Marla Spivak: Why bees are disappearing

Educational value

• This is a valuable resource for the food and fibre component of the year 6 science and the year 9 geography curriculums. It is highly relevant for the geographical unit of study Biomes and food security, particularly for content descriptions that refer to human alteration of biomes to produce food, and the environmental effects of these alterations; the environmental, economic and technological factors that influence crop yields in Australia and across the world; and the challenges to food production for Australia and other areas of the world. The dramatic increase in bee deaths is a major threat to global food security, as bees pollinate a third of the world's food supply.
• The video may also be of value for year 6 science, particularly for the content descriptions about how the growth and survival of living things are affected by the physical conditions of their environment, and how scientific understandings, discoveries and inventions are used to solve problems that directly affect peoples' lives. Professor Spivak's talk emphasises how bees are affected and destroyed by environments that are poor in pollen and nectar and rich in pesticides and pesticide residues. Based on her deep scientific understanding of bees, she proposes planting flowering plants wherever possible, and not contaminating them with pesticides, as the best ways to save bees.

Year level

6; 7; 8; 9

Topics Soil degradation Growth (Animals) Decision making Food products Agriculture Primary industry Environmental management Environmental influences Sustainable development Habitats Asia Australia Bees Ecosystems Food technology Data analysis Water resources Climate change Problem solving Community development Fibres (Materials) Food availability Vegetation Environmental impact Human impact Plant growth Pollination Nectar Crop yields Action projects