Lesson Plan: Vanishing of
the Bees
Approximate Length: 90
minutes
Topic: Agriculture
Rationale for Teaching
This Film:
Vanishing of the Bees presents
a great exposé of facts surrounding honey bees and current issues surrounding them ever since
its release in 2009. However, Stuart McGurk of the Sunday Times said that while
the "subject is serious", and this film was "well intentioned
and urgent", it was "let down by hammy narration, [and] a made-for-TV
budget". Although some critics like McGurk found the narration and small
budget an issue this does show the merits of the film as an educational tool to
inform students about Colony Collapse Disorder and the potentially disastrous
consequences neonicotinoid pesticides may have if they are continued to be used
in our agriculture. Bees are showing an accumulation of toxins that are
adversely affecting them. Since humans are also affected by chemicals used in
agriculture this documentary brings forth an exceptionally important problem
that students have the right to be informed about.
This film includes
realistic depictions of beekeepers and how their livelihoods are at stake
because of CCD. Since Whatcom
County has a lot of rural
places it is very likely that its people are either directly or indirectly
impacted by the success of the farmer. Bees vanishing out not only epitomize the
importance of reassessing the use of pesticides along with other chemicals in agriculture;
they also bring forth the question of where we as individuals get our food and
the information about said food we may still be lacking. This documentary takes
a few beekeepers and their current problems and compares their local plight to
the plight of keepers throughout the world. Without strong local American
beekeepers foreign bees and diluted inferior honey from overseas may become the
mainstream in this country if action is not taken to save the bees.
Objectives:
Students will be able to
identify the current key problems related to honey bees.
Students will be able to
examine the film to see how bees and agriculture go hand in hand.
Students will be able to
broaden their knowledge about how food is produced and what it all means for
them that chemicals and monocultures dominate the American food industry.
Students will be able to
question their current assumptions about government’s role in enforcing safety
standards in potentially harmful products already deemed acceptable and on the
market.
Materials:
Enough “From Field to
Plate” worksheets for every student
A copy of the film “Vanishing
of the Bees” (See tab “Vanishing of the Bees: A Documentary” to ascertain the
most convenient way to obtain a copy of the film)
Class Discussion:
After showing the film and
having the students work through the questions on the worksheet, allow a short
period of time for any questions they may have or clarifications about certain questions
they are still unsure about. If time permits allow students to debate what they
liked and did not like about the film and its content.