Sample lesson plans

MAKING A TOP BAR HIVE

At the end of the module the student will:

Be able to construct a top bar hive from original materials
Know that top bar hives can made of alternative materials that may be more easily or cheaply available locally
Know how to install a top bar hive so it will be safe from pests especially ants
Be able to choose a suitable place to install a top bar hive
Know how to bait a top bar hive so it has the best chance of becoming colonised

Time allowed for section

Content of lesson

Resources needed

Notes

4 hours

Making a top bar hive

This section of the lesson/module is about constructing a top bar hive from timber and also from alternative materials such as rafia palm or bamboo

Copies of the hive plans - one for each student to take home
Cardboard or plastic template for the gable end design - plan to have one template per community or beekeeping group so they can be left behind after the lesson
Knotted string is used to measure the hive length and left with community
Hammer, saw, knife and tape measure etc
Enough nails and bottle top 'washers' for one hive
Enough raffia palm or sticks for 28 top bars (cut into suitable lengths for transporting easily). 20 - 22 of the top bars may be made in advance so that only a small number need to be constructed during the lesson.
How to make a beehive booklet

Organiser ensures there are enough photocopies of the plans for trainers to take
Organiser to keep 1 or 2 templates in stock. Trainers to produce templates from cardboard or plastic in advance to take to a lesson.
Trainers to make sure they have string measure to show length and width of hive.
Trainer to check how tools are to be made available. Tools borrowed from the organisation should be signed in and out. More than one set of tools will allow more people to participate individually in the hive making.
Trainer to ensure everyone participates
Organiser to ensure funds available for training materials required
Booklet available free from g.marris@csl.gov.uk

1 hour

How to set up and bait a beehive

How to install the hive, how to to prevent ant invasion and how to bait hive, how to attract bees/colonise hives

How to set up an apiary and install a hive pictures in (laminated) booklet
Beeswax or beeswax candle for baiting and using on top bars
Wire for installation if hive is to be kept by group
Colonisation discussion

Some training materials are available in Bees for Development resource boxes
Depending on who paid for hive materials or funding agreement the constructed hives can be donated to the most vulnerable or sold to group/group member for cost of materials.

GETTING STARTED IN BEEKEEPING

At the end of the module the student will be able to:

Describe the advantages of keeping bees and something of the life of the bee.

Have seen the construction of a top bar hive and quote the correct size of a top bar

Have been shown low cost beekeeping equipment and know about suppliers.

Light a smoker and explain how to inspect a hive safely.

Be able to choose a suitable place to install, bait and protect a beehive so it has the best chance of becoming colonised

TIME	LESSON IS ABOUT	REMEMBER TO TAKE	NOTES
1 hour	Advantages of keeping bees Discuss who can be involved and how honey can be sold. Life of the bee Discuss available forage sources	Laminated pictures of bees and posters	Available from Bees for Development resource box
1 hour	Show equipment and explain its use Light smoker and tell about smoker fuel Talk about safety	Low cost equipment especially veil Show low cost smoker? Smoker fuel and matches	Take veil Take smoker fuel and matches The students must be encouraged to light the smoker The students should discuss the difficulties with bees and how they are overcome
1 hour	Showing a top bar hive and discuss other hive options including fixed comb hives. Explain about the size of top bars and moveable combs Make a template with the group	Copies of the hive plans - one for each student to keep Cardboard to make template so it can be left behind after the lesson (Knotted string can be used to measure the hive length and left with community) Bottle top for measuring top bars. Top bars (1 good; 1bad). Model hive	Organisation ensures there are enough photocopies of the plans for trainers to take Organisation to keep 1 or 2 templates in stock Trainers to produce templates from cardboard or plastic to take to the lesson Trainers to make sure they have string measure
1 hour	Explain the work involved in honey and wax production. Discuss places to put hives, how to put them up, how to catch bees,	Small piece of wax to show for bait. Honey to taste	A SHORT REPORT of the date of the training day, the name of the group and the numbers of people attending. Make a note of what techniques worked and what could be improved for next time. Trainers collect training equipment and return after the lesson
Also needed		Notebook, ruler (measuring tape),knife, pen or marker.

HARVESTING HONEY AND WAX

At the end of the module the student will:

Be able to describe ripe honey and explain how to harvest good quality honey.
Be able to show to extract honey from the comb.
Have seen honey harvested from a full hive if possible.
Be able to describe good honey storage.
Be able to melt wax using the bag method.
Be able to clean wax fully using the straining method

TIME	LESSON IS ABOUT	REMEMBER TO TAKE	NOTES
1 hour	Harvesting honey Explaining about ripe honey Showing harvesting equipment and explaining its use Reminding people about safety	Training manual Harvesting equipment, Knife buckets etc, Veil and bee suit Smoker fuel and matches	The students should discuss the difficulties with harvesting and how they are overcome Students should act out the whole procedure as a drama so the trainer can see if people have understood it
1 hour	Extracting honey from comb STORAGE OF HONEY Discussion of hygiene and hygiene breakdown points during harvesting	Harvested combs (or check if the students have some) 2 buckets Cloth straining material (if there is danger of bees stinging do this in theory only or in a bee proof place.)	You will need harvested combs to do this well Explain about RIPE HONEY again Explain how to keep the bees from getting into the honey during harvesting and extraction. Explain principles of good storage
1 hour	Harvesting wax using bag method	Wax combs for extracting wax Small sack Wax mould -optional (plastic)	You will also need a fire, an old pot, two sticks There are lots of methods - decide which you will do. Remember to keep white comb and dark comb separate for best results.
1 hour	Second wax cleaning	Dirty wax Soap, plastic bowl for a mould Cloth straining material	You will also need a fire, a small pot and a bigger pot for the water bath REMEMBER WAX BURNS EASILY
1 hour	Supervising the harvest of honey from one hive if possible - this should be done in the evening or when it is cool.	A SHORT REPORT of the date of the training day, the name of the group and the numbers of people attending. Make a note of what techniques worked and what could be improved for next time. Trainers may need to collect training equipment and return after the lesson. Decide who will be responsible for providing what is needed.