A.

Abstract
Given that ninety percent of the worlds nutrition is pollinated by bees, the same bees

that are declining at unprecedented rates, I have decided to focus my attention on the

disappearance of bees. The title of my paper will be The Effect of the Disappearance of Bees ,

and the title of my project will be Beelieve it or Not. The overarching topic is ecology, and I will

be specifically focusing on the disappearance of bees and the effect on the human population. I

am doing this project because science naturally interests me, and the complex consequences

bees disappearance has on our environment, our economics, and our food production. My

consultant will be Joey Winn; he has agreed to come to my project and be there to support and

help me through the way.

For my project, I will teach fifth graders about the disappearance of bees and what they

can do to help. I plan to bring in natural honey to have as a sampler for them, which is tentatively

going to be supplied by a friend who is a local beekeeper. Depending on the teachers schedule, I

will go in during my morning excused block and teach them the informational substance then go

in another day to follow up with fun activities. Fun activities will include, writing thank you

cards to local farmers, bee crafts, and the sampling of food that bees help produce. For my

informational session, I plan to open with a survey debunking preconceived ideas about honey

bees, then using an interactive presentation teach them about Colony Collapse Disorder, and to

conclude I will give them the natural honey samples. Tentatively, I plan on asking the class to

adopt a beehive through Frangiosa Farm Honey in Colorado. It would cost $54 in total, but

depending on the class size, only cost the student $2-$3. Depending on the teachers schedule, I

plan on doing this in March at Kings Grant Elementary School. I will measure my success be

administering a pre-quiz and post-quiz to measure what the kids learned. The materials I will
 need are natural honey, markers, construction paper, supplies for bee crafts, and food that bees

pollinate.

B. Learning Skills

The following are new skills I will have to learn for the successful completion of my project:

I will need to learn how to create an effective lesson plan

I will need to be able to manage, teach, and entertain a large group of elementary students
I will need to learn how to create a pre and post assessment that reliably shows what the students

learned

The following are enhanced skills I will have to develop for the successful completion of my

project:

In order to connect with the students, I will need to enhance my public speaking skills
To plan and coordinate with the elementary school, I will have to advance my semi-formal email

style to a professional email style

Although I attended the elementary school, I will still have to enhance my collaboration and

communication skills with the new teachers and administrators there

C. Marketing Plan/Facilities/Audience

The target audience for my project will be elementary students. This is the best platform

for my topic because it correlates with what they are learning and it educates the younger

generation about the harmful dangers of their actions to the environment around them. After

learning about the disappearance of bees, they could get their parents inspired to support local

beekeepers, reduce the harmful pesticides used, or potentially adopt a beehive. The elementary

students need to learn about this topic because it is not widely talked about, and if we educate

them now, they could potentially help solve the problem later on. To ensure that I have the right

grade of students, I will reach out to the principal first to hear her ideas of who should hear my

presentation, then talk to the teachers to best choose the class and grade. My venue will be King
Grant Elementary School because I went there and already have connections that will help me

get my project heard.

D. Project Steps

Preliminary Steps Visit the school and 7 hours

communicate with admin and
teachers, learn how to create a
lesson plan, research age
appropriate presentation
methods, outline lesson plans,
reach out to beekeeper, meet
with consultant to schedule
date at the school and review
the outline of the lesson plan

Midway Steps Confirm dates with the 9 hours

school, put together age
appropriate activities, meet
with beekeeper, learn how to
and create pre and post
assessments, run through
presentation, meet with
consultant to review
assessments and run through

Later Steps Present to the classes 2 hours

Follow Up Thank you cards, analyze the 2 hours

assessment results, and send
money to Colorado to adopt a
beehive

Total 20 hours

E. Project Documentation

To document this project I will provide photo documentation, email documentation, and

meeting notes. As I am learning how to write lesson plans, make tests, and write a professional

email, I will be photographing my process. All emails between the school, my consultant, the
beekeepers, and anyone else will be saved and printed. As I have meetings with my consultant or

the school, I will take detailed notes and get the signature of the person I am meeting with to

document when and how long I met with them. Before my project, I will get a friend to take

pictures of my rehearsal run through. At my project, I will have a photographer there taking

pictures of me teaching and the students participating. My analyzed test results will provide clear

documentation of the effectiveness of my teaching.

F. Project Justification

This project will educate students and provide a way for them to support a noble cause. I

hope to inspire the students, parents, and teachers to make small changes in their lives that can

help improve the bees situation. I want the students to see them as more than the bad insect that

stings, but as a helpful insect that provides food for us. This is a stretch out of my comfort zone

because I have never had to teach or keep elementary schoolers engaged for a long period of

time. This project will make me use effective communication and strong public speaking skills,

if I want to be successful.

G. Project-Paper Connection

My research paper will be focusing on the economic effect of Colony Collapse Disorder

and what our country is doing to protect honeybees. This will directly relate to my project,

because I will be teaching elementary schoolers about Colony Collapse Disorder and what they

can do to help. The information I gather for my paper will be translated into my project at an

appropriate age level for my audience with real life examples and interactive activities.

H. Academic Honesty

I believe that academic honesty means that any work that I take credit for is mine and

mine alone. If I use anothers work I will properly cite my sources to give credit where credit is
due. Plagiarism is copying, incorrectly citing, or paraphrasing any work that isnt my own. I

understand that any academic dishonesty by me on any part of the project will result in failure of

the Senior Project and forfeiture of the Legal Studies Seal on my High School diploma.