Coffee Filter Bumble Bee Craft

Looking for cute summer coffee filter crafts for kids? This easy coffee filter bumble bee is perfect.

You can create this coffee filter and clothespin bee craft in about 30 minutes with your kids. It uses a few basic craft supplies and has easy to follow instructions.

When they are completed, use the bees to hang in the window, create a banner, or decorate the top of a gift bag. They are so versatile and will add a touch of summer to any room or gift.

Aren’t these bumble bees the cutest? And those sparkly wings are truly delightful. Crafting your own bee using coffee filters and clothespins is a fun activity for kids of all ages. This craft is especially suitable for preschool and kindergarten children.

Older kids can work on it independently with adult supervision, while younger ones may need a bit more help with assembly. Let the kids get creative decorating the wings and painting the clothespins!

Bee Coffee Filter Craft Benefits for Kids

Engaging in the bee coffee filter craft offers a unique blend of educational and developmental benefits for children. As kids put together different parts with paint and glue, they’re not just expressing their creativity; they’re also sharpening their fine motor skills, crucial for tasks ranging from writing to buttoning a shirt.

This craft serves as a fun, hands-on extension to learning about bees, their importance in our ecosystem, and their role in pollination. By combining artistic expression with scientific learning, children gain a more comprehensive and enriched understanding of the natural world, all while enjoying a fun-filled, productive crafting session.

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Fun Insect Crafts for Kids

Crafts provide a fantastic avenue for children to explore the diverse world of bugs and insects in a fun and engaging way, whether at home or in a school setting. By transforming the concept of insects from something that might seem scary to a captivating art project, these insect crafts offer kids the chance to learn about the intriguing characteristics and important roles of different insects.

• Coffee Filter Ladybug Craft
• Ant Life Cycle Craft
• Coffee Filter Dragonfly Craft
• Easy Coffee Filter Butterfly Craft

It’s a creative approach to education that bridges the gap between natural science and artistic expression, encouraging curiosity and respect for these tiny creatures that play a vital role in our ecosystem.

Coffee Filter Bee Craft Supplies

To make adorable coffee filter clothespin bees, you’ll need a variety of supplies. Begin with round white coffee filters, iridescent glitter glue, and wooden spring clothespins for the body.

Add small googly eyes and black chenille stems (pipe cleaners), along with black and bright yellow craft paint for for detailing.

Use a low temp glue gun or tacky craft glue for assembly. Keep scissors, a paintbrush, and a scrap of cardboard handy for crafting these buzzing little bees.

Shop some of my favorite craft supplies on Amazon!

Does This Bee Craft Require Hot Glue?

I recommend using a hot glue gun because it makes the craft more durable, especially if you use it for decoration. Plus, it dries more quickly. 

However, if you are making these with younger children, you may want an alternative to hot gluing. You may try using tacky craft glue (that’s my favorite one to use), but you will need additional drying time.

How to Make Coffee Filter Bumble Bees

Start by flattening a round white coffee filter. Apply an iridescent glitter glue in a swirl pattern over the entire coffee filter and set aside to dry.  These are great activities to strengthen your hands and work on fine motor skills. Plus, kids can get creative with this art project by creating their own patterns.

Next, clip the wooden clothespin to a scrap of cardboard (this makes it easier to handle while painting). Then paint all surfaces of the clothespin with bright yellow craft paint. Set aside to dry. 

Once dry, paint the top one-third of the clothespin (this will be the bee’s head) black. Paint black stripes along the length of the clothespin (bee’s body) and set aside to dry. Tiny hands can hold the brush like a pencil, laying the foundation for writing later on.

After everything has dried, gather the glittered coffee filter in the center by pinching it between your fingers and thumb, and clip them in place, and fan out the filter on the sides to create the wings. Older kids can likely do this by themselves, while littler ones may need help.

Now glue two googly eyes to the head of the bee. Cut a black chenille stem in half with scissors. Then bend it in the center and curl both ends to create antenna.

Glue the pipe cleaner antenna to the top of the bee’s clothespin head with glue. These activities also sharpen fine motor skills and scissor work.

We hope you enjoy making this buzz-worthy coffee filter craft for kids! Children of all ages will be happy with their bee creations.

Bee Unit Study Ideas

I know this project doesn’t create a scientific model of a bee, but it’s a great fit for a bee study unit. Art and science can go hand in hand.

Most kids are scared of bees, thinking only of their ability to sting. They may even panic when they see one. But there’s so much to love about bees! They’re pollinators, helping to create lovely flowers, fruits, and vegetables, and make honey.

You can start a fun activity by bringing to class a flower, a fruit, and a vegetable. Ask the kids what these things have in common and chart their ideas. To clear up any confusion that may arise, finally put out the honey! These things all need bees.

What would the world be like without bees? For younger kids, ask them about their favorite fruits and vegetables. Do they have a favorite flower or color of one? What have they used honey on? Or have they?

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Draw pictures of their answers on chart paper, explaining first that the world wouldn’t be as delicious or beautiful without bees, just like the blank paper.

Older kids can make their lists on their own, coming up with as many of each category as they can. They may also illustrate their work for extra fun and to incorporate more art with the science of bees.

This is a great opportunity to extend to the science of why bees sting. Why do kids think they do? Why do they actually? Brainstorm ideas and then present the idea that they are just trying to protect themselves! Kids are big and scary to a tiny bee!

Practice how to freeze when they see a bee. This could be a fun activity to get the wiggles out, playing freeze dance. Or bees freeze dance!

If you’re feeling ambitious, you can bake and decorate these adorable flower sugar cookies to go with the theme. Or make felt flower bookmarks so they can mark where they left off and “bee” a better reader.

Books About Bees for Kids

Language, science, and illustrations round out this cute activit-bee! Kids of all ages love to hear stories, and along the way they’ll learn some fun facts and vocabulary words to extend your bee unit. Some books about bees that they might enjoy include:

Peek Inside a Beehive by Anna Milbourne

An interactive and engaging book, Anna Milbourne’s “Peek Inside a Beehive” allows children to explore the inner workings of a beehive through beautiful illustrations and flaps to lift. It’s a captivating introduction to the life of bees, making learning fun and memorable.

I Am a Bee by Rebecca and James McDonald

Rebecca and James McDonald’s “I Am a Bee” takes young readers on a journey from the perspective of a bee, helping them understand the daily life and importance of bees in our ecosystem. It’s an enlightening story that combines facts with a narrative that children can easily relate to and empathize with.

Peek Inside a BeehiveI Am a Bee: A Book About Bees for Kids (I Am Learning: Educational Series for Kids)Explore My World: Honey BeesGive Bees a ChanceThe Honeybee

 

Explore My World: Honeybees by Jill Esbaum

National Geographic’s “Explore My World: Honeybees” introduces kids to the fascinating world of bees through stunning photographs and easy-to-understand text. This book not only educates on bees’ crucial role in pollination but also inspires a sense of wonder about nature.

Give Bees a Chance by Bethany Barton

With a mix of humor and facts, Bethany Barton’s “Give Bees a Chance” is an excellent book for children who might be apprehensive about bees. It breaks down misconceptions and offers insight into why bees are beneficial, encouraging kids to give bees a chance both in the garden and in the world.

The Honeybee by Kirsten Hall

Kirsten Hall’s “The Honeybee” tells the story of a bee’s journey through beautifully rhythmic text and vivid illustrations. It’s a poetic exploration of the hard work bees do every day, from pollinating flowers to making honey, capturing the essence and importance of bees in a way that resonates with children.

Cute Coffee Filter Crafts eBook

 

Creative Bee Crafts for Kids

Continuing the buzzing adventure, we’ve gathered a collection of bee-inspired crafts that are perfect for kids eager to extend their creativity and love for these vital pollinators. Each craft is designed to enhance their knowledge about bees, utilize their fine motor skills, and, most importantly, provide a fun and engaging learning experience.

• Handprint Bee Craft
• Beehive Craft for Preschoolers
• Popsicle Stick Bee Craft

Whether in the classroom or at home, these crafts are a wonderful way to keep the bee-themed learning buzzing along.

Additional Summer Activities for Kids

Summer presents an invaluable opportunity to explore and engage in activities beyond the confines of the classroom, allowing children to experience learning in more dynamic and interactive ways. This season is ripe for cultivating curiosity, creativity, and a love for the natural world.

By integrating a variety of summer activities, children are not only entertained but are also given the chance to develop new skills, build on existing interests, and form lasting memories through hands-on and exploratory play.

• Summer Pictionary
• Beach Charades
• Homemade Kaleidoscope Craft
• Coffee Filter Seashell Suncatcher Craft

Crafting a coffee filter bumble bee not only adds a touch of creativity and fun to your bee study unit but also serves as an engaging way to reinforce the importance and beauty of bees in our world. Through this simple yet delightful craft, kids can express their creativity while learning valuable lessons about nature’s little pollinators.

It’s the perfect end to a buzzing adventure of exploration and learning about bees, combining art, science, and environmental awareness in a memorable activity that children are sure to love.