| Sample Letter
When you feel ready to attempt lecturing or if you need a template to structure your event, then this should aide you in prepare for the show. |
Setting Up Stations
Get an idea of the lecture room layout and then draw the best layout and use of room space. Lots of design flow ideas. |
| Displays
You will need a number of display items, these are HANDS-OFF items. Meant to be seen and not touched. These are honey jars, filled comb, table-top billboards, etc.. |
Props
Beekeeping equipment is ALWAYS good for HANDS-ON activities. Here are many good tools and how to make use them. Kids love leather gloves, suits, hoods, smokers and other safe objects. |
| Photography
I offer you lots of photos that can be either displayed by monitor or printed for display purpose. I offer her tips on photography and links to my wallpaper gallery. |
Handouts
I always have the schools photocopy several handouts that I put together. I supply the origins and have them copied before class. Always include email addresses on your hand-outs. |
| Speaking
Eventually, you will speak to the crowd. I never suggest going beyond 35 to 40 minutes. You should have enough props and displays to entertain the audience while you are NOT talking. Here is a good flow chart to use a a lecture template. |
Juggling your crowd
I've lectured to hundreds of people and each time it is challenging and always thrilling. Managing the audience is the job of your assistants and overseen by you. Here is how to keep control of the room and still have enough time to enjoy it yourself. |
| Lecturing about beekeeping is to me the most enjoyable part of the hobby. For years I have tried to perfect an effective way to entertain many dozens of people or students at once. I quickly learned that you need to set up stations, photo displays, tools and hive parts for hand-on props, observation hive ( when allowed ) lecture area, etc. I always request "helpers" when lecturing at schools. Often 3 or mores student assistants will be needed, one or more assistant for each station. With all these helpers, I can spend time with those wanting to hear me speak, meanwhile those wanting to do other things are off doing things that better interest them. Everyone is happy. So let me suggest a few stations and how I would lay out the different materials or props. I'll also include a standard letter that I send to schools when arranging to lecture. This will better explain how I prepare for students. First, anyone who is listening to you lecture is a student, to one degree or another. If they go away with anything new knowledge about honeybees than I was a good teacher. Hopefully, you will leave a great impression and the following year you'll be back again with all new students. Many beekeepers ask whether they should lecture EVEN THOUGH they are only hobby beekeepers - often with only one or two hives. I always tell them that they have a moral obligation to the hobby to improve understanding of the sad state in which honeybees barely survive today. Any information that they can pass on to others is worth your effort to put a lecture together. Schools, libraries, senior community centers, agricultural centers, county parks department, etc., are all good places to hold a lecture on practical hobbyist beekeeping. Here is the sample letter I send to schools, you would slightly modified this letter to meet the needs and expectations of your audience. Bellows sample letter is for a full day with students from different grade levels between Kindergarten and eighth grades - spending a full 35-40 period with them. Back to Lecturing Course
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