Bee Boxes

Beebox Painting

On Tuesday, October 29th, beekeeper Drew Burnett and his associate, Arno from South Africa, visited Beman Middle School to share their passion for bees with our 6th-grade art students. Drew and Arno, both experienced beekeepers—Arno working with the notorious killer bees—spent the entire day in Ms. Raisz's art classes, inspiring students with the wonders of beekeeping.

Their mission was clear: the bees were getting confused by identical, plain white hives, which led to the spread of diseases. Drew needed the help of young artists to add a splash of color to the hives, so the bees could easily identify their own. When Drew brought in the beehive panels, the room filled with the scent of fresh pine, reminding the students of a trip to Home Depot.

Before each class ended, the students had the opportunity to taste "Drew’s Honeybees" fresh comb honey straight from a popsicle stick—an experience that sparked excitement and curiosity. In the weeks that followed, students applied their artistic skills to paint monochromatic landscapes on the hive panels, learning valuable concepts like value, atmospheric perspective, and painting techniques while contributing to the health and success of local beekeeping efforts.