Bees are insects that capture every child’s attention. Despite the fear of the occasional sting, kids are fascinated by their bright colors, fuzzy textures, and busy nature. After all, which other insect has a Queen lording over her workers, who tirelessly work to create one of the sweetest treats known to man?
Whether you are a parent looking for a rainy day activity, a teacher planning a classroom theme, or just preparing for World Bee Day on May 20th or National Honey Bee Day on August 16th, we have compiled the ultimate list.
Here are 20 bright, easy, and engaging bee crafts for kids. From recycled toilet rolls to creative clay modeling, these activities are perfect for toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary-aged children.
Why We Love Bees: Fun Facts for Kids
Before we dive into the glue and glitter, it is a great idea to teach children why we are crafting these yellow-and-black friends. Combining creativity with education makes the content much more valuable (and teacher-approved!).
- The Royal Family: A hive consists of a Queen Bee, Worker Bees (all females), and Drone Bees (all males).
- Girl Power: The worker bees do all the heavy lifting! They collect pollen, build the hive, and protect the Queen.
- Short vs. Long Lives: An average worker bee lives for only 5–6 weeks, whereas a Queen Bee can live for up to 5 years.
- Busy Moms: During the peak of summer, a Queen Bee can lay up to 2,500 eggs in a single day.
- Royal Diet: When a Queen dies, the workers select a larva to take her place. This lucky larva is fed “Royal Jelly” to help her grow into the new monarch.
Now that we know our subjects, let’s get crafting!
1. Spring-Themed Bee Tic-Tac-Toe
If you are ready to take your regular Tic-Tac-Toe game up a level, try this spring-themed version. Instead of X’s and O’s, we use Bees and Flowers!
- Materials: 10 flat stones or wood slices, yellow and pink paint, black markers.
- How to do it: Paint 5 stones yellow (for bees) and 5 stones pink (for flowers). Add stripes and wings to the yellow stones. Draw a grid on a piece of cardboard or a drawstring bag. It’s a game and a craft in one!
2. Cupcake Liner Bumblebees
If you have yellow cupcake liners, you are halfway there. This is perfect for toddlers because it requires minimal cutting.
- Materials: Yellow cupcake liners, black construction paper, googly eyes, glue.
- How to do it: Flatten the yellow liner. Cut a black circle for the head and black strips for the body. Glue them onto the liner. It creates a textured, 3D effect that looks adorable on a fridge. (Tip: If you only have white liners, let the kids paint them yellow first!)
3. The “Catch the Bee” Clothespin Game
This is a brilliant DIY fine motor activity for kids under the age of four.
- Materials: Wooden clothespins, yellow pom-poms, green felt.
- How to do it: Glue a small bee (made of pom-poms) onto one clothespin and a flower cutout onto another. The game involves using the “flower pin” to try and catch the “bee pin” without dropping it. It strengthens hand muscles while sparking giggles.
4. Printable Bee & Flower Board Game
Bees and flowers are never apart for long. Create a simple board game concept.
- Materials: Cardstock, dice, player tokens.
- How to do it: Draw a winding path on a piece of paper. Mark some spots as “Pollination Station” (move forward 2 spaces) and “Rain Storm” (move back 1 space). Use painted pebbles as player markers.
5. Popsicle Stick Bee Bookmarks
Encourage reading with a cute page-keeper.
- Materials: Jumbo craft sticks, yellow paint, black sharpie, cardstock for wings.
- How to do it: Paint the stick yellow. Once dry, draw thick black stripes. Cut oval wings from white paper and glue them to the top third of the stick. Add googly eyes. Make a whole set for the classroom!
6. 3D Paper Bee Coloring Page
Why settle for flat coloring pages? Make it pop.
- Materials: A bee coloring sheet, scissors, glue.
- How to do it: Color the bee body. Cut out separate wings from another sheet of paper. Fold a small tab at the base of the wings and glue only the tab to the main body. The wings will flutter off the page!
7. Cardstock Hand Puppets
Perfect for preschoolers to act out the “I am an insect” poem.
- Materials: Thick yellow cardstock, jumbo popsicle sticks or paper straws.
- How to do it: Cut a large figure-8 shape from yellow paper (head and body). Decorate with stripes and eyes. Glue the stick to the back. These are sturdy enough to last through several puppet shows.
8. Classic Toilet Roll Bees
The ultimate recycled craft!
- Materials: Empty toilet paper rolls, yellow paint, black pipe cleaners, bubble wrap.
- How to do it: Paint the tube yellow and black. Punch two holes at the top and thread a black pipe cleaner through for antennae. Use bubble wrap cut into ovals for the wings—it gives them a cool honeycomb texture!
9. Egg Carton Beehive & Bees
Don’t throw away those egg cartons; they are essentially ready-made hives.
- Materials: Yellow egg carton cups, black marker, white paper.
- How to do it: Cut the cups apart. Paint them yellow with black stripes. These little “pods” look exactly like chubby little bees. You can string them together to make a mobile.
10. Thumbprint Bee Cards
A sentimental keepsake for parents or grandparents.
- Materials: White cardstock, yellow stamp pad (or paint), black fine-liner pen.
- How to do it: Have the child press their thumb into yellow paint and stamp it on paper. Once dry, use the pen to draw stripes, wings, a stinger, and a smiley face on the print. Write “Bee Mine” for a cute touch.
11. Paper Plate Bee Craft
Great for a classroom setting as it uses larger materials.
- Materials: Paper plates, yellow paint, black tissue paper.
- How to do it: Paint the plate yellow. Rip up strips of black tissue paper and glue them across the plate for stripes (great for sensory play). Add construction paper wings to the sides.
12. Pipe Cleaner Finger Puppets
- Materials: Yellow and black pipe cleaners.
- How to do it: Coil a yellow pipe cleaner around the child’s finger to make a spiral body. Twist a black piece around it for stripes and antennae. These are great for storytelling time.
13. Bubble Wrap Beehive Painting
Focus on the habitat with this art project.
- Materials: Bubble wrap, yellow/orange paint, white paper.
- How to do it: Paint a sheet of bubble wrap with yellow and orange mix. Press it onto white paper. When you peel it back, the print looks exactly like a honeycomb pattern! Glue your thumbprint bees on top.
14. Rock Painting Bees (Garden Decor)
- Materials: Smooth oval rocks, acrylic paint, outdoor sealant (Mod Podge).
- How to do it: Paint the rocks to look like bees. Once sealed, these can be placed in the garden next to real flowers to attract real pollinators (or just look cute!).
15. The Tin Can “Bee Hotel”
This is a functional craft for older kids that actually helps the environment!
- Materials: Clean tin can (edges taped for safety), bamboo sticks or rolled paper tubes, yellow paint.
- How to do it: Paint the can yellow/black. Fill the inside tightly with hollow bamboo sticks or rolled paper. Hang this in the garden. Solitary bees will use the tubes to lay their eggs!
16. Yarn-Wrapped Cardboard Bees
Excellent for developing fine motor skills and patience.
- Materials: Cardboard ovals, yellow and black yarn.
- How to do it: Cut an oval shape from cardboard. Tape the start of the yellow yarn to the back and have the child wrap it around the cardboard until covered. Then, wrap the black yarn to create stripes.
17. Balloon Bumblebees
Perfect for a party decoration.
- Materials: Yellow balloons, black permanent marker, white paper.
- How to do it: Blow up the yellow balloons. Draw stripes directly on the balloon with the marker. Tape on paper wings. Hang them from the ceiling for a “swarming” effect.
18. Foam Cup Bee
- Materials: Small yellow styrofoam or paper cups, black tape.
- How to do it: Turn the cup upside down. Wrap black electrical tape around it for stripes. Poke a hole in the bottom (now the top) for pipe cleaner antennae. Draw a face on the side.
19. Paper Fan Bee
- Materials: Yellow and black construction paper.
- How to do it: Accordion-fold a strip of yellow paper and a strip of black paper. Glue them together or alternate them to create a bouncy, springy body. Attach a head to one end and a stinger to the other.
20. Headband Bee Antennae
Let the child become the bee!
- Materials: Plastic headband (or a strip of cardstock), black pipe cleaners, yellow pom-poms.
- How to do it: Wrap pipe cleaners around the headband so they stick up. Glue yellow pom-poms to the tips. Now, let them run around the yard buzzing!
Conclusion: Buzzing Into Creativity
Crafting is more than just keeping hands busy; it is about sparking curiosity about the natural world. By creating these 20 bright and bubbly bee crafts, you are opening a conversation about the environment, the food chain, and the importance of our pollinator friends.
Whether you choose the simple Thumbprint Bee for your toddler or the eco-friendly Tin Can Bee Hotel for your older child, the most important thing is to have fun. So, this World Bee Day, gather your clay, egg cartons, and craft sticks, and let your creativity swarm!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. When is World Bee Day? World Bee Day is celebrated globally on May 20th every year to raise awareness about the importance of pollinators.
2. Are these crafts safe for toddlers? Most crafts listed here, like the Paper Plate Bee and Thumbprint art, are safe. However, always supervise children when using small parts like googly eyes or pom-poms to prevent choking hazards.
3. How can I make my bee crafts eco-friendly? Focus on using recycled materials like toilet paper rolls, egg cartons, and old newspapers. Avoid plastic glitter and use biodegradable paints where possible.