Young Honeybees do Science at the Huguenot Children's Library

Young scholars had the opportunity to study and explore the life of honeybees at the Huguenot Children’s Library in New Rochelle Thursday.

High school students set up the children’s room to prepare for the incoming children a chance to learn about the small insect and its grand purpose in life.

High school Student Jack Rogot loved that he can pass on his passion for science and thinks it is important for children to engage and draw out their curiosity at an early age.

“For me, I’ve always loved doing science and ever since ninth grade in chemistry class up to physics now, I’ve always loved participating in science class,” Rogot said.

Julia Chillemi-Kouyoumdjian, the advisor, said she enjoys teaching because it changes every day, specifically science. She recognizes that the content is always evolving and the students’ curiosity changes.

She believes that this program is good for both the high school students and the young children.

“This is a great opportunity for the ‘big kids’ to interact with the younger kids.” Chillemi-Kouyoumdjian said. “We find that there is a natural affinity there, they really gravitate towards one another, so they’re great role models.”

The kids strolled into the room, followed by their parents, sat down and began their first task. They began coloring in picture of bees and flowers, some with help from the parents.

Micheal Greenberg said he was pleased that this program is open to his children as he watched his son and daughter color. He said he was glad to have this science program because his children’s school had eliminated science from the elementary level.

Chillemi-Kouyoumdjian said that they want to stress the importance of science as well as literacy, so after the children finished coloring, two high school students sat in front of the them and read ‘Flight of the Honey Bee’ by Raymond Huber.

The children, with the assistance of the high school students, moved on to arts and crafts, creating a mock hive from cardboard and learning the rudimentary process of pollination and the creation of honey.

Librarian Susan Mackey oversees the programs and conducts them, but in this event she opened her doors to the high school.

The library holds four science programs for the spring season, this one being the third; the next Science Thursday will be on April 23.

Caption For Images:

1. Huguenot Children’s Library
2. High school students setting up
3. Children coloring in the bees and flowers
4. Reading Flight of the Honey Bee to the children
5. Materials for creating the bees, flowers and the beehive