Bee aware

As a growing number of schools embrace gardening, bee hives are generating the latest educational buzz.  The Urban Farm has  been fortunate to acquire a native stingless bee hive from the Lady Cilento Childrens Hospital, who are keen to maintain connections with the hive once it is established in our college.

Bees in the school environment can offer learning opportunities through most aspects of the curriculum and bring personal and social rewards to each participant.

Beekeeping is international and crosses all geographical and cultural barriers.

With reports of bee populations declining, education about bees is more critical than ever.  Tending to hives and observing bee activity provides students with vital lessons in biology, agriculture, ecology, nutrition and even business.  Bees do more than make honey. Pollination is also key to increasing the size of plants, fruits, flowers, and overall crop yield - all benefits that we hope we will see soon on our college urban farm.

Sustainability education for life

The Australian Curriculum places emphasis on Sustainability as a priority for study that connects and relates relevant aspects of content across learning areas and subjects.

Cross-curriculum learning is fundamental to:

• understanding the ways social, economic and environmental systems interact to support and maintain human life

• appreciating and respecting the diversity of views and values that influence sustainable development

• participating critically and acting creatively in determining more sustainable ways of living.

Through the priority of Sustainability, students develop the knowledge, skills, values and world views necessary to contribute to more sustainable patterns of living.

Education for sustainability develops the knowledge, skills, values and world views necessary for people to act in ways that contribute to more sustainable patterns of living. The establishment and ongoing development of our urban farm enables the school community to reflect on ways of interpreting and engaging with the world. 

Sustainability education is futures-oriented, focusing on protecting environments and creating a more ecologically and socially just world through informed action. Actions that support more sustainable patterns of living require consideration of environmental, social, cultural and economic systems and their interdependence; the urban farm is an excellent classroom in this regard.