P1 and P2 pupils at the European School of Alicante enjoyed an experience as sweet as it was fascinating thanks to the workshop on the world of bees led by Tomás from Granja Masphaël. Throughout the session, the youngest students were able to discover the captivating world of beekeeping in a hands-on, sensory and highly interactive way.

One of the highlights of the workshop was an observation hive with transparent walls, which allowed pupils to see the bees up close as they worked on the honeycombs, moved between the hexagonal cells and lived together inside the colony.

Through illustrated panels, the children learned about the three types of bees that coexist in a hive: the queen, in charge of laying eggs and regulating the life of the colony through pheromones; the worker bees, which collect pollen and nectar, produce honey, wax and royal jelly, and look after the hive; and the drones, whose role is to fertilise the queen. They also discovered the life cycle of bees —from egg to larva, pupa and adult— and the developmental differences between each type.

The workshop also addressed the role of bees as pollinators. Pupils learned that there are many pollinators —insects, birds, rodents, reptiles and even people— and that in Europe bees are the most important ones, with more than 2,000 wild species, representing 10% of global bee diversity.

The sweetest part came with the tasting of hive products: different kinds of honey, pollen and other natural treats that the children sampled using wooden sticks. They also saw real beekeeping tools, such as the honey extractor, as well as a beekeeper’s suit and gloves, and observed pieces of amber with insects trapped inside.

From the AMPA, we would like to thank Granja Masphaël for their dedication in bringing beekeeping into the school, and the teaching staff for making these experiences possible — experiences that spark curiosity and respect for nature from an early age.