1. The document describes an educational activity where students try to determine the shape of cells in a bee hive. 2. Several students suggest different shapes like circles, squares, and hexagons for the cells. They draw examples of each shape. 3. To help decide, they use a computer to generate different cell shapes and fill a hive comb with each to compare empty space. 4. They ultimately determine that hexagon cells fit together with no empty space and can hold more honey than square cells of the same perimeter. Hexagons therefore provide the most efficient use of space and materials for bees.

1. eTwinning Project

2. “Deep to the roots of the world’s
fairytales…”

3. Activity 4
“What is the shape of the
cells in the hive combs???”

4. Eleftheria suggested hive comb cells are octagons. It was such my
surprise when she wrote the word “STOP” in it. She remembered that
Stop traffic sign in the streets has the same shape.

5. Natalia suggested hive comb cells are
circles.

6. Lamprini suggested hive comb cells are
squares.

7. I suggested Antonis to try Hexagon.

8. They all started drawing their shapes
in a piece of paper.

9. But it seems they needed some more
help.

10. But it seems they needed some more
help.

11. Computer came to our classroom to help us
decide…since we had already started arguing.
Page is going to be our hive comb

12. Let’s fill our hive comb with circular
cells. Insert-> Circle

13. Let’s make our cell yellow.

14. And the lines should be orange.

15. It is ready. Now we must copy it-
Control+C

16. And paste it- Control+V

17. Now we are filling the hive comb with
Curricular cells.

18. Hopefully somebody says that there is
a lot of space we don’t use.

19. we all agree that in our room it is better to
use every centimeter rather than having
area underutilized.

20. The next suggestion is octagon:
Insert -> octagon

21. The cell should be yellow.

22. And the lines orange

24. Now we should fill the hive comb with
octagon cells. Copy- Paste.

25. We already know that it isn’t the
correct answer.

26. So we don’t want to waste our time…

27. There are too many gaps between the
cells and bees prefer to use every
single piece of the hive comb.

28. Let’s try with squares now-
Insert -> Square

29. But we want our hive comb cells to be
yellow.

30. With orange lines.

31. Now we should copy it and paste it.

32. Filling the hive comb with square cells. It seems
pretty good. There is no underutilized space. We
think this is the correct answer.

33. Last but not least…we must try
hexagon!

34. Insert -> hexagon

35. We want the cells to be yellow.

36. With orange lines.

37. Copy- paste. To fill in the hive comb
with cells.

38. Fill in the hive com with hexagons.

39. It seems to be good too. There is no
empty space.

40. So we must choose between squares
and hexagons.

42. Let’s make a square.

43. With yellow color inside and orange
lines.

44. Now let’s make a hexagon.

45. Here it is.

46. Both shapes are similar.

47. Let’s find the squares perimeter.

48. Squares perimeter 32 cm

50. Let’s see hexagon’s perimeter

51. Hexagon’s perimeter is 24 cm

52. But what is a cells’ perimeter made
from?
It is made from wax. The bigger the
perimeter is, the more wax the bee
needs…

53. Now let’s count how much honey bees
can put in the cells.

55. In square cells we can put 64 units of
honey, whereas in hexagons 192 units
of honey

56. After finishing the day, I was not
sure my students had understood
how to calculate the hexagon’s
area. We used a type that they are
too young to understood. So the
next day I came back with a
different teaching process!

57. How many straws do we need to cover
this square around?

58. How many straws do we need to cover
this hexagon around?

60. When do we need more straws?
For the square or for the
hexagon??? How can we compare
them? Their size is not same…

61. Let’s make two lines: One from the straws we used for the square, another for
the straws we used for the hexagon. Which one is longer?

62. But they are exactly the same.
Meaning that both shapes have
same perimeter. But which shape
covers the biggest area?

64. Fill the square with plasticine.

65. Fill the plasticine with little pieces of
straw.

66. Let’s not waste time filling all the plasticine with straws.
It is obvious we will need 22 lines of straws. Each line
will have 23 straws.

67. Stamatis is older, so he can do
calculation.

68. But Evi is younger, so she chooses to
do addition. Eleftheria helps her not to
forget any line of straws.

69. We need 506 straws to fill all the
square.

70. Now we should calculate the
hexagon’s perimeter.

71. We easily saw that hexagon is consisted by 6 smaller
triangles. So if we find how many straws can fit in one
triangle we can easily calculate ifor the whole hexagon.

72. Filling the hexagon with straws.

73. Filling the hexagon with straws.

74. 100 straws for each triangle. Totally
600 straws.

75. Conclusion:
Bees build their hive comb cells in
hexagon shape because
1. hexagon’s perimeter is smaller than
squares. The cells’ perimeter is made
with wax. So in hexagon bees spend
less wax to build it.
Even if hexagon and square have the same perimeter….
2. Hexagon’s area is bigger than square’s.
So in hexagon bees can store more
honey…and spend less wax to build it.