:59 AM

    I love how friendly your bees look! I’m thinking we need to do an insect inspection as well, with the warmer summer, bountiful flowers, I bet we’d find quite a few!

    Reply
  5. Jamie @ See Jamie blog says

    August 9, 2011 at 6:06 PM

    Great study, as always. Though I wouldn’t have enjoyed the wasp part very much!

    Reply

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