Dordt University launches BEESTINGZ curriculum to support STEM education through beekeeping

Dordt University has launched the BEESTINGZ curriculum, a new educational resource designed to help secondary school teachers engage Generation Z students in STEM through the study of honeybees. Developed by Dr. Duane Bajema, professor emeritus of agriculture, and Melanie Bloom, Melanie Bloom, curriculum specialist and teacher at Sioux Central High School, the curriculum combines hands-on learning with environmental education, focusing on the issue of pollinator decline.

Designed with flexibility in mind, the BEESTINGZ curriculum is available as a free, open-access, online resource. Teachers can choose individual lessons or implement the entire curriculum for a semester-long series of activities.

Originally developed through a USDA-funded project titled “Bringing Effective and Engaging Science Teaching into the Generation Z (BEESTINGZ) Classroom using Apiculture,” the curriculum includes lesson plans, multimedia materials, and ongoing support for educators. The project’s goal is to provide teachers with the tools to teach STEM concepts through beekeeping, while also raising awareness about the environmental challenges posed by the decline in honeybee populations.

“There are numerous materials available at a variety of levels, but the availability of a coherent curriculum for secondary teachers is minimal,” says Bajema. “Teachers have had an interest in utilizing honeybee opportunities in their classrooms, but support has been lacking.” The curriculum offers the opportunity to explore honeybees in various contexts, including biology, habitat study, the impacts of pollinator loss, and the production of honey and other bee-related products.

Part of a larger initiative to enhance STEM education and promote environmental sustainability, the BEESTINGZ curriculum offers teachers a valuable tool for integrating real-world environmental issues into their classrooms. "The study of honeybees has the potential to address both academic and environmental concerns in a synergistic way," Bajema explains. By using the curriculum, students will be encouraged to apply STEM principles to address future challenges. Additionally, honeybees provide opportunities for local community engagement through science and entrepreneurship, adaptable to various local contexts.

This work is supported by the Education and Workforce Development Program, project award no. 2023-67037-3994, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.

About Dordt University
As an institution of higher education committed to a Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt University equips students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community to work toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt is consistently recognized as a top university by The Wall Street Journal, Times Higher Education, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review.