LCMS Buzzes With Hands-On Learning
LaRue County Middle School students are discovering that some of the most memorable lessons don’t happen behind a desk—they happen outdoors, face-to-face with thousands of honeybees.
Through an after-school project called Busy Bees, science teacher Ashley Carter is giving students a hands-on, curiosity-driven way to learn about the natural world. Once a month, roughly 20 students from grades six through eight gather on campus to check the school’s beehive, study the role bees play as pollinators, and spend time outdoors learning in ways that feel fresh, tangible, and unexpectedly fun.
The project was born from a Whole Foods Market grant Carter spotted last year. The idea of installing a hive on school grounds immediately resonated with her. “My dad raised honeybees when I was a kid, and I always loved helping him on the farm,” she said. “I can still remember sitting beside the road trying to sell those little bear-shaped jars of honey. Not many cars came by, but I thought it was the best thing in the world.”
That childhood joy resurfaced when the grant opportunity appeared—and Carter knew students would benefit from the same kind of learning she experienced growing up. With honeybee populations declining due to habitat loss and industrial agriculture, she also saw a chance to teach students why caring for pollinators matters. As the USDA reports, nearly one out of every three bites of food depends on bee pollination.
To guide the students, Carter partnered with local Master Beekeeper Annie Peterson Cornell of Honey Bee Divine. Together, they help students monitor hive health, learn proper safety techniques, and understand the delicate balance between bees and the environment. Eventually, the group hopes to harvest honey to taste—or even sell—as a fundraiser for the school’s science lab.
But the long-term impact goes well beyond honey.
“My goal is to get students outside,” Carter said. “I hope they learn not to fear honeybees, maybe discover a new hobby, or simply start to appreciate the beauty and awe of nature that God has surrounded us with.”
Sixth grader Aria Landon says the project has already made that impact. “It is a bee-autiful experience,” she said. “It helps students grow and learn responsibility, and everybody should come try it out.”
For Carter, that kind of enthusiasm is exactly the point: when learning feels real, students don’t just absorb information—they come alive in the process.
