I was corrected by a 6-year-old yesterday. This means war.
By The Horse
@TheHorse (238306)
Walnut Creek, California
June 13, 2018 9:23am CST
I ran into two of my preschool co-workers at our local coffee house yesterday. One was with her two daughters, aged three and six. Both of the girls have been my students at the preschool, and we wound up watching bees collect pollen from some flowers next to our table.
The three-year-old jumped down from my lap and we went over and watched the bees closely. I said, "Look! That one bee has pollen both on its legs and its tush, or abdomen." The six-year-old said, "No, bees only collect pollen on their legs." I said, "Oh, I stand corrected."
This morning I Googled "how bees collect pollen." It turns out that bees do have "sacks" on their legs to collect pollen, but that many species of bees also leave pollen on their abdomen, which they remove when they get "home."
When they fly, an electrostatic charge builds up on their bodies, leading to better adherence of the pollen to their bodies. I had never known this before!
You don't mess with The Horse. That six-year-old has a lesson coming. I'll tell her mom about my research this morning. Buwaahaahaa!
24 people like this
23 responses
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
13 Jun 18
The other reason that bees also collect pollen on their abdomens is that they are just plain messy and can't avoid getting stuff all over them but GOD'S reason is that that's the way they carry the pollen from one flower to the other. The pollen they collect in their pollen sacs on their legs is for their own use but the pollen on their bellies is for the next flower so it can make seeds. Of course, it's all in the cunning plan - the electrostatic charge, the way that plants make it impossible for a bee to collect their nectar and pollen without carrying some of the pollen to the next flower and so on.
Bees are pretty humble creatures (but pretty amazing, nonetheless). It's the plants who have the cunning and have managed to get the bees (and hummingbirds, bats, moths and butterflies not to mention all kinds of other creatures) to work for them and carry their pollen to another member of their species so that they can keep their species going.
Now, a three-year old doesn't need to know all that but a six-year old will just love it if you say that you didn't know all that before but that Wikipedia and some old Owl just told you!
4 people like this
@Starmaiden (9308)
• Canada
13 Jun 18
Opening a can of Whoop-@ on a six year old? You are a dark horse. 
2 people like this
@TheHorse (238306)
• Walnut Creek, California
14 Jun 18
@Starmaiden I think her mom is behind me. Or maybe not.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (502427)
• Italy
13 Jun 18
You are perfectly correct and your 6 year old student is wrong. Let her know that you have checked and you aretelling her, so from now on she also knows. Do not tell her only to show that you know more and you are right and she is wrong. Don't be a "baby".
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502427)
• Italy
14 Jun 18
@TheHorse Since I was a kid I liked to discuss because I liked to learn. My dad explained things and gave me evidence of what he was explained. Mom "argued" and it was "it's that way because I am your mother and I am right". It never worked with me.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238306)
• Walnut Creek, California
15 Jun 18
@LadyDuck did you learn more from your dad than your mom? Even with kids, I like to keep things as a "conversation." "I learned that..." "I'll look it up tonight and see if I'm right." "What do you think causes...?" Kids may forget "mwa mwa mwa," but they don't forget conversations with those who listen to them.
1 person likes this
@Jessabuma (31696)
• Baguio, Philippines
13 Jun 18
Ohh that's nice!!! She's a smart kid
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
13 Jun 18
I can her future husband making her happy
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78833)
• East Tawas, Michigan
13 Jun 18
She's a female 'Horse' and don't forget this valuable lesson! From birth, we are ALWAYS right
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238306)
• Walnut Creek, California
14 Jun 18
@kobesbuddy Heh. I think I knew that. I just like playing the straight man. But I'm going to keep this battle going (with the secret goal of using it as a teachable moment, and modeling the gathering of more information).
@kobesbuddy (78833)
• East Tawas, Michigan
14 Jun 18
@TheHorse I was joking, implying that females are always right. We, meaning 'me' and others of my gender. You promote laughter at times, please smile just once, O.K.?
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (68246)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
13 Jun 18
That's adorable.
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (68246)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
13 Jun 18
@TheHorse I did not but I know now.
1 person likes this
@mlgen1037 (29882)
• Manila, Philippines
13 Jun 18
Hi Colin. I thought you do not mind being corrected? 
Looks like the 6 year old is updated and does not want to be messed around. So be prepared. hehe
Looks like the 6 year old is updated and does not want to be messed around. So be prepared. hehe1 person likes this
@mlgen1037 (29882)
• Manila, Philippines
14 Jun 18
@TheHorse hahaha. You will have your revenge. Do not worry.
@chicnthin (3030)
• Philippines
14 Jun 18
I hope I was as intelligent as her when I was six
1 person likes this
@cherriefic (10399)
• Philippines
13 Jun 18
That's very cute! You show that preschool how it's done.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86680)
• United States
13 Jun 18
Let that be a lesson!!!! (As in, all of life is a lesson, and we can learn from everyone if we allow ourselves to do so.)
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (91079)
• United States
13 Jun 18
Interesting how bees collect pollen so thanks for sharing. Have to laugh at you being corrected by a 3 yr old.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (24004)
• United Kingdom
13 Jun 18
Haha out of the mouth of babes! My grandson was here earlier. He was talking to our neighbour and my neighbour was just ignoring him.What are you doing? Do you need some help? He was asking why do your chieken's stink? Don't you wash them? Serious inquisitive questions from a four year old.
Now go and lick your wounds and speak nicely to the six year old!
1 person likes this
