How Haileybury brings Science and Innovation to Life

Haileybury’s Keysborough and Berwick campuses are a hive of activity – literally. For the past six years, the school has engaged students in the worlds of science and innovation through the Haileybury Hive project.

The hands-on initiative for students from Years 5 to 8 centres on the art of beekeeping, with students gaining a deeper understanding of environmental science, sustainability and the fragility and resilience of Mother Nature as they tend the busy hives.

Entrepreneurship is also on display – once the students harvest the fresh honey, they use it to design and make products including honey lollipops, beeswax food wraps, candles and lip balms.

Inspiring interest in STEM

The hives were initially introduced at Keysborough as an innovative way of inspiring students to develop interest in STEM-related subjects. There are currently two hives at each campus with another new hive soon to arrive at Berwick.

“This engages students in a more practical sense and exposes them to so many different elements within STEM,” says Nicole Turner, Head of STEM (Junior & Middle School) at Berwick, who manages the Haileybury Hive program.

“They learn the basics of animal husbandry and what the bees need to survive and stay healthy. Coming in to spring the bees increase their numbers and so the students need to make sure they have enough space and water to accommodate that.

Building healthy hives

“The students also look at the health of the hive in terms of numbers and how the queen is laying eggs and they examine the types of pollen that the bees are collecting and match that to the plants in the local area. They also learn about pest and disease management. For example, every six weeks or so they are currently checking for the varroa mite which is affecting bees and the honey industry in Australia.”

Skills and knowledge learned in the hives translate to the classroom and vice versa. For example, the Year 5 Science curriculum includes a ‘Love Food? Love Bees!’ Unit where students learn about pollination, the structures of plants and flowers and plant reproduction.

“They learn about threats to bees and why bees are so important to our environment. They also undertake experiential learning in the apiary to observe the bees in various stages of their life cycle. In the classroom they look at the anatomy of the bee and work out why the taste of honey varies in different environments,” explains Nicole.

Showcasing their science

During the year, the students get a buzz out of showcasing what they’ve learned to their parents who are invited to see the Haileybury Hive at work.

“The students explain the safety rules to their parents, check they are wearing their protective suit correctly, and explain how the hives operate. They share everything they’ve learned about bees and honey production and are very excited to do that,” says Nicole.

“The parents can’t believe how hands-on the project is and how much their children learn about bees, the environment and sustainability.”

Younger students also visit the hives and eagerly await Year 5 so they can suit up and observe the bees at close quarters.

“One of our Year 8 students has become so passionate about the bees that he now wants a hive at home!” says Nicole.

Putting learning into practice

This year, the students are taking their bee obsession one step further by entering a national competition to design a bee-friendly garden. After designing the garden, they will build it at the Berwick campus. Nicole says the plan is to include natives and to upcycle materials in the construction of the garden.

It’s another opportunity for students to put what they have learned into practice and to have a real and positive impact on the environment and on the local bee population.

“I’m motivated by seeing the faces of the students when they taste the fresh honey that they’ve harvested, or to see them coming up with ideas and problem-solving any issues that we encounter,” says Nicole

“When we checked a hive a few weeks ago, it had some mould in it and we hadn’t seen that before. One of the students did some research and discovered because there hadn’t been enough bee numbers over winter, the bees hadn’t been able to get rid of water in the hive. They do that by fanning their wings. We removed the frame with the mould and with the bee numbers rising in spring, they will clean up any remaining mould. That was something new we all learned together.”

Making a beeline for the future

Learning how to research new issues, problem-solving and collaborating to find a solution are also skills that are a valuable part of the Haileybury Hive program, says Mia Haravitsidis, Haileybury’s Head of Innovation & Entrepreneurship.

“Our students will be working in careers that may not even exist right now, so they need 21^st century skills and capabilities such as creativity, innovation, collaboration, resilience and entrepreneurship,” says Mia.

“I’ve never come across a project like the Haileybury Hive at another school. It delivers students a hands-on science experience in a real-life setting, and that’s the kind of experience that will enable students to be future ready to change the world in their own way.”