There’s been a buzz coming from Gold Creek School recently, and it hasn’t just been from the students.
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Pupils in years 7, 8 and 9 at the Gungahlin-based school have recently helped to make several ‘bee hotels’, to help monitor the species over several weeks.
The wooden structures were built as part of studies in STEAM (science, tecnology, engineering, arts and mathematics) subjects at the school.
Science teacher at the school Daniel White said the idea for a hotel for bees came following an incident involving the insects on the playground recently.
“One day we had this big bee swarm in the playground, and the students and I got chatting on why the bees would choose that particular spot,” he said.
“We then removed a lot of the undergrowth ,and a lot of the bees had set up their home there, and the students researched ways as to how it could be improved, and one of the ones that came up was a bee hotel.”
In coming weeks, bees will be placed into the wooden structures, which Dr White describes as looking like a small bird house, where they will be monitored once school begins next year.
Different plants, or pollinators, will then be placed inside the hotels to determine which ones the species preference the most.
“We’re putting lots of different ones in to see what works and what doesn't,” Dr White said.
“Then the next step will be for the students to come back and see which ones were inhabited and which branches work so we can build upon it.”
As part of the construction of the bee hotels, 14 students helped to build the structures with the help of supplies at Bunnings Warehouse in Gungahlin.
Dr White said the take up by the students for the bee project has been really enthusiastic.
“This is a real-world problem, which has a solution that they will be able to see,” he said.
This is a real-world problem, which has a solution that they will be able to see.
- Dr Daniel White
“We talk about problems like climate change and waste recycling, and while you can maker a change, you need need community-wide support. With the bee hives, you can build it and explore an explanation as well.
“This is the sort of project we’re aiming for with the STEAM program, because the kids don’t the answers and we will find out what works best.”
Andrew Brown
I've been part of the Canberra Times since 2016, after reporting at local papers in Sydney's north-west. Since starting at the paper I've had stints on the Sunday Times, on the early morning breaking news round, and now as a general reporter, covering the ins and outs of anything and everything happening in Canberra, with a focus on health.
I've been part of the Canberra Times since 2016, after reporting at local papers in Sydney's north-west. Since starting at the paper I've had stints on the Sunday Times, on the early morning breaking news round, and now as a general reporter, covering the ins and outs of anything and everything happening in Canberra, with a focus on health.
