TEACHERS TAKE NOTE

When the Bees Fly Home

Andrea Cheng

Illustrated by Joline McFadden

Hardcover, $16.95, ISBN 978-0-88448-238-3

9 x 10, 32 pages, color illustrations

Children / Nature; Grades 3-6

Many educators and parents are now looking more closely at the emotional development of boys. We know that life for those boys who don't fit the traditional mold is often more of a struggle than we would wish. Child-rearing experts now encourage parents and teachers to show greater acceptance of the range of feelings boys experience.

This book will also intrigue children with its many interesting facts about bees. These valuable insects buzz through the pages leaving a trail of facts about their species.

When the Bees Fly Home will help inspire classroom conversations about:

The importance of the arts and creativity as a source of pride and self esteem for some children
Ways to appreciate the "different gifts" every individual brings to the group
Gender roles and stereotyped ideas about the behavior of boys and girls
Agricultural and rural life—especially income issues
Sibling rivalry

Additional Books

Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys by Michael Thompson

Speaking of Boys: Answers to the Most-Asked Questions About Raising Sons, by Michael Thompson

Real Boys: Rescuing Our Sons from the Myths of Boyhood, by William Pollack

Raising Boys: Why Boys Are Different—And How to Help them Become Happy and Well-Balanced Men, by Steve Biddulph

Activities

Have the children spend a half an hour working with modeling beeswax.
Make candles using the dip method or a variety of molds. (Sources for Beeswax: Stockmar modeling beeswax comes in six colors and costs $12.95. Stockmar is available through Heathsong Catalog, and crafts stores nationally.)
Invite a beekeeper to your classroom to talk about bees and possibly bring an observation hive.