Use your imagination to decorate the cans, if so desired. Have the students cut large paper straws to lengths about half an inch shorter than the can. Push a bundle of straws into the can with the open ends out, until the can is filled. Encourage the students to place the nests where younger children or animals can't disturb them. You may want to hang out some nests yourself, so you can slice open a straw and show your students what a solitary bee nest looks like.
Bees are robust, hairy insects.
They may have special structures such as pollen baskets on their legs to carry pollen. Show Poster 4. Bees pollinate crops that result in about a third of the food we eat. Honey bees produce honey and beeswax. Some people use bees and bee products for health reasons.