Third graders get a sweet taste of local honey production

Contributed / Amber Stout By Ariana Schumacher Today at 5:30 AM Listen Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? PIERRE, S.D. — One third grade class in Pierre, South Dakota, recently had the opportunity to learn about honeybees and their roles in agriculture. This year, the class received the Ag Innovators Youth Education grant from the South Dakota Ag Foundation. The grant allowed for a learning unit where students were able to participate in hands-on learning experience focused on honeybees, pollination, bee adaptations, the honeybee life cycle, agricultural commodities and careers in beekeeping and honey production. ADVERTISEMENT They received nonfiction books about bees and honeybee life cycle models, along with supplies for creating beeswax lip balm. The grant also provided the class with materials for students to use as they explored the unique adaptations that help bees survive. Contributed / Amber Stout The beeswax lip balm project was a highlight in the classroom, said third grade teacher Amber Stout. They combined beeswax, coconut oil and shea butter, then poured it into empty lip balm containers. Contributed / Amber Stout “Students took a raw agricultural product — beeswax — and transformed it into a finished product they could take home. This helped them understand value-added agriculture in a way that was exciting, tangible and relevant,” Stout said. In another activity, students explored the role bees play in pollination with Cheetos, juice boxes and flower templates. They got to play the role of bees as they "flew" around the classroom collecting Cheetos before returning to their desks and "landing" on their flowers. The Cheeto dust that was transferred from each location provided a visual representation of the transfer of pollen. Contributed / Amber Stout “I believe third graders learn best when they have opportunities to experience learning rather than simply read about it. Hands-on, agriculture-related lessons allow students to connect academic concepts to the real world in meaningful and memorable ways,” Stout said. “And, I am able to tie in science, reading, writing, mathematics, social studies, problem-solving and collaboration.” ADVERTISEMENT Other activities in this learning unit included investigating the honeybee life cycle through watching footage of the inside of a bee hive and discussing different roles bees have within a colony. They also had a day where they got to turn a classmate into a bee for the day, giving them the opportunity to learn about the adaptations that help bees survive. Contributed / Amber Stout Along with all the fun, hands-on activities, literacy was also a key component of the course. Students read National Geographic books about bees and did several writing projects related to the material. The final part of the project was a visit from a local beekeeper, who showed students an actual hive, beekeeping tools and protective gear. They also got to sample raw honey. More on agriculture education: 10 years of the SDSU Swine Education and Research Facility 1d ago Swine outlook depends on hog health and youth engagement 1d ago Born into FFA, Cannon Falls’ Cameron Addington heads to national office 3d ago Stout, who is also a farmer in addition to a teacher, said she hopes that through this learning unit, students have a greater appreciation for agriculture and a better understanding of how much it impacts their everyday lives. “I want them to realize that agriculture is so much more than crops and livestock. It involves science, innovation, problem-solving and the people who work hard to provide the food and products we depend on,” Stout said. Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? Tags Tags AGRICULTURE AGRICULTURE EDUCATION SOUTH DAKOTA By Ariana Schumacher Ariana is a reporter for Agweek based out of South Dakota. She graduated from South Dakota State University in 2022 with a double major in Agricultural Communications and Journalism, with a minor in Animal Science. She is currently a graduate student at SDSU, working towards her Masters of Mass Communications degree. She enjoys reporting on all things agriculture and sharing the stories that matter to both the producers and the consumers. 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