Abstract
The Brazilian ecosystems harbor a significant portion of global bee diversity. Despite their magnitude as pollinators, Brazilian native bees are mainly unknown. Considering the importance of scientific literacy in fostering environmental responsibility, we analyzed the BeeDiversity project’s impact on the scientific knowledge of eight to nine-year-old students. This study outlines the challenges of implementing the BeeDiversity project as a curricular component, including live bee observation and active learning methodologies. Students’ knowledge about bees significantly improved after participating in the project. Although the students mastered the concept of the ecological role of bees as pollinators, they were unaware that this ecosystem service is operated mainly by solitary bees. Learning retention was confirmed after five months. Active learning proved more effective than traditional methods. Handling a live hive and learning about solitary bees’ pollination roles generated high enthusiasm and engagement. Therefore, focusing on educational strategies addressing bee diversity beyond the typical honeybee (Apis mellifera) might effectively stimulate a broad environmental consciousness.
License
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Article Type: Research Article
INTERDISCIP J ENV SCI ED, Volume 20, Issue 4, 2024, Article No: e2420
https://doi.org/10.29333/ijese/15476
Publication date: 15 Oct 2024
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