Bee Crafts and Learning
Activities For Kids

How to Make Bee Crafts Including: Bee Pin, Bee Shape Book, Bee Mobile, Bee Lapbook, Bee Candy Dish, Bee Refrigerator Magnet, Balloon Bee, Beehive Pinata, and a Pompom Bee

 

Foam Bee Pin Craft for Kids

What you will need:

Yellow, white, and black craft foam sheets

3/4" black pompom

Black chenille stem

Googly eyes

Glue,

Straight pins

Pin back

How to make a foam bee pin craft:

1. Cut 1/4" x 6" strips from the black and yellow craft foam sheets. Place one strip on top of the other and roll them together. Glue them together as you go. Use straight pins to hold the strips in place as you roll. Stick the straight pins through the layers from the sides to hold them together until they dry or use a low temp. hot melt glue gun.

2. Once the glue on the body is dry, glue a black pompom to the side of the circle where the strips end. Glue on googly eyes and chenille stems for the antennae.

3. Cut two wing shapes from white craft foam and glue them to the back of the body.

4. To finish stick a self-sticking pin back to the back of the bee.

How to Print or Copy these Instructions.

©2009, Carolyn Warvel - *See Copyright Information

Bee Shape Book Craft for Kids

What you will need: Yellow card stock (Heavy Paper), white printer paper, tape, black crayons or markers, black chenille stems, and small foam hearts or hearts cut from pink construction paper.

How to make a bee shape book craft:

1. Draw a bee body shape and head shape on yellow card stock. Do not draw the head and body attached. Cut out the body shape and use it as a template to draw another matching body shape from the yellow card stock. Use the same shape as a template to make the pages of your book. Cut all the body shapes out and staple them together with a yellow body shape on the top and bottom. (A Pattern for this book is available to members on the "God's Masterpiece" Sunday School Lesson Page.)

2. Cut out the head shape and glue it to the front of the bee as shown in the picture above.

3. Draw wing shapes on white printer paper, cut them out and glue them to the back of the book.

4. Fold half a chenille stem in half and tape it to the back of the head. Glue heart shapes to the ends of the chenille stems.

©2009, Carolyn Warvel - *See Copyright Information

Bee Shape Book Craft for Kids

This craft comes from the Bug Buddies Studies a series of twelve lap books lessons. See below for more crafts and activities from this study.

This book can be used for many purposes. Children can write facts about bees, write words that start with the letter "B", write a short story about a bee, etc.

What you will need: Printer paper, black and yellow paper, crayons, tape or glue, and a stapler.

How to make a bee shape book craft:

1. Draw six circles, one each 5 1/2" on black paper, 5 1/4" on yellow paper, 4 1/2" on black paper, 4 1/4" on yellow paper, 3 1/2" on black paper, and one 3 3/8" for the head on yellow paper. Cut out six legs and two antennae from black construction paper. Draw wings on white paper and cut them out. Draw a face on the smallest circle.

A Pattern for this craft is available to members of Danielle's Place.

2. Place all the circles, except the head, one on top of the other, starting with the biggest black circle. Place each smaller pattern on top of the larger pattern. Align all the circles so that they are even at the top and staple them at the top.

3. Glue the legs onto the black body pieces as shown and the antennae to the head. Glue the head onto the body covering the staple as shown. Glue the wings to the back of the book.

©2009, Carolyn Warvel - *See Copyright Information

More Bee Crafts and Activities from Bug Buddies Study This Christian-based set of studies introduces children to variety of amazing insects. Each lesson emphasizes a Biblical concept relating it to a specific insect, and encourages children to dig deeper and learn more about insects. They are child-directed, designed to get them questioning and digging for the answers, and encourages them to use their creativity. These studies do not throw out a lot of facts which your child is expected to memorize. Children learn through investigation, hands-on activities, games, repetition, and creating. Children can create file folder books for each study to help them remember and categorize what they have learned. Children will enjoy looking back at what they have learned, and sharing it with others.
Hexagon Envelope with Hexagon Note Cards	Bee Hive Shape Book
Bee Hive Fold-Out Shape Book	Flower Shape Book

©2009, Carolyn Warvel - *See Copyright Information

Free Bee Candy Dish Craft for Kids

This craft is great to use at a party with a bug or bee theme. Place sweet honey candy, Honey Nut Cheerios, or Honey Comb Cereal in the bowl.

What you will need: 7 3/8" plastic or paper bowls, card stock (thick paper, Crayons, pain scissors, and glue.

How to make a bee candy dish:

1. Print out the Pattern onto white card stock. Color the bees face, and cut out the patterns. (Printing Problems?)

2. Paint the paper or plastic bowl or use one that is already black or yellow. Glue the antennae to the head and the head onto one side of the bowl. Glue on the legs and feet. Cut a stinger from black construction paper and glue it to the bowl.

How to Print or Copy these Instructions.

©2009, Carolyn Warvel - *See Copyright Information

Craft Spoon Bee Craft for Kids

What you will need: Wooden craft spoons, yellow and black markers or paint, yellow fun foam, black pipe cleaners, wiggly eyes, black pompoms, and glue.

How to make a craft spoon bee:

1. Cut out bee wings from fun foam. Cut pipe cleaners about two inches long and fold them in half. Glue them onto the back of the craft spoons with a hot melt glue gun. You can glue tiny black pompoms on to the end or just fold the ends down.

2. Color the bees with yellow and black markers.

3. Glue on the wings and eyes. You can use a tiny black pompom for the nose.

How to Print or Copy these Instructions.

©2009, Carolyn Warvel - *See Copyright Information

Plaster Bee Craft for Kids

What you will need: Plastic spoons, Plaster of Paris, 3/4" round magnets (optional), tiny wiggly eyes, hot melt glue gun, black pipe cleaners, red paint or markers, black and yellow paint or markers, and black and yellow fun foam.

How to make a plaster bee:

1. Set the spoons up so that the cup of the spoon will hold the Plaster of Paris evenly without spilling out. Set the handles of the spoon on a thin book. You can also use play dough to keep the cup of the spoons from moving when you are pouring the plaster, but it isn't really necessary.

2. Mix the plaster according to the directions. Pour a spoonful of plaster into each plastic spoon and then place a magnet in the center.

3. When the plaster is dry remove it from the spoons. Let the plaster shapes dry overnight and then glue on a head cut from black fun foam, tiny eyes and yellow wings cut from fun foam.

4.Paint the bees with watercolor paint or color them with permanent markers.

How to Print or Copy these Instructions.

©2004, Carolyn Warvel - *See Copyright Information

Bee Balloon Decoration Craft for Kids

What you will need: Two large yellow balloons, yellow and black tissue paper, Paper glue (rubber cement), black permanent marker, black pipe cleaner, small black pompoms, tape, and black heavy duty thread to hang.

How to make a bee balloon:

1. Blow up the two yellow balloons, one half the size of the other. Glue them together using rubber cement pressing the two rounded ends together. To glue together paint the rubber cement on each of the balloons and let dry for a few seconds and then press together.

2. Cut a strip of black tissue paper about 4" wide and tape around the center of the body. Cut two large circles of black tissue paper. Use a plate to trace around. Cut into the circles and cut out the center. Place one circle around the neck of the bee like a collar. Cut off any extra tissue paper and tape the tissue paper down. Do the same at the bottom of the bee.

3. Crinkle up a sheet of yellow tissue paper bringing the long side of the tissue paper together to form wings. Tape at the center. Cut the wings to the right size. Tape them to the back of the bee at the neck area.

4. Fold a black pipe cleaner in half, glue a pompom to each end of the pipe cleaner, and wrap it around the knot on the top of the bees head.

5. Draw on eyes and a mouth with a black permanent marker.

6. Tie a piece of thread to the top of the head to hang the bee.

How to Print or Copy these Instructions.

©2004, Carolyn Warvel - *See Copyright Information

Beehive Piñata or Decoration

This beehive can be used as a piñata or just a decoration. If you want to use it as a decoration you don't have to do the paper mache. Just tape the tissue paper to a white balloon.

What you will need: News print paper (the stuff used in packaging), white craft glue, (Elmer's Glue works well), Large round balloon, Petroleum jelly, Paint, white tissue paper, tape, strong nylon string, yellow paper, scissors, heavy duty thread.

How to make a beehive piñata:

1. To prepare: Rip up news print paper to about 1" by 3" strips.

2. Blow up the balloon to the size you want the beehive to be. Smear petroleum jelly all over the balloon and place it in a bowl that has also been smeared with petroleum jelly. The bowl should be big enough to fit only about 1/4 of the balloon in. The bowl will hold the balloon in place and keep it from rolling around while you work.

3. Cover your work area with old newspapers or a plastic drop cloth.

4. Prepare the glue mixture in a medium size bowl. To start mix 1/4 cup glue with 1/2 cup water.

5. Soak some of your paper strips in the glue mixture for a minute or two. Remove one strip at a time pulling the strips between your fingers to get rid of any excess glue and place them on the balloon to form the beehive. (It is important not to use too much glue or it will take too long to dry). Cover the whole balloon with one layer of newspapers overlapping them slightly so that there are no holes. When you have finished the first layer place the balloon with the bowl in a warm place to dry overnight. Repeat this process. Wind your nylon string around the balloon a couple of times ending with both ends of the string at the top of the balloon. You may have to tape the string in place. Cover the entire balloon again a few times. When all the layers have dried thoroughly, remove the balloon from the bowl and punch a hole in it so that the air is released. Remove the balloon carefully.

6. Cut 2" strips of white tissue paper. Starting in the middle of the beehive tape the tissue paper around the hive. Add new layers overlapping slightly as you work your way to the top and bottom of the hive.

7. Fill the beehive with candy. For a special effect, wrap each piece of candy with yellow Handi-wrap twisting the ends to make them look like bee wings.

8. Cover a long broom handle with brown twisted tissue paper. Twist some extra pieces of brown tissue paper to make some extra branches. Glue the branches to the broom handle. Cut out leaves from green tissue paper and glue them to the end of the branches.

9. Print out the Bee Pattern onto bright yellow paper. Cut out the bees and glue them to the beehive. Hang some bees from thread. Glue two bees together so that you can see the bee from both sides.

10. Use as a piñata or hang the beehive in a flag post near your door.

How to Print or Copy these Instructions.

©2002, Carolyn Warvel - *See Copyright Information

Pompom Bee Craft for Kids

What you will need: Black and yellow yarn, poster board, pipe cleaners, yellow felt, and wiggly eyes.

How to make a pompom bee:

1. To make the bees body cut two three inch circles out of poster board or other cardboard. Cut two inch circles out of the centers of these two circles to form a donut shape.

2. Hold the two circles together and wrap yellow yarn around the donut shape through the hole in the center starting at one point and filling in with yarn until the cardboard is covered. Keep wrapping the yellow yarn until you come back to the same point you started. To make things go quicker, cut a long length of the yarn and roll it up into a small ball. Then start wrapping, pushing the ball through the hole instead of pulling the whole length of yard through the whole each time. Don't worry about end pieces that stick out, you can cut them off later. To keep the yarn in place when you start a new color just wrap the new piece around the end of the old piece. Don't tie knots. Instead of using really long pieces of yarn, you can also use this method with shorter pieces.

3. When you have finished the yellow circle, use black yarn doing the exact same thing you did with the yellow. Keep alternating yellow and black yarn until you can't fit any more yarn through the hole.

4. To finish the ball, cut the yarn loops all the way around the edge of the circle using sharp scissors. When you have cut all the loops you will see the edge of the card board circles. Use another piece of yarn to tie the pompom. Separate the two circles just enough to get the piece of yarn in between the two circles. Place the yarn all the way around the inside of the circle and pull tight and tie a knot. Pull off the cardboard circles or cut them away. Trim any pieces of yarn that are sticking out too far.  Trim the ball to be a little pointy at one end. This is the bees tail where his stinger is located.

5. Make the bees head in the same manner using yellow yarn except use a two inch donut instead of a 3 inch donut. I added a little bit of black, but it isn't necessary.

6. When the head is finished hot melt glue it onto the body. Glue on eyes and pipe cleaner antennae. Glue on a nose and mouth if desired.

7. See how many other creatures you can make using pompoms in this manner.

How to Print or Copy these Instructions.

©2009, Carolyn Warvel - *See Copyright Information

Good Books About Bees

Bee Games and Activities

"Beeline" Game (Learn the Names of Common Flowers)

You will need different kinds of flowers cut from paper (use clip art) or artificial silk flowers. You can use more than one of each kind of flower. Before the game review with the children what each type of flower is called. Place the flowers all over the room. Have the children buzz around the room acting like bees. When you call out the name of a flower the bees look for that type of flower, grab it up, and make a "beeline" to the hive (finish line). The first child to make it to the hive with the right kind of flower wins. (Learning moment. After a bee locates nectar and fills itself up with it, he takes off in a straight line back to the hive or makes a "beeline" to the hive.)

©2009, Carolyn Warvel - *See Copyright Information

Carry Nectar Back to the Hive Relay Game

Talk about how bees and other insects have a special mouth called a proboscis that is very long and helps them to get down into the cup of the flower and suck out the sweet nectar. Demonstrate how this is done by using a straw and a pitcher of Kool-Aid. Set the children up into teams with a pitcher of Kool-Aid for each team. Give each child a straw. When you blow a whistle the first person on each teams runs up to the pitcher and drinks as much as he can until you blow the whistle again. When the child taps the next person in line he runs up to the pitcher and starts to drink until the whistle is blown again. Continue until every child has had a turn or one pitcher is empty.

©2009, Carolyn Warvel - *See Copyright Information

Examine a Beehive

If possible, bring in an abandoned beehive and comb for the students to examine. Provide magnifying glasses to get an up close look!

Secret Smells

Tell the students that bees recognize each other by using their sense of smell. Try this out by playing a game of secret smells. Spray or dip cotton balls in the following scents making two of each: perfume, lemon juice, liquid spices, vinegar, or any other smell that is easily recognizable. Place these cotton balls in a plastic bag. Give one to each child making sure that another child has the match. Have them go around the room using their noses to find their secret partner. If you have a small group or a younger group, just make one of each scent and set them on a table. Have the children try to guess what the scent is.

Taste Different Kinds of Honey

Talk about how honey made from different kinds of flowers make different tasting honey.

Listen to "Flight of the Bumble Bee"

You can probably find a CD at your local library.