Sing, Dance, Learn: The Power of Music, Movement and Storytelling in Bee Education

I grew up dancing - classical ballet was my jam. My childhood was spent in a pink leotard, my hair pulled tight into a bun, and my tape deck full of Tchaikovsky.

A lot has changed since my days studying ballet at the National Theatre in St Kilda. These days, you’re more likely to find me in a beekeeping suit than a tutu. But my love of dance? That has never changed..... And that brings me to Sing, Dance, Learn.  It’s more than just a tagline - it’s at the heart of how we teach at Friends with Honey.

These days, you’re more likely to find me in a beekeeping suit than a tutu

The Birth of the Friends with Honey Musical Kids Show

Last year, we poured 12 months of creativity and passion into producing the Friends with Honey Musical Kids Show Album. What started as a simple idea to create some songs for my bee incursion programs quickly turned into something much bigger.  Once the album was complete, we saw an opportunity to bring our Sing, Dance, Learn philosophy to life through a 45-minute musical kids’ show.

By fully embracing storytelling and weaving educational messages into a performance, we found the perfect way to engage children and teach them fundamental lessons about bees and biodiversity.

Benny recording the Album - the toy piano features on 'Some Bees'

Learning Through Storytelling, Music, and Movement

In our show, I play the beekeeper, and Benny is the musician.  He visits my farm, full of curiosity about bees.  Along the way, he gets into some sticky situations - literally!  But each time he learns something new, it sparks an idea for a song.  And when he sings, he can’t help but dance!  Through this cycle of storytelling, singing, and dancing, we reinforce learning in a way that is interactive, memorable, and fun.

Why does this work so well?

• Sing – Singing enhances memory, breathing, and language skills.

• Dance – Movement supports rhythm, coordination, and emotional well-being.

• Learn – Storytelling engages imagination, emotions, and curiosity while making information easier to understand and remember.

Music, movement and storytelling aren’t just fun - they offer incredible developmental benefits. They help children improve cognitive growth, problem-solving, self-expression, and social skills.

Dress rehearsals are full of fun and dancing!

Backed by Science and Tradition

The Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework recognises performing arts - music, dance, and drama - as essential components of early childhood education. But long before formal education systems existed, cultures worldwide have used storytelling, song, and dance to pass down important lessons, historical knowledge, and life skills.

Children exposed to music and movement show higher cognitive development, better knowledge retention, improved self-expression, and greater emotional competence.

Bringing Sing, Dance, Learn Into Your Classroom

To help teachers incorporate Sing, Dance, Learn into their sustainability education programs, we’ve created a resource pack, available for download alongside our music on streaming platforms. You can also book:

• A Friends with Honey bee incursion

• A performance of our Musical Kids Show

• A professional development workshop for educators

We’d love to bring the magic of music, movement, and bee education to your school.

Taxonomy & Citizen Science Through The Eyes Of A Beekeeper

I’m not a scientist. In fact, growing up, I was far more interested in dancing, singing, drawing, and making all sorts of cool stuff with my Janome sewing machine. Nature was something I loved, but I didn’t really think too deeply about it. However, as I’ve gotten older my curiosity about the world around me has taken a whole new path. Now, one thing that fascinates me is biodiversity and how we can look after the amazing living things all around us.

It all started when I became a beekeeper. I had to think more about what the bees needed to survive and, suddenly, I became more aware of the plants and animals around the beehive. At first, I didn’t think about how everything fit together. I’d spot a flowering gum tree, a sunflower or a European wasp, but I wasn’t thinking; Corymbia Ficifolia, Helianthus Annuus, or Vespula Vulgaris.

That all changed when I started using iNaturalist to track the biodiversity on our farm. Suddenly, I was stepping into a whole new world of learning! The scientific names gave me a fresh lens through which to view the natural world. And because iNaturalist is a global platform, I realised that Latin names are a universal language across all regions and scientific communities. That's one of the greatest strengths of Citizen Science - it unites and harnesses the power of a global community of nature enthusiasts.

Making an observation on iNaturalist is very easy!

But Wait - What About Common Names?

I’ll admit, I still use common names! I’m not about to give up calling a dog “dog” or a sunflower “sunflower.” But as I observe more and more biodiversity, particularly lesser-known species, I’ve come to realise something interesting: Most classified organisms don’t have common names!

While many familiar animals and plants have widely recognised common names, the majority of species - especially microorganisms, insects, fungi, and deep-sea creatures are only identified by their scientific names.

Why Do Some Organisms Lack Common Names?

• Limited Human Interaction: Many species are so obscure or live in areas we don’t often visit - deep-sea creatures for example! so they don’t have widely recognized names.

• High Biodiversity: With over 2 million classified species, it’s just not practical to assign common names to all of them.

• Scientific Precision: Some species look so alike that a general name would be misleading - thousands of beetles, for example, look almost identical.

• Regional Naming Variations: Different areas and languages often have different names for the same species, so scientific names offer global consistency.

Bandidus canifrons - an insect with relatively few observations in iNaturalist. This one came into our shed at the farm when we were working late one night

What Is Taxonomy?

Taxonomy is the science of classifying and naming organisms. It’s like a giant filing system for the natural world! Taxonomy helps scientists organise living things based on their characteristics and evolutionary relationships. It follows a hierarchical structure, from broad categories (like kingdoms eg Plants, Animals, Fungi etc) down to specific ones (like species). This classification helps us understand where different species fit into the broader picture of life on Earth.

Whenever I try to identify a species on iNaturalist, I always check the Taxonomy tab to see how far I’ve come in figuring out where the species fits in the big classification puzzle. The goal, of course, is to get all the way to the species level!

So, What Does Taxonomy Look Like for Bees? 🐝

Bees are a great example of how taxonomy works. Here's a quick guide to the taxonomic hierarchy for bees, from the highest level all the way down to the specific species level:

• Kingdom: Animalia (all animals)

• Phylum: Arthropoda (invertebrates with segmented bodies, exoskeletons, and jointed legs)

• Class: Insecta (six-legged arthropods)

• Order: Hymenoptera (bees, ants, wasps, and sawflies)

• Superfamily: Apoidea (bees and some wasp relatives)

• Family: Apidae (the largest bee family, including honey bees, bumblebees, stingless bees, and carpenter bees)

Genus: (some examples)

• Apis – Honey bees

• Bombus – Bumblebees

• Tetragonula – Stingless bees

• Xylocopa – Carpenter bees

Species: (some examples)

• Apis mellifera – European honey bee

• Bombus terrestris – Buff-tailed bumblebee

• Tetragonula carbonaria – Australian native stingless bee

• Xylocopa violacea – Violet carpenter bee

  
  

This is just a quick peek with some examples. There are over 20,000 species of bees worldwide, and in Australia, we have over 2,000 species! That’s a lot of buzzing biodiversity to keep track of. 🐝

Australia is home to around 14 species of blue-banded bees in the genus Amegilla. These native bees are known for their vibrant blue stripes and their role in buzz pollination, which helps pollinate crops like tomatoes and blueberries.

Pronunciation Challenge!

Okay, I admit it - I still find myself Googling how to pronounce Latin names and I rarely get them right. However, YouTube is a great help!

Thankfully, we have so many resources to help us learn about the biodiversity that is all around us. I can be standing on top of hill, 5km up a 4WD track and be able to whip out my smartphone to make an observation in iNaturalist. It's very empowering! The more I learn, the more motivated I am to do my part in protecting the planet and building habitats on our farm to support biodiversity.

Get Involved in Citizen Science!

The beauty of citizen science is that you don’t need to be a scientist to contribute! Whether it’s using an app like iNaturalist, identifying species, or participating in a bioblitz event, everyone can play a part in recording the biodiversity around us.

If you’re curious about how you can start recording biodiversity and become a citizen scientist, Friends with Honey offers workshops on just that! From using apps like iNaturalist to running your very own bioblitz event, we’ll guide you through it all - and have a great time in the process!

Ready to become a citizen scientist? Get in touch with us today, and let’s get started!

The Joy of Storytelling and the Magic of Bees

Storytelling is such an important part of childhood.  It sparks imagination, fosters connection, and imparts lessons that stay with us for a lifetime.  For me, the magic of storytelling began with the birth of my son.  From the very first day he came home from the hospital, books became a cornerstone of our bonding time.  Born in Vancouver, Canada, he was welcomed into the world with a pack of children’s books, a thoughtful gift from the Canadian Government to all new born children at the time.  From classics like The Gruffalo and The Hungry Caterpillar to Possum Magic and Pig the Pug, we’ve read and re-read thousands of stories together over the years.  Perhaps it was these cherished moments that inspired my passion for creating stories of my own.

When I launched my early years program, it felt like the perfect time to write my very own children’s book. Naturally, it had to be about bees!  The result was The Bee Bop Waggle Dance, a whimsical tale that introduces children to the fascinating world of bees through the eyes of a lovable character named Jazzy.

The Bee-Bop Waggle Dance Book, by Friends with Honey

Meet Jazzy and Her Waggle Dance Adventure

Jazzy is a worker bee at Honey Headquarters, where she loves to watch her sisters perform their waggle dances.  But when Jazzy tries to dance herself, her knees freeze, and she struggles to share her adventures. The waggle dance is a crucial part of bee communication, as it helps bees direct their hive-mates to where the best flowers grow.  Jazzy’s story unfolds when she discovers a magnificent sunflower and becomes determined to tell her sisters where to find it.  With the help of the creatures on my farm - a gecko, a praying mantis, some chickens, and even my lazy bulldog - Jazzy embarks on a journey of self-discovery and courage.

While The Bee Bop Waggle Dance is a charming fantasy, it’s rooted in real-life bee behavior. The story teaches children about emotions, perseverance, self-belief and the joy of overcoming obstacles.  It’s a tale that resonates with young readers as they cheer for Jazzy and learn valuable life lessons along the way.

The Real Life Lazy Bulldog - Gus

Bringing the Story into Real Life

Reading this book to children is always a great joy.  Designed for ages 3-7, it captures their imaginations while introducing them to the world of bees.  After reading, I love to engage children in a conversation about how they can help bees in real life.  Planting flowering plants is a simple yet impactful action, and I often bring sunflower seeds for the class to plant.  Together, we imagine a day when their sunflowers bloom, and bees like Jazzy come to visit.

Bees Visiting Some Real Life Sunflowers

Friends with Honey Bee Incursion Program

If you’re an early years educator seeking to captivate your class with the magic of bees, consider booking a Friends with Honey Bee Incursion. Tailored for kindergarten and preschool children aged 3-7, this one-hour program is an energetic blend of singing, dancing, and storytelling.  Of course, it features The Bee Bop Waggle Dance as a central highlight.

Through this interactive experience, children not only learn about bee behavior but also develop a deeper appreciation for these incredible pollinators. They’ll discover how they can contribute to creating a bee-friendly environment, fostering a sense of environmental stewardship from a young age.

Let’s Inspire the Next Generation of Nature Stewards

Whether through storytelling, planting sunflower seeds, or dancing like Jazzy the bee, every small step helps children connect with nature and understand the importance pollinators in our ecosystem.

Ready to bring this buzzing adventure to your classroom? Contact Friends with Honey today to book your Bee Incursion Program and join the Bee Bop Waggle Dance.  Together, let’s inspire the next generation of Nature Stewards to protect and cherish our pollinator friends!