Bee Aware Month in Marlborough
Bee Aware Month is celebrated every September to recognise the important role that bees play in Te Taiao. This year across Marlborough many tamariki had the opportunity to learn and take action for bees.
Learning was not limited to just honey bees either, bumblebees were also recognised for their vital role in pollination. To support this learning the New Zealand Bumblebee Conservation Trust gifted multiple copies of the story Bumblebee written by author Rachel Weston. These books were gratefully appreciated and used alongside multiple activities.
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- Joy reading the Bumblebee book to tamariki at Springlands Kindergarten
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- Tamariki learning about pollination through a game
Our Environmental Educator, Ramona, distributed these amongst centres and kindergartens and also shared them with our Kindergarten Kids Edible Garden facilitator Joy. Joy read the story to the tamariki out in the garden as a part of her session. She then followed up with a fun pollination game and making wildflower seed bombs.
Potting up lavendar to take home and plant for the bees
Tamariki at Montessori took their learning home by potting up lavender to plant at home and care for.
Dion Mundy showing the protective clothing he uses when working with the bees
While at Redwoodtown Kindergarten, they had a visit from Dion Mundy who brought in bees from his hive.
The learning doesn’t stop there either, school facilitators of Kids Edible Garden will also have access to this wonderful book about bumblebees to share during their sessions in the mara kai.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see a wide array of colourful flowers popping up in school and centre gardens this spring – providing lots of food for our much needed little helpers.