Lesson Objectives
This lesson will explore why the hexagons is the most affective shape for making a honeycomb. This STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) project teaches you about the hexagon’s efficiency and its importance to bees and their honeycomb.
Lesson Outline
First discussion: Introduce this lesson by asking the students an engineering question to activate prior knowledge of shapes.
- Introduce this lesson by asking the students an engineering question to activate prior knowledge of shapes.
- Question #1: We need to create a bookshelf for all our books, what do you think is the most efficient shape we can use to fit the most possible books in the bookshelf. (Think about different shapes, their perimeters, their surface areas…etc.)
- Once the students form an idea, of what shape they think is the most efficient pose another question.
- Question #2: What if we want to fill the shelves with liquid, what is the best shape to use to make sure we are storing the most liquid possible?
- Have students work and groups and really think about the questions that are being asked. Have a discussion with your students.
- After posing the above two questions and giving your students time to formulate at answer ask them do you guys think bees went through a similar process when they decided the hexagon was the best shape to store honey.
- Play Why Do Bees Build Hexagonal Honeycombs video. (This will activate prior knowledge of shapes, perimeter, and surface area that they have learnt in previous grade and get them to think about what is the purpose of today’s lesson).
Investigative Worksheet: Individual or group work
- After the student have has some time to think about what the work sheet is asking of them, Have the students watch the why do honeybees love hexagons video to further understand why this shape is used by bees.
- Have the students go over the Investigative Worksheet to research how honeybees make honeycombs. Teacher will be walking around the classroom, ensuring students are learning and having fun.
Building a Beehive Activity
- Once the students are done the worksheet show them the “how to make a beehive” video and have them Make the honeycomb craft project.
- Have the students considered the following questions while building their honeycombs? [questions can be adjusted depending on the grade level):
- Why is the hexagon shape more efficient than another shape for a honeycomb?
- What is the sum of all the interior angles of a regular hexagon?
- What is the degree of all interior angles of a regular hexagon?
Concluding Discussion: Future Actions to Help Bees
- After the investigative worksheet is complete, and students understand why the hexagon shape is most efficient: read the book “Peace Farm” with your class and ask the students what we can do to help these very mathematically intelligent insects thrive in our current environment.
- Ask and then educate students what they think a healthy habitat for bees looks like.
- Make up a class plan on what the class can do to help bees have this healthy habitat. (I.e., provide more trees for bees so they can build their homes, support local beekeepers…etc.)