Beemaster:
I've read your great section on lecturing to others at http://www.beemaster.com/honeybee/lect2000.html it was very thurough and it got me interested in brinking honeybee to my sons daycare and older daughters 4th grade class.
I have read you saying having live bees INSIDE isn't a good idea and that giving out HONEY SAMPLES isn't good incase of diabetes or allergies - just a question, what gadget and tools should I bring then, should I keep it so that it all fits in a box, and how about what to talk about.
I don't have many visual aids to share and I like your having the schoold copy the fliers that I know I can make, but I'm afraid I can't do a whole half an hour. I don't want to get them bored or spend more time packing and unpacking then I do displaying and talking.
please help me out - I can only wish I had your gift for writing and (like Seinfeld - no offense) being able to put on a show about nothing
thank you Jackie W, Roanoke Rapids, NC
[/b]Well Jackie thanks for writing, I have moved this question to my Beekeeping Forum so you can get more replies than just mine - just click on the tracking number below (bookmark it if you wish) and check it often, it allows you to come RIGHT to where everyone can see your question - I hope we can help.
First, I'm glad you read all my Lecturing Stuff - I'm sure you got most of the tools in mind. I do suggest a helper to carry all the stuff, it gets heavy and cumbersome to have all kind of stuff for props.
I think doing a full hour is VERY POSSIBLE not just a half hour (that is IF you get the kids involved) if you just want to stand there and lecture and point to props 30 minutes could be a long time.
Have stuff (safe tools the kids can get their hands on and pass around the class as you speak) smokers, frame grabblers, new frame and foundation, queen cages, a small sheet of burlap - stuff like that, safe stuff.
Then have bigger props that cover A to Z about your hobby. That included shipping cages - kids love finding out that the mailman brings bees to your house, a super with a drawn out frame with uncapped cells, a frame with plain foundation (just like you pased around) hoods and vails, hive tools and a single story high complet hive kit showing bottom board, excluder, inner and outer covers, anythig that the kids will both see as you show them to the, but also they will be waiting in line to touch them - kids are all about hands on.
Keep a chalkboard or ercable marker board (more common today in classroms) and draw a basic looking bee, show where the legs connect, show where the eyes are and point where the wax comes from.
Finally get the kids to wear the beesuits and hood and vail - have tyour assistant take lots of photos - but most of all, make sure that honeybee are bee, the rest are stinging bugs - make sure when you are done they are better eduated to what honeybees do, and enjoy yourself.
Having hi-res images are not needed, but they help. But having an organized even makes the time fly by and you won't believe an hour or MORE has gone by - and best of all, you have the complete attention of the class.
I would almost guarentee that the schools will invite you back to let other classes see your presentation. I agree, I have a gift for writing, I love to do it and it flows easily from me, but I enjoy lecturing and demonstrating beekeeping to all ages. The last tip is KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE, a show for the preschoolers and forth graders should not be the same show - you should giving the answers (almost sumliminally) to the preschoolers - I mentioned holding 5 fingers up a nd asking the class HOW MANY EYES does a honey be have - trust me, you will get all the hands raised and then they are hooked.
Last point, get all the sting questions out of the way first - even so much as ASK "who has ever been stung before?" and then quickly cover that many insects sting and that honeybee are raised to be gentle and RARELY sting anyone for the sake of stinging, tell that is because she will die if she stings you where other stinging insects don't.
OK GANG, HELP OUT HERE - I know I covered a lot, but what else would YOU bring to a show and tell AND have you ever done it AND do you plan to??? Let us now.[/b]
Follow along Jackie and right us back. Since you are a beekeeper, I hope you come into the forum as a guest and leave as a member, we sure would love having you here.
Beemaster[/b]