Design Technology Project: SAVE THE BEEShttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JilYBVrFiLA

Why we need to help bees…Bees pollinate flowers, plants and crops that support other species (including humans). Without bees, our economy and the future wellbeing of our children and grandchildren would be at risk.

That's why it's so worrying that 13 bee species have become extinct in the UK since 1900 and a further 35 are on the threatened species list.

Three reasons Britain's bees need your help today:• The loss of habitat is the most pressing problem facing British bees: 97% of our vital

grasslands have been lost in the past 60 years.• Bees pollinate 75% of our main food crops worldwide, including some of our favourite

produce like apples, strawberries and tomatoes.• Scientists estimate that it would cost over £1.8 billion every single year to pollinate UK

crops by hand.

What do you think this is?

What do you think it is made from?

Bee HotelsBee hotels, also called nests or houses, are a great way to attract pollinators to your family’s flower or vegetable garden.

Bee hotels are places for solitary bees to make their nests. These bees live alone, not in hives. They do not make honey. Solitary bees are much less likely to sting than honeybees because they aren’t defending a hive.

Solitary bees lay their eggs in small holes. You can tell bees are using your hotel when they make a mud “door” to cover the entrance hole. This means a female bee has laid an egg inside. After the bee hatches, it will eat a supply of pollen until it is ready to break through the mud and fly away.

Watch this video on how to make a bee hotel…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9-gJuDgKnU

Title: Bee HotelWatch the video and then answer the following questions on a piece of paper…

What is a bee hotel?

What type of bees use them?

What materials could you use to make them?

Why is it important to make them?

How do you know if a bee is

using it?

Where is the best place to put

a bee hotel?

DESIGN CHALLENGEYou are now going to design your own Bee Hotel…o Before you start, look around your house for objects you think could be recycled. o It is important to recycle as much as possible when designing! o Have a look at the next few slides for inspiration or just use your imagination!

On a piece of paper, use a pencil, ruler and colouring pencils to draw your bee hotel design. It is important to label your design to explain what you have designed and why.

Label your design with:• Where it will go• What it’s made out of (recycled materials?)• How will you make it suitable for bees• What special features will it have?

Materials you could use…• Bamboo cane• Logs• Rolled cardboard• Straw• Wood• Bricks• Wire mesh• Recycled plastic bottles• Cups/mugs

Logs with holes drilled in

Wooden roof

Straw

My Bee Hotel will be attached high up on the

fence in the garden.

Big hotel with lots of compartments…

Honeycomb style…

Using recycled objects…