Build a simple DIY bee house or bee hotel for your backyard! Take the learning outdoors and explore the world of mason bees with a homemade bee house. Follow the instructions below to make your own easy bamboo bee house for local native bees to lay their eggs this spring.
How To Make A DIY Bee House
Building a bee house is a fantastic way for kids to explore life science and environmental science concepts hands-on. It helps students learn about pollinators, habitats, ecosystems, and bees’ vital role in plant reproduction.
This activity is perfect for grades 1–5 and can tie into lessons on life cycles, animal needs, and conservation. It also encourages observation, data collection, and discussions about biodiversity and how human actions can support local wildlife.
💡 Make sure to check out more animal activities here.
Supplies:
- 18 Feet Bamboo Stakes (used (3) 6-foot stakes)
- Scissors
- Marker
- Measuring Tape
- Hand Saw/Knife (or power saw)
- Natural Twine
🛑 Adults should cut bamboo pieces with a saw or a knife!
DIY Bee House Instructions:
Step 1: Mark the bamboo in 6-inch sections. If using a 6-foot piece, you should be able to get 12 pieces from each stake.
Step 2: Using the saw, cut the bamboo on the marks to make 6-inch sections.
Step 3: Unwrap some twine and run it under the cut pieces of bamboo. Then tie the twine back to itself making a tight bundle of bamboo. Wrap the twine around the bundle several times to make sure it is nice and tight.
Step 4: Then, cut the rest of the twine off. Tie the two ends together tightly.
Step 5: Measure the twine and measure out about 12 inches. Then fold and double, then double again, until you have four strands about 12 inches long. Cut the rest of the twine off. Then tie those pieces together at the end with the two end pieces.
Step 6: Tuck the twine under the wrapped twine on the bundle. Pull it through so twine comes out both ends. Then loop it back around and pull it through itself to form a way to hang the bee house.
Free Life Cycle of a Honey Bee Printable 👇
Do Bee Hotels Work?
According to this gardening expert, bee hotels do work if you use the right materials and maintain them correctly.
Bee hotels are great for solitary bees that like to lay their eggs in small spaces, like mason bees. They are not made for honeybees.
Mason bees are named because they habitually use mud or other “masonry” products to make their nests. They are less aggressive and easier to manage than honeybees.
Mason bees are excellent pollinators and will work in cool or rainy weather when honeybees are more likely to take the day off. Unlike honeybees, they do not have pollen baskets; pollen sticks to the hairs on their abdomen.
Make your own mason bee house below with bamboo tubes. The bamboo is used to allow solitary bees to lay their eggs. Your bee house will also be attractive as a nesting place for other insects like wasps. However, the wasps in your bee hotel generally will not be the stinging kind, but they are also helpful for the garden.
A Few Tips For Maintaining Your DIY Bee House
Learn More About Bees & Other Insects
More Fun Nature Activities For Kids
Explore more nature activities here, including…
- Build a Bug Hotel
- Make seed bombs
- Hang a birdseed feeder
- Try nature weaving
- Make nature sensory bottles
Bee Life Cycle and Unit Study Project Pack
Discover the amazing world of bees with this hands-on pack! It includes bee reading pages, bee worksheets, a bee hotel project, pollinator activities, bee life cycle crafts, and lapbook templates. Perfect for curious kids and nature lovers!
