Build a bee hive. Activities for Kids.

Build a bee hive

Build a simple bee hive-style house (bee hotel) using wood, bamboo, and twine with adult help. Learn about pollinators and habitats safely.

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Step-by-step guide to build a bee hotel (bee hive-style house)

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How Bees Build Their Hive

What you need

Adult supervision required, bamboo tubes, drill with 3mm 8mm and 10mm bits, gloves, ruler and pencil, safety goggles, sandpaper, scrap wooden blocks for drilling, screws or nails and a screwdriver or hammer, small saw, twine, wooden slats for frame

Step 1

Put on your safety goggles and gloves so your hands and eyes stay safe.

Step 2

Ask an adult to measure and cut two long and two short wooden slats to make a rectangle about 25 cm by 15 cm.

Step 3

Sand the cut edges on all the wooden slats until they are smooth.

Step 4

Lay the four sanded slats flat and arrange them into a rectangle on a table.

Step 5

Have an adult secure the corners with screws or nails to make a sturdy frame.

Step 6

Ask an adult to cut the bamboo tubes to about 10 to 12 cm lengths and leave some pieces with closed nodes.

Step 7

Sand the ends of the bamboo tubes so the openings are smooth and safe.

Step 8

With an adult, drill holes of different widths between 3 mm and 10 mm into the scrap wooden blocks about 8 to 12 cm deep.

Step 9

Pack the bamboo tubes and the drilled wooden blocks tightly into the frame with the hollow ends facing outward.

Step 10

Wrap twine tightly around the filled frame to hold all the tubes and blocks securely in place.

Step 11

Have an adult attach a scrap board to the back of the frame to make a sturdy backing.

Step 12

Have an adult attach a small slanted roof on top to keep rain off the tubes.

Step 13

Have an adult hang the bee hotel at least 1 meter off the ground facing southeast near flowers or a sunny spot.

Step 14

Write your name and the date on a small tag.

Step 15

Share your finished bee hotel on DIY.org

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

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Help!?

What can we use instead of bamboo tubes if they are hard to find?

If bamboo tubes are unavailable, use hollow plant stems or tightly rolled paper tubes, or increase the number of drilled scrap wooden blocks with 3–10 mm holes to fill the frame.

What should we do if the tubes fall out or the bee hotel feels loose after assembling?

If tubes fall out or the frame feels loose, retighten the twine around the filled frame, have an adult attach the scrap board backing earlier, and add extra screws or nails to the corners for a sturdier frame.

How can we adapt the steps for different ages of children?

For younger kids let them sand the slatted edges, pack the bamboo tubes, and write the name/date while an adult measures/cuts the slats and drills holes, and for older kids allow supervised measuring, cutting, drilling, and attaching the roof and backing.

How can we enhance or personalize our finished bee hotel?

Personalize the wooden frame with non-toxic paint, vary the drilled hole widths and depths in the scrap wooden blocks, attach your name/date tag, and plant flowers nearby before hanging it southeast about 1 meter off the ground.

Watch videos on how to build a bee hotel (bee hive-style house)

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

How to make a Bee Hive: Art & Craft- Creative Activity

4 Videos

Facts about pollinators and habitats

♻️ Using reclaimed wood, bamboo, and natural twine is an eco-friendly way to build a cozy home for pollinators.

🐝 About 90% of bee species are solitary — they nest alone in holes or hollow stems, not in large hives.

🏨 Bee hotels attract solitary bees like mason and leafcutter bees that use tubes or cavities to lay eggs.

🌼 Pollinators help produce about one-third of the food we eat by transferring pollen between flowers.

🧽 To keep insect hotels healthy, replace or clean bamboo tubes yearly to reduce parasites, mold, and disease.

How do I build a bee hotel (simple bee hive-style house) with my child?

To build a simple bee hotel, an adult first prepares a sturdy open-front wooden box or frame. Cut bamboo or hollow stems into 5–15 cm lengths and sand the ends smooth. Adults should handle cutting and any drilling. Pack the tubes tightly with open ends flush, secure the bundle with twine, and add a sloped waterproof roof. Mount the hotel 1–2 meters high in a sunny, sheltered spot. Children can sort tubes, help pack, and decorate safely.

What materials do I need to build a bee hotel?

You’ll need untreated wood for a box or frame, bamboo tubes or hollow plant stems, and twine to bundle them. Add nails or screws for assembly, a handsaw and drill for adult use, and sandpaper to smooth tube ends. Use a small waterproof roof material like scrap wood or shingles. Optional items: wood blocks with drilled holes, non-toxic paint or sealant, wire mesh to deter predators, and safety goggles and gloves for adults and older children.

What ages is building a bee hotel suitable for?

This activity suits preschoolers through teens with adult supervision. Ages 3–5 enjoy sorting tubes, stuffing bamboo, and painting while an adult handles cutting and drilling. Ages 6–12 can measure, help assemble, and learn basic tool safety with close oversight. Teens can take more responsibility for construction under guidance. Always supervise around sharp tools and when mounting the hotel; adjust tasks to each child’s coordination and attention span.

What are the benefits of building a bee hotel with kids?

Building a bee hotel teaches kids about pollinators, habitats, and biodiversity while developing fine motor skills, planning, and responsibility. Observing occupants fosters curiosity, nature journaling, and basic science skills. Environmentally, properly built hotels provide nesting sites for solitary bees and support local pollination. Regular maintenance—replacing damaged tubes and keeping the site dry—keeps bees healthy. Adults should ensure the hotel is placed safely and avoids supporting s

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All Activities

Build a bee hive

Build a bee hive

How Bees Build Their Hive

How to make a Bee Hive: Art & Craft- Creative Activity

4 Videos

How do I build a bee hotel (simple bee hive-style house) with my child?

What materials do I need to build a bee hotel?

What ages is building a bee hotel suitable for?

What are the benefits of building a bee hotel with kids?