Bee Community First is a unique program developed by the Beepods Team to provide educational resources to underserved schools across the United States at no (or low) cost. Born out of discussions about the importance of community action, the Beepods Team is in a position to provide high-quality educational tools to schools who don’t have access to them otherwise.

Beepods developed an interdisciplinary kit to help students better understand the world around them through learning about the roles of honey bees. We find when students learn about bees, they acquire more than just knowledge about science-based principles and concepts. Students also learn life skills like critical thinking, leadership qualities, team-building, and compassion for other people and animals. It’s vital all students have access to this meaningful learning.

Our mission with Bee Community First is to enrich learning environments for ALL students, regardless of where they live, the color of their skin, or their access to financial resources. Bee Community First lowers barriers to entry for underserved students

Bee Community First makes bee-related learning available to schools so every student can bee the change. We encourage underserved schools with students of color to apply for consideration.

When your school participates in Bee Community First, you and your students join learners across the country who benefit from bee-related education.

Budgetary challenges at eligible schools make it difficult or impossible to purchase materials like our Beepods Interdisciplinary Kit or Beepods Lab access. Let’s work together to equalize your opportunities so your students can rise.

The Beepods Interdisciplinary Kit consists of six themed units and 21 lessons total spanning topics from ecology to genetics to agriculture to history.

Each lesson plan includes:

• NGSS standards
• Introductory information for each lesson topic you can use as source material for lectures
• Vocabulary words with definitions
• Vetted resources for instructors like you
• Graphic organizers for your students to fill out alongside the lessons
• Discussion questions to accompany supplementary videos and articles
• Lessons for multiple different learning styles

This interdisciplinary curriculum will enrich your classroom environment for weeks, and provides structured, project-based, and hands-on learning. The Beepods Team created each lesson plan to connect students with bee-related concepts and provide activities they can truly immerse themselves in. These lesson plans also save teachers time by providing extensive source material and instructions for class activities.

• Dozens of videos all about bees and the art of beekeeping
• Additional lesson plans for different age groups
• Downloadable how-to guides
• Online courses with certifications
• Execution Plans for deeper subject learning
• Office Hours with industry experts and pollinator enthusiasts

The content available on Beepods Lab enriches your students’ learning beyond the Beepods Kit. Once you introduce students to honey bees, they engage more and more with project-based learning. If you do not have access to a beehive, the resources listed above are a great opportunity to take your students further into the world of honey bees.

The Beepods Kit works for any school, regardless of whether you are in an urban or rural setting. The lesson plans are largely based in the classroom, with a handful created for the outdoor classroom. If you live in a city, outdoor learning takes place at a community garden or can be scheduled as a field trip. Omit the outdoor learning if it’s difficult for your school or school district to arrange. However, we encourage this learning as it helps students form connections between what they learn in the classroom and the world outside

Yes, you do need access to the internet to use these resources. The Kit includes vetted articles and Youtube videos to enhance your students’ learning. Many of the lessons require students to conduct research into the subject matter, and this works best if each student or small groups of students have access to a computer or tablet. Beepods Lab is an online platform and does require a computer, phone, or tablet to access.

If your school faces challenges with technological resources, please let us know. Our goal is to make this content accessible for every school, and we are happy to discuss any barriers your school faces. Together, we will come up with a specific solution to enable your students to benefit from these unique resources.

You do not need to have prior knowledge about honey bees and other pollinators before using our Kit. Each lesson provides you with resources and introductory information. If you have additional questions about the content, or if your students have trouble learning a specific concept, please get in touch. You can reach our team at outreach@beepods.com.

We’re here for support as you start using the Kit in your classroom.