Page 52 - kids ebook

Commonly Asked, Easy to Shy Away from, Kid Questions Commonly Asked, Easy to Shy Away from, Kid Questions

Be real with your kids. First of all, they can tell when you are lying. Second, don’t lie to kids, it’s rude. Be real with your kids. First of all, they can tell when you are lying. Second, don’t lie to kids, it’s rude.
A beekeeper friend of mine once told me a story about how a “bee man” would come to her elemen- A beekeeper friend of mine once told me a story about how a “bee man” would come to her elemen-
tary school to put on a bee program every year. He brought an observation hive with a painted drone tary school to put on a bee program every year. He brought an observation hive with a painted drone
in it, and told all the kids (and teachers) it was the queen. Just don’t. My friend had a very confusing in it, and told all the kids (and teachers) it was the queen. Just don’t. My friend had a very confusing
time IDing the queen when she got her own bees. Spreading misinformation can be harmful, even if time IDing the queen when she got her own bees. Spreading misinformation can be harmful, even if
it’s well intended. I imaging the beekeeper either a) didn’t want to remove the real queen from the hive and upset the bees
it’s well intended. I imaging the beekeeper either a) didn’t want to remove the real queen from the hive and upset the bees
or harm the queen, or b) knew that queens are shy and often hide where onlookers can’t spot them. If either is the case, just
or harm the queen, or b) knew that queens are shy and often hide where onlookers can’t spot them. If either is the case, just
be honest with the kids. Tell them the queen needed to stay back at home with her other bees, or let them know that she is
be honest with the kids. Tell them the queen needed to stay back at home with her other bees, or let them know that she is
hiding. Get them really excited about the lazy drones, the nurse bees, and give them a flashlight to find eggs and larvae. hiding. Get them really excited about the lazy drones, the nurse bees, and give them a flashlight to find eggs and larvae.

A few other awkward scenarios: A few other awkward scenarios:

Mating. Like Ella Fitzgerald says, “Birds do it, bees do it… Even educated fleas do it…” Reproduction is a fact of life and kids Mating. Like Ella Fitzgerald says, “Birds do it, bees do it… Even educated fleas do it…” Reproduction is a fact of life and kids
can be curious about it. I don’t build this topic into my curriculum, but if you get a question about it - answer it in the most can be curious about it. I don’t build this topic into my curriculum, but if you get a question about it - answer it in the most
scientific and straight forward way possible. scientific and straight forward way possible.

Kid: “What do drones do?” Kid: “What do drones do?”
Me: “They fly away from the hive and mate with a queen from a neighboring colony way up in the sky.” Me: “They fly away from the hive and mate with a queen from a neighboring colony way up in the sky.”
Kid: “Oh.” Kid: “Oh.”

That’s literally how it goes 99% of the time. If they are about fifth grade and older, they may keep digging for more. But, That’s literally how it goes 99% of the time. If they are about fifth grade and older, they may keep digging for more. But,
again, just answer in plain, scientific terms. Beekeepers - If you feel embarrassed, give the teacher a look of panic, and he or again, just answer in plain, scientific terms. Beekeepers - If you feel embarrassed, give the teacher a look of panic, and he or
she will totally shut down the question in their “magic teacher way,” and bail you out. she will totally shut down the question in their “magic teacher way,” and bail you out.

Queen production. This is another tricky one because it can get violent! However, don’t make up an untrue story, just be Queen production. This is another tricky one because it can get violent! However, don’t make up an untrue story, just be
clear with the facts. You can have fun with this one. Imagine the bees in a “Lord of the Rings,” “Harry Potter,” or “Star Wars,”
clear with the facts. You can have fun with this one. Imagine the bees in a “Lord of the Rings,” “Harry Potter,” or “Star Wars,”
type battle! Or you can stick to the basics, whatever you are comfortable with. Remember, kids love stories! type battle! Or you can stick to the basics, whatever you are comfortable with. Remember, kids love stories!

Kid: “What happens when the queen dies?” Kid: “What happens when the queen dies?”
Me: “Well, the bee colony works together to make a new Queen.” Me: “Well, the bee colony works together to make a new Queen.”
Kid: “Oh.” 10% of the time Kid: “Oh.” 10% of the time
Kid: “How?” 90% of the time Kid: “How?” 90% of the time

Me: (to answer the ninety percenters) “Often the queen knows that she is old or sick and will die soon. She wants to make Me: (to answer the ninety percenters) “Often the queen knows that she is old or sick and will die soon. She wants to make
sure that her family lives on, so she communicates this with the worker bees. They will build these special little “cells” called
sure that her family lives on, so she communicates this with the worker bees. They will build these special little “cells” called
“queen cups.” There will be a couple dozen of these. They kind of look like a little thimble, or a dimpled cup, made of wax “queen cups.” There will be a couple dozen of these. They kind of look like a little thimble, or a dimpled cup, made of wax
and attached to the honeycomb. The queen will lay an egg in each “queen cup” (this is when I bust out the educational poster
and attached to the honeycomb. The queen will lay an egg in each “queen cup” (this is when I bust out the educational poster
on bee development stages, see page 60 for the resource guide’s educational poster options). on bee development stages, see page 60 for the resource guide’s educational poster options).

The egg, everyone say egg (EGG!), turns into a larva, every one say larva (Larva!), and the nurse bees feed the larva “royal jel- The egg, everyone say egg (EGG!), turns into a larva, every one say larva (Larva!), and the nurse bees feed the larva “royal jel-
ly.” This stuff is amazing. It’s like a superrich multivitamin that the “baby queen” takes a bath in during her whole develop- ly.” This stuff is amazing. It’s like a superrich multivitamin that the “baby queen” takes a bath in during her whole develop-
ment. As she is developing from a larvae to a pupa, every one say pupa (Pupa!), she closes this “cup” as she spins a cocoon. ment. As she is developing from a larvae to a pupa, every one say pupa (Pupa!), she closes this “cup” as she spins a cocoon.
Imagine that she is pulling up a blanket made of fiber and wax over herself. Now it’s a cell (it helps if you can show them a Imagine that she is pulling up a blanket made of fiber and wax over herself. Now it’s a cell (it helps if you can show them a
picture of a queen cell, again see page 60). In just a few days, the queen pupa develops into an adult, everyone say adult picture of a queen cell, again see page 60). In just a few days, the queen pupa develops into an adult, everyone say adult
(Adult!). (Adult!).

Bee puke. Honey is not bee puke! Bees do not swallow, digest, and regurgitate nectar to make honey. In fact, they have a Bee puke. Honey is not bee puke! Bees do not swallow, digest, and regurgitate nectar to make honey. In fact, they have a
whole different organ to carry nectar to the hive from the flower. It’s called a “honey stomach” or “honey crop.” Explain it to
whole different organ to carry nectar to the hive from the flower. It’s called a “honey stomach” or “honey crop.” Explain it to
kids like a chipmunk cheek, a pouch for carrying - then spitting out, food. Bees will add enzymes to honey from the glands in kids like a chipmunk cheek, a pouch for carrying - then spitting out, food. Bees will add enzymes to honey from the glands in
their head, but again, this isn’t bodily waste. their head, but again, this isn’t bodily waste.

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