First graders were buzzing with curiosity as they got an inside look at the secret life of bees this month! Professor Bill Blocher from the Worcester County Beekeepers Association visited to share his expertise and give students insight into the inner workings of Fay’s own observational beehive. 

Professor Blocher explained the bees' life cycle and the different jobs they perform in a honeybee colony, from worker bees and drones to the queen. Students were shocked to learn that while worker bees typically only live about 42 days, a queen bee may live up to five years. Modern beehives, like Fay’s observational hive, contain removable frames where bees build their honeycomb cells, and Professor Blocher brought one for students to examine. When the beekeeper is ready to harvest the honey, they take out a frame, remove the wax seal on the honeycombs, then spin the frames in an extractor to remove the honey. Beekeepers also use the wax they collect to make candles and other products, and students had a chance to pass around a beeswax candle made from Professor Blocher hives.

As the seasons change, so does activity in Fay’s observational beehive. After learning how bees cluster together and shiver to keep their colony warm through the winter, first graders will have a front-row seat to this marvel of nature. Over the coming months, students can peer into the double-sided glass enclosure with a deeper understanding of the activity unfolding within. They will also look forward to welcoming Professor Blocher back in the spring to see how the hive awakens.