All About the Rusty Patch Bumblebee
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Provided by: SkyDay|Published on: May 16, 2025
Articles/WebsitesScientist Reviewed
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Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This article emphasizes the importance of pollinators, specifically the Rusty Patch Bumblebee, an endangered species in Illinois.
- Opportunities exist through embedded links to extend learning about the Rusty Patch Bumblebee and make connections to local climate change by examining data and interactive maps.
Subjects: Biology
Authors: SkyDay
Region: Illinois
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- A flow chart details the life cycle of the Rusty Patch Bumblebee while explaining the process of pollination.
- Connections between changes in temperature and precipitation and the endangerment of bees are clearly laid out.
- National interactive maps are embedded in the online version of the article that allow students to zoom in on Illinois and focus on their locations to see how climate change has affected the local populations of bees.
- Vocabulary associated with pollination and the bumblebee life cycle is emphasized.
Prerequisites
- Students should understand what an endangered species is.
- In order to interact with the maps, ensure that students know their general location on a national map.
- Access to a device and internet is required for interactive portions of this resource.
- Broken links exist in the Footnotes 1 and 2.
- Teachers can also access a PDF version of the article.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Students can learn more about endangered species and the Endangered Species Act in this lesson.
- To solidify the connection between extreme temperatures and climate change, students can research and graph the high temperatures for their local communities during periods of pollination to provide evidence for the declining number of bumblebees.
- To extend this resource, students can design a pamphlet or poster on a local endangered species that is impacted by climate change.
This resource from SkyDay provides an introduction to the endangered Rusty Patched Bumblebee. The biological and ecological data are in alignment with US Fish and Wildlife Service assessments and broader pollinator research. This resource would be a great addition to a classroom discussion on climate change.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
