PIERRE, S.D. — One third grade class in Pierre, South Dakota, recently had the opportunity to learn about honeybees and their roles in agriculture.
This year, the class received the Ag Innovators Youth Education grant from the South Dakota Ag Foundation. The grant allowed for a learning unit where students were able to participate in hands-on learning experience focused on honeybees, pollination, bee adaptations, the honeybee life cycle, agricultural commodities and careers in beekeeping and honey production.
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They received nonfiction books about bees and honeybee life cycle models, along with supplies for creating beeswax lip balm. The grant also provided the class with materials for students to use as they explored the unique adaptations that help bees survive.
The beeswax lip balm project was a highlight in the classroom, said third grade teacher Amber Stout. They combined beeswax, coconut oil and shea butter, then poured it into empty lip balm containers.
“Students took a raw agricultural product — beeswax — and transformed it into a finished product they could take home. This helped them understand value-added agriculture in a way that was exciting, tangible and r...