Originally published in TEACH Magazine, July/August 2021 Issue
By Kelsey McCallum
Almost 80 percent of flowering plants around the globe need the help of pollinators. One of every three bites of food we eat is due to their pollinating efforts, and honey bees alone are responsible for adding nearly $6 billion to the Canadian economy each year. But bee populations are rapidly declining due to pesticides, parasites, and habitat loss. In some areas, up to 90 percent of bees have disappeared.
It is important to teach students about the essential role bees play in food production and how they contribute to healthy ecosystems. Celebrate the complex and fascinating world of honey bees—and learn what steps can be taken to protect them—with these virtual field trips.
Kelsey McCallum is an Associate Editor for TEACH Mag. She holds a BSc from the University of Guelph and a Graduate Certificate from Centennial College. She currently lives in Toronto, ON, with her partner and their cat, Banksy.
