3 - Honey Bees and Blueberries - The Fruits of Fairtrade
In this lesson the class watches a film and then explores one method of diversification portrayed in the film and its impact on humans and the environment.
Curriculum Links
This lesson plan links to Curriculum aims and/or programmes of study in Geography.
Learning Objective
To explore one method of diversification and its impact on humans and the environment.
Learning Outcome
To recognise diversification as a method of sustainable development.
Resources
The Fruits of Fairtrade film.
Download documents:
Starter
Heads and Tails starter slide. Ask the class to match words and definitions correctly and ensure that everyone is aware of what is meant by 'diversification'.
Main Activity
Watch The Fruits of Fair Trade film (9.27 minutes) twice, answering the questions on the worksheet the second time. After going through the answers discuss the final three questions with the class before students write their answers.
Teachers should also use the country, commodity and producer group profiles for further information about Apicoop, Chile, honey and blueberries.
1. Apicoop is a Co-operative of Honey Farmers, they provide a central place for honey farmers to sell their produce to the lucrative Fairtrade export market. They also provide training opportunities and loans.
2. Apicoop is based in Chile.
3. They’ve been providing honey to Traidcraft for over 15 years.
4. They want to begin growing blueberries.
5. Honey represents anything from 30-70% of a farmer’s income.
6. Young people leave the countryside because of lack of farm land and employment possibilities.
7. Apicoop expect to plant 14-15 hectares of blueberries
8. In 7-8 years they expect to produce 8-10 tonnes of blueberries.
9. They want to sell dried blueberries because there is no other co-operative or farmer exporting them in the area and there is a ready market for them – the blueberry Geobar and muffins.
10. Traidcraft provided a starter grant and a market for the blueberries.
Plenary
Write the following statements on the board:
Diversification helps bee farmers in Chile to develop in a way which is also kind to the environment.
Giving the bee farmers help in beginning their blueberry project is a more effective way of helping than just giving them money.
If more farmers were given these opportunities in poorer countries there wouldn’t be so much poverty.
Draw/mark a line. One end of the line is the 'totally agree' end, the opposite end is the 'absolutely disagree' end. The middle of the line is a neutral area. Ask students to stand at a place on the line which represents how they feel about the statements and invite them to explain their answers.