Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

How are bees and other pollinators threatened in today’s climate?  How does this threat affect other species?

Teaching Suggestion: In Stung, bees have gone extinct, causing fundamental shifts in food harvesting and production and resulting in a dystopian society. The extinction of bees is a concern in our own society. Considering the importance of bees to our ecosystems, students might  investigate this scientific topic prior to reading or expand this topic into a larger research project. Students might also take action on this topic if a service learning project is desired. Discussion of key facts regarding the importance of bees will promote a greater understanding of the novel; students might pause during reading and return to their scientific research to make connections or point out inconsistencies. 

• This article from National Geographic examines threats to bees, effects of their endangerment, and ways to help their populations. (Registration may be needed to view.)
• “What Would Happen If All the Bees Died?” from Britannica explores possible effects of bees going extinct.