Bees Have Kids Buzzing in New Program at Waconia Middle School

There is a buzz at the Waconia Middle School, and it’s all about the bees. With new hives located on the roof, the eighth-grade students can observe these Californian bees outside the window from their desks. But what’s the bees’ role inside the classroom?

The goal is for the beehives to help students understand, engage, and learn from honeybees. Waconia Middle School social studies teacher and beekeeper, Michele Melius, shared, “By using the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum’s Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center as a template and partnering with the Department of Agriculture, I’m really excited to be sharing my passion for bees with the kids and teaching about the impact on our food system and economy.”

The equipment, bees, and educational materials were purchased through a grant that was secured by Melius. “Learning about bees offers multiple opportunities to promote critical thinking and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) skills,” concluded Melius. “The final steps will be to split the hives and pay it forward to another school to experience and understand our role in the ecosystem.”

The classroom that has the view of the beehives will be transformed into an education center, open to anyone who visits. The bees also compliment the middle school’s Edible Classroom garden by pollinating the plants. Over the summer, it is expected that the bees will produce 75 to 100 pounds of honey—some of which will be used by Cafe #110 in the upcoming school year.