Grades: 7-8
Essential Skills: Science, Math
Duration: 1 class period
OVERVIEW
In this lesson, students will practice their mathematics and mapping skills using examples from honey bee biology.
Preparation
Information Sheets:
Activity Sheets:
Lesson Plan
Introduction activity (30 minutes)
Give students a copy of Activity Sheet 11 (Honey Bee Wing Measurements) [Remember: photocopies are often 102% so the wings may be enlarged slightly]. Have groups of students measure the length of the forewings as indicated in the example. Have them add the total for 10 wings and then divide by 10 to obtain the average. If the average is larger than .375 inch (3/8-inch) then the colony is European.
Have students work all three exercises on math questions ( Activity Sheet 12).
Hand out the information and word problems in Activity 34.
Activity 2 Constructing a map (45 minutes)
Give the students Activity Sheet 32, a map showing the movement of Africanized honey bees from Brazil. Discuss the route the bees took through Central America, Mexico and North America.
Give the students a copy of a map of Arizona that has major towns and waterways labelled. Distribute Activity Sheet 9, the first 25 AHB finds in the state. Have them locate the area of each find on the Arizona map with a colored pencil, or have them draw their own map of the state and label all the finds on it.
Discuss why the colonies were found in this pattern. Consider such factors as amount of food and water in the area, and how many humans live in the area where colonies are found.
Additions
Bibliography:
A Problem-Solving Manual for Secondary and Middle Level Mathematics.
Published by the Science and Mathematics Education Center, Emporia State University, Emporia, KS.
