Bees Printables

Bee Printables — Ron Erwin / Getty Images

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Updated on September 19, 2018

Many people are afraid of bees because of their sting, but bees are actually very useful insects. They play a vital role in the plant life cycle by spreading pollen from flower to flower. Many crops depend on bees for fertilization. Bees also produce honey that people use for food and beeswax that is used in candles and other products.

There are more than 20,000 species of bees. Some of the best known - and most helpful - are honeybees and bumble bees.

All bees live in colonies that consist of one queen bee and many drones and worker bees. The queen and the worker bees are female, and the drones are male. The drones have only one job, which is to mate with the queen been. The queen bee has only one job, which is to lay eggs.

The worker bees have many jobs. They collect pollen; clean, cool, and protect the hive; and care for the queen and her offspring. The job that each worker bee does depends on its stage of development. Young bees work inside the hive, while older bees work outside.

The worker bees also select and nurture a new queen if the current queen dies. They select a young larva and feed it royal jelly.

Most worker bees live only 5-6 weeks, but the queen can live up to 5 years!

Many bees, such as the honeybee, die after they sting because the stinger is pulled from their body. Bumble bees are normally not aggressive but will sting to protect their nests. They have a painful sting and because their stinger is not pulled from their body, they can sting multiple times and don't die after they sting.

Sadly, many honeybees are disappearing as a result of colony collapse disorder and researchers don't know why. Honeybees are vital to our ecosystem because they help pollinate many fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

There are some things you can do to help native bees. Try some of these ideas:

Plant flowers that attract bees
Allow wild dandelions and clover, a favorite of bees, to grow in your yard
Purchase honey from local beekeepers
Limit or eliminate the use of commercial pesticides
Start a beehive (It helps the bees and is very educational!)

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Bees Vocabulary

Print the pdf: Bees Vocabulary Sheet

Dive into the fascinating world of bees! Students should use a dictionary, the Internet, or library resources about bees to look up each term from the word bank. Then, they should correctly match each word to its definition by writing the words on the blank lines provided.

02

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Bees Wordsearch

Print the pdf: Bees Word Search

Students won't complain about reviewing bee terminology when you present them with this fun word search! Each term from the word bank can be found among the jumbled letters in the puzzle.

Bees Crossword Puzzle

Print the pdf: Bees Crossword Puzzle

To further review bee vocabulary, students can complete this crossword puzzle. Each clue describes a word related to bees. If they have trouble remembering the definitions of any of the words, students can refer to their completed vocabulary sheet.

04

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Bees Challenge

Print the pdf: Bees Challenge

See how much your students remember about bees with this challenge worksheet. Each definition is followed by four multiple choice options from which students may choose.

05

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Bees Alphabet Activity

Print the pdf: Bees Alphabet Activity

Young students can practice their handwriting, alphabetizing, and thinking skills by putting each of these bee-themed words in correct alphabetical order.

06

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The Bee and the Mountain Laurel Coloring Page

Print the pdf: The Bee and the Mountain Laurel Coloring Page

This coloring page helps students understand how bees collect and distribute pollen. Discuss each step with your students as they complete the coloring page.

For further study, learn more about the mountain laurel.

07

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Fun with Bees - Bees Tic-Tac-Toe

Print the pdf: Bees Tic-Tac-Toe Page

Enjoy this just-for-fun bee tic-tac-toe. After printing the page, cut the game pieces off at the dotted line, then cut the pieces apart. Cutting the pieces apart is a good activity for younger students to practice their fine motor skills. Playing the game also allows children to practice strategy and critical thinking skills.

For best results, print on card stock.

08

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Bees Coloring Page

Print the pdf: Bees Coloring Page

Bees live in beehives. Natural beehives are nests that the bees make themselves. Beekeepers house bees in man-made hives, like those pictured in this coloring page, called apiaries.

09

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Bees Theme Paper

Print the pdf: Bees Theme Paper

Students can express their creativity and practice their handwriting and composition skills when they use this bee theme paper to write a story, poem or essay about bees.

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Bees Puzzle

Print the pdf: Bees Puzzle

Working puzzles allows children to hone their problem-solving, cognitive, and fine-motor skills. Have fun together with this bee-themed puzzle or use it as a quiet activity during read-aloud time.

For best results, print on card stock.

Updated by Kris Bales