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NEW Elementary Science and Technology Resources

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NEW Elementary Science and Technology Resources

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OCTE is pleased to announce the launch of https://scitechontario.ca

This project has been a collaboration between The Ontario Council for Technology Education (OCTE), The Science Teachers’ Association of Ontario (STAO), and The Association for Computer Science Educators (ACSE). Funding for these resources was provided by the Ontario Ministry of Education. The resources found on this website have been created to assist Ontario teachers with the implementation of the revised Elementary Science and Technology Curriculum 2022.  The resources have all been created by Ontario Certified Teachers to provide examples of best practices in elementary science and technology.

These long-range plans outline a year-long set of activities for teaching and learning science and technology. Long-range plans are living documents that are revised as educators become increasingly aware of the abilities, strengths, needs and interests of their students.  There are two models for these long-range plans to provide teachers with a variety of opportunities to create appropriate learning experiences for their students.  In development are curriculum resources for each grade to support these long-range plans - to be released in November 2022. Also in development are webinars and coding resources to further support implementation.  Please stay tuned for more information.

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Check out this opportunity:

IISD Experimental Lakes Area’s education program has partnered with Elders and youth leaders from communities near Fort Frances area in delivering two online teaching sessions, focusing on water and climate.

We have piloted and adopted a “youth-teaching-youth” approach. Our youth leaders have learned about concepts around water and climate from Elders and science instructors through both scientific and traditional viewpoints. They are ready to share what they have learned with their younger peers.

The online experience includes the following two themes:

• Theme one – Water and Watershed covers questions and activities around the definition of watershed, where we are on Treaty #3 watershed, and how to build a watershed at home.
JUNE 20, 2022, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. (CDT)

• Theme two – Weather, Climate and Climate Change covers questions and activities around the difference between weather and climate, what is dissolved organic carbon (DOC), how DOC is connected to climate change, and how we can measure lake clarity.
JUNE 22, 2022, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. (CDT)

Through this experience, we hope to inspire youth to look at nature from both ways of knowing, encourage them to work with their peers, build confidence and take on leadership roles in their communities.

Please join us and cheer for our youth leaders!

Register here:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/youth-teaching-youth-science-and-traditional-knowledge-online-experience-tickets-348019314137

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Youth leaders will teach what they have learned about water, watershed, and climate from Elders and science teachers to their younger peers.

About this event

IISD Experimental Lakes Area’s education program has partnered with Elders and youth leaders from communities near Fort Frances area in delivering two online teaching sessions, focusing on water and climate.

We have piloted and adopted a “youth-teaching-youth” approach. Our youth leaders have learned about concepts around water and climate from Elders and science instructors through both scientific and traditional viewpoints. They are ready to share what they have learned with their younger peers.

The online experience includes the following two themes:

Theme one – Water and Watershed covers questions and activities around the definition of watershed, where we are on Treaty #3 watershed, and how to build a watershed at home.

Theme two – Weather, Climate and Climate Change covers questions and activities around the difference between weather and climate, what is dissolved organic carbon (DOC), how DOC is connected to climate change, and how we can measure lake clarity.

Through this experience, we hope to inspire youth to look at nature from both ways of knowing, encourage them to work with their peers, build confidence and take on leadership roles in their communities.

Please join us and cheer for our youth leaders!

**Note: You can choose to attend either or both sessions. If you wish to attend both sessions, please make sure to register for both dates.

Tags

Online Events

Online Classes

Online Science & Tech Classes

#youth

#science

#water

#climate

#watershed

#climate_change

#science_education

#traditional_knowledge

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"youth-teaching-youth" science and traditional knowledge online experience tickets

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Eventbrite - IISD Experimental Lakes Area presents "Youth-Teaching-Youth" Science and Traditional Knowledge Online Experience - Monday, June 20, 2022 | Thursday, June 23, 2022 - Find event and ticket information.

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Earth Day is tomorrow, but conversations about the environment can be talked about once per year!

Check out this resource from Jodie Williams:

https://sway.office.com/SkclVdjdc30x8CmH?ref=Link

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Here are just a few examples of incredible Indigenous land defenders and water protectors to learn from.

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Check out the Ontario Science Centre for resources!

https://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/teachers-plus-students/teacher-resources/curriculum-resources

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Dakobinaawaswaan (Baby in a Cradleboard) is now on display at the Lake of the Woods Museum until June 4th.

https://www.facebook.com/194544503988037/posts/4759714734137635/?d=n

Pathways teachers working with the Cultural STEM Kits, might like to link this to the Tikinagan builds.

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First Nations Youth Technical Career Summit 2022

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First Nations Youth Technical Career Summit 2022

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Check it out!
https://www.accelevents.com/e/first-nations-youth-technical-career-fair-2022

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First Nations Youth Technical Career Summit 2022

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Location: Thunder Bay (in-person) and online (Accelevents) Price: FREE! About: This event for First Nations youth in grades 7 - 12 will highlight technical careers in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), and connect these topics to traditional Anishinaabe cultural teachings in a way that generates excitement and passion for these fields.

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Check out this link from OCTE for ideas on Elementary STEM

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1En8l8kRO2duQeD-k_vADdEhHwY2gyh-vaiLBOVdenOY/edit#slide=id.p

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Got the Olympics on your brain?

Check out this resource that includes many ideas and opportunities for connecting with community members, getting outside for your learning, and career exploration because there are way more than just athletes making the games possible!  Check it out!

French educators - the main Olympic page has an option for French!

Link:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QpSUQfNfC2wv4Mp-STjWusrE7bCPhOSIAc0sY26m3Zo/edit

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Whether you're teaching online, in class, or some combination of both, Learning for a Sustainable Future’s FREE virtual Forums can help engage your students and connect them to the world outside their homes.

Forums include PD sessions for teachers, speakers and hands-on workshops for students, and $500 grants to support student-led sustainability Action Projects.

Check it out!

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Call for Proposals in Experiential Learning

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Call for Proposals in Experiential Learning

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Attention Grade 7-12 Teachers!

Here it is folks!  The link and information to the second Call for Proposals in Experiential Learning.

The application process is simple.  Teachers can apply through our Experiential Learning Application Google Form.

You can explore the successful 2021 Fall Proposals, which includes some potential starting points. To learn more about Experiential Learning and to review the Experiential Learning Cycle, which is central to experiential learning, check out the EL pages on SucceedAtKP.

If you are interested in getting involved with Experiential Learning but aren’t sure where to start, please contact me and I will help you work through the process of brainstorming, learning about EL and completing the application.

Applications are open from now until February 15th at 4 pm.  We will review applications and notify the successful applicants by the end of that week.

Any questions?  Please let me know.

Sarah Bennett

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Hey folks! Don’t forget to check out the KP 2022 Winter Learning Summit, this Saturday, February 5th from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm CST.

Here’s a link to the foyer to check out the sessions, presenters, times, meeting links, and more:

https://docs.google.com/.../1UqGSESMAdvDTIjon77vfvLY.../edit

Hope to see you there!

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Interested in doing some gardening in your classroom?  Check out this grant from the Whole Kids Foundation for an Aeroponic Tower Garden. 🌱

Applications are open from February 14th to March 11th, 2022.

https://www.wholekidsfoundation.org/programs/school-gardens-grant

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Check out My Money, My Future from CIBC for your students:

https://www.mymoneymyfuturechallenge.ca/

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The ISTEAM collaborative is supporting Indigenous resurgence through (re)making relations with lands, waters, and each other towards just, sustainable, and culturally thriving futures.

Check out some of their Tools & Resources:
https://indigenoussteam.org/tools-resources/

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Creating Environmentally and Socially Active Communities - ETFO

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Creating Environmentally and Socially Active Communities - ETFO

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Looking for ways to create environmentally and socially active communities in your classroom?  🌲🌎💪

Check out this resource from ETFO for K-8 teachers, with many cross-curricular opportunities, including Science, Geography, PE & Health, Language, Social Studies, Art, and Math.

https://www.etfo.ca/getmedia/f652a765-b34b-4c8f-bcbe-377d74fe8edc/210813-CREnvironmentAndSociallyActiveCommunities.pdf

Topics are in the photo!

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Creating Env and Socially Active Communities

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There are so many great virtual tours opening up for students and teachers.  Here are a couple more to checkout, with many being offered in French and English.

Canadian Museum of Nature - Explore Rocks and Minerals (French & English)
LINK

E2 Adventures - Live STEAM (grades 6-12)
LINK

Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)
LINK

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Check out this Google Sheet for ways to explore the world virtually.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KWx06UeJhILPe2v5N_hC0ajAtUYorcYKBFnAK6rlJOs/htmlview#

There are lots of options for different grades and subjects in French and English!

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Land as teacher: understanding Indigenous land-based education

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Land as teacher: understanding Indigenous land-based education

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What is land-based education? Check out this article!

“If your mind went straight to “taking the classroom outside” or “outdoor education,” bingo: that’s what it’s not. Or at least, that’s not all it is—not by far.”

Land as teacher: understanding Indigenous land-based education

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Collaboration from Jodie Williams & Isaac Murdoch to use with your students online to explore the beauty of winter and the trees.

Click through the slide deck to see the short video Revolution of the Heart Forever.

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Here are some resources for bringing the outdoors inside through virtual field trips and live webcams.

Check it out:
Word Doc Version
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JzBCLnPhypDlsORVoIDSv8AQLL-BMK4Wq8lLNyq4WKE/edit

Outdoor Education Collective webpage:
https://sites.google.com/view/outdooreducationcollective/virtual-trips-live-feed-cameras?authuser=1

I recommend the Explore by the Seat of Your Pants (French & English) and the National Geographic Explorer Classroom!

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Now is a great time to get ready to teach outside for when we get back to in-person learning.  You might even find that students can do some of these activities through the window at home!

Check out the 1000 Hours Outside: 2022 Kick-Off Pack!

Although geared towards the primary grades, there are several Outdoor Adventure Prompts that work for many ages.

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Let's Talk Science: Curious Careers - Climate Changemakers

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Let's Talk Science: Curious Careers - Climate Changemakers

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Check out the following career-related events and resources that showcase traditional and emerging jobs and the post-secondary pathways that lead there.

Curious Careers - Climate Changemakers
Thursday, December 9 - 1 p.m. ET
Grades 6-8

Because our future depends on it, Climate Changemakers is an essential opportunity for students to learn about viable careers in sustainability and climate that make a difference to our planet's survival. Participants will hear from post-secondary students and industry professionals passionate about the environment while discovering how they can take action.
REGISTER HERE

What will their dream job be?
Interests and hobbies can lead to future careers. Take a look at what dream jobs these teens might pursue based on their different interests!
EXPLORE

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For those interested in Project Wild & Below Zero, here is an online training session being offered in January.

Check it out!

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/project-wild-below-zero-workshop-registration-216647698097

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Check out TomatoSphere!
http://www.4edu.ca/archives/email/2021/LTS/LTS-E-dec-2-2021.html

TomatoSphere offers an excellent opportunity to have your students think and act like scientists as they practice their inquiry skills and develop understandings of the nature of science and the concept of a fair test.

You can order seed from this site.  If you miss the deadline, don't worry, I have ordered some as well!

Sarah

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Preparing for the New Year is a great opportunity to discuss goal setting with students. myBlueprint has suggested the following goal setting activities (PS - setting goals is an IPP task for all 7-12 students each year!!). Here is a short video to help get started with goal setting in mBp.

New Year’s Resolutions

1. Invite students to log into their Education Planner account

2. Click Goals from the left-hand navigation menu

3. Click Add Goal and create a Personal S.M.A.R.T goal describing their New Year’s Resolution

Example:

1. Goal: I can save $20 from every paycheck and put this towards post-secondary education

2. Action Plan:

1. Research part-time jobs in the Job Search tool

2. Create my resume and cover letter

3. Apply to the job

4. Create a monthly budget using myBlueprint Budget Tool

5. Open a chequing and/or a savings account with my bank

6. Connect with my bank to have an automated transfer on every paycheck

Giving Back to Your Community

1. Invite students to log into their Education Planner account

2. Click Goals from the left-hand navigation menu

3. Click Add Goal and create a Community S.M.A.R.T goal describing one way they can give back to their community in 2022

Example:

1. Goal: I can volunteer with a local charity

2. Action Plan:

1. I can research charity organizations in my community

2. I can reach out to learn how to get involved

3. I can actively participate with this organization

Academic Learning Goals

1. Invite students to log into their Education Planner account

2. Click Goals from the left-hand navigation menu

3. Click Add Goal and create an Academic S.M.A.R.T goal describing something they want to learn in that subject area or a routine they want to establish  (not a grade they are hoping to achieve!)

Example:

1. Goal: I can read 15 books in 2022

2. Action Plan:

1. I can get a library card

2. I can research a list of books I want to read

3. I can read for 20 minutes a day

A couple of additional resources:
Goal Setting Activity lesson plan

S.M.A.R.T Goal Setting Checklist for Students

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Walking in Place: Curriculum andCommunity Connected Walks

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Walking in Place: Curriculum andCommunity Connected Walks

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Walking in Place

Taking a walk in your local community is not only an easy and inexpensive way to engage your students in experiential learning, it will also allow you to establish community connections all while addressing curriculum expectations. This resource will also allow students to connect to their education and career/life planning.

https://www.octe.ca/application/files/9516/3327/8154/Walking_in_Place.pdf

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Explorer Classroom from National Geographic

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Explorer Classroom from National Geographic

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WHERE EDUCATION MEETS EXPLORATION

Join Explorer Classroom — a live interactive session that connects young people with National Geographic Explorers — to hear behind-the-scenes stories and interact with cutting-edge scientists, researchers, and powerful storytellers from around the globe.

All events are free, open to the public, and include an instructional guide to help learners get the most out of the experience.

Events Schedule:

Events for ages 4-8 are Mondays at 11am ET, events for ages 9-14 are Thursdays at 10am & 2pm ET, and more rotating events.

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/.../explorer-classroom/

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Resources for Rethinking

Looks like Mother Nature is ready to get winter started.  Here's a resource from Learning for a Sustainable Future: Resources for Rethinking.  It's one of my favourite spots to look for outdoor learning ideas connected to your curriculum

Getting Ready for Winter:

https://resources4rethinking.ca/.../page/mid-november-2021

Stay safe out there this week!

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Mid-November 2021
Featured Species: Muskrat Ramble
While nature mostly seems to be holding her breath now, just waiting for winter, there are a few exceptions to the rule of telling more by absence than presence. One is the Muskrat. Muskrats are on the move! Young of the year are moving out (have been kicked out, rather, to make room for new offspring in the spring) and dispersing across the countryside, often traveling a considerable distance to find unoccupied marshland territory. Many will not survive the journey, or the winter. Territoriality is one-way nature keeps animals from overpopulating and exceeding their carrying capacity in one area.

Muskrats are also building lodges - cone- or dome- shaped houses made largely of cattails and mud in shallow lakes. You can tell them from beaver lodges by their smaller size (max. usually 1m high and 1m across) and lack of woody construction materials. The lodge is built by heaping up plant material and mud to form a mound, and then digging out a burrow from below the water leading to a chamber in the middle. A second exit burrow is also dug. The walls of the lodge are then reinforced from the outside with more plants and mud. Being located in the water with water entrances and exits affords them protection from land predators. Muskrats also create dens dug into banks of deep lakes or ponds and slow-moving rivers and streams. After surface ice forms in the marsh, you can also look for pushups and feeding huts, but we will address those at a later date.

Muskrats are connected to many parts of the ecosystem. For example, their lodges are important places for ducks and geese to nest on, snakes and turtles to bask on...and sometimes both! Muskrats are herbivores, helping keep waterways clear, and sometimes eating so many cattails that they open up large areas of shallow water. They in turn are preyed upon by numerous predators such as Raccoon, Red Fox, Bald Eagles, Snapping Turtles, and Northern Pike.

Now with all this Muskrat movement, I feel inspired to get down and do a little Muskrat Ramble of my own!
Other Happenings:

Those scaup we were so concerned about in mid-October are among the last ducks to head south. While some may hang around lakeshores for a while longer, most are now on their way. Also departing are Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks, although some of both may stay on through the winter. The Sharp-shinned may be Canada's most commonly seen winter hawk. On a good day in November, hundreds of migrating hawks can be seen moving along the north shore of Lake Ontario.

Project FeederWatch is beginning for another winter season. Join as a class or as an individual, learn more about the birds in your neighbourhood, and contribute to citizen science!

Winter "sleepers" begin to retire. The occasional spate of warmer weather may have kept some critters active longer than normal - I saw Chipmunks running around my yard not long ago - but one blast out of the north may be all it takes. These are not true hibernators, and warmer winter days may find some of them out and about. Chipmunks will retreat below ground to at least a three-room pad (scroll down): one room for sleeping, one for food storage and eating, and yet another for defecation. Skunks and Raccoons don't store food, but rely on body fat while sleeping for extended periods. Skunks are more active than raccoons during winter. Black Bears will dig out a den, use a brush pile or rock crevice, and may even sleep in the open with nothing but a pile of grass or evergreen branches between them and the ground. Since they are not truly hibernating, their temperature drops only a few degrees, but their heart rate can slow to 8 beats per minute.

Snowshoe Hares are turning white now to match the coming snow. Usually, the ears and feet turn white first. Hares are usually all white, except for the tips of their ears, by early December. Snowshoe Hares rely on their camouflage to avoid predation; however, with climate change their future is uncertain. Day length signals a change in coat colour, but with less snow in the spring and fall Snowshoe Hares may be white against a brown background.

Monarch Butterflies are finally approaching their winter home deep in the Mexican mountains, and peak migration has hit NE Mexico. Fortunately, an intense rainy season this summer has relieved past drought conditions, and Monarchs should have the humidity that they need.

"Where have all the flowers gone..." Just when you thought they were all gone, Witch Hazel decides to bloom. The petals have the unique ability to curl up in a bud when the temperatures drop and unfurl in the warming sun. This adaptation protects the nectar and pollen for warmer days when insects will venture out again. On the same branch, you may also find ripe seedpods from last year that will explode and scatter seeds up to 10 metres.(video of Chinese variety).

Our sensory palette adjusts to appreciate the smaller splashes of colour that remain. Ferns such as Christmas Fern, Rock Polypody, and Marginal Wood Fern offer up green, as do mosses such as sphagnum, Juniper Moss, and Shaggy Moss. Ground Pines look like miniature green trees, which will release little puffs of yellow spores this month when your foot brushes it. Trailing Arbutus, Pipsissewa, and Patridgeberry are a few of the flowering plants that remain green, while Buncherry leaves go purple. Wintergreen berries are bright red, and Climbing Bittersweet (native) and Oriental Bittersweet (not native) provide orangish-red fruit (watch out - they're poisonous). Take a 'fall colour' hike, and discover the colours left in your area once the leaves leave.

Orion, one of the most identifiable constellations, has joined us to the southeast in the night sky. Harbinger of winter, he will watch over us for months, finally 'setting' to the west as spring arrives. Stellarium is a free planetarium for your computer, allowing you to introduce a realistic 3D night sky in the classroom.

All the visible planets are, well, visible in November, and you can watch Jupiter and Saturn march towards Venus as the month progresses. There will also be a partial lunar eclipse on the morning of the 19th.

Two meteor showers grace the sky during mid-November. The North Taurid peaks around midnight on the nights of November 11 and 12, overlapping the South Taurids, while the Leonid is best (10-15 meteors per hour) between midnight and dawn (naturally) on November 17 and 18, but a waxing moon may wash out some.

Finally, a comet new to science is fast (for a comet) approaching. Comet Leonard is brightening, and may become visible to the naked eye some time in November or December. You should, at least, be able to see it with binoculars or a small telescope. Check the article to see where and when to look for Leonard, and don't miss it! It won't be back for 80,000 years. Don't worry, we will post reminders here.

Those scaup we were so concerned about in mid-October are now leaving. Some may hang around the shores of the Great Lakes for a while longer, feeding on Zebra Mussels. Also departing are Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks, although some of both may spend the winter here. In fact, Red-tailed may be the most commonly seen winter hawk in many parts of Canada.

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Nature Guides | Sustainability Classroom Resources at Resources for Rethinking

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Mid-November 2021 Featured Species: Muskrat Ramble While nature mostly seems to be holding her breath now, just waiting for winter, there are a few exceptions to the rule of telling more by absence than presence. One is the Muskrat. Muskrats are on the move!

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Join us on November 10 as Science North takes the (virtual) world stage to celebrate science and Indigenous innovation through Francophone-focused events.

https://www.sciencenorth.ca/science-and-indigenous-ingenuity?fbclid=IwAR31RFZJxjeN6XCIW6IUb-aVpNs7S7un5TKCjwznzXFyh67he-WthdGlUcc

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Indigenous STEM: From Canoes to NASA - Recording

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Indigenous STEM: From Canoes to NASA - Recording

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FREE Science North STEM Kits (Grades 1-8) - Last Call!

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FREE Science North STEM Kits (Grades 1-8) - Last Call!

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Science North is offering free STEM kids for grades 1- 8.  Check out the application form below:
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=PbFz5ALLX0C6D-Z40AiDVWGkalwFdz1JsiHLi-sf1fhUOFVXTFNDSzlRQ1FRTTJFSTZNQVROUDRXRC4u

Email Sarah Bennett for more information.

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From myBlueprint:

November is Financial Literacy Month in Canada - a month to support the development of financial health and literacy in our students.

K-6
The Importance of Financial Literacy

Research indicates that by teaching and informing youth early in their life about the importance of money and making the right financial decisions, students will grow to develop stronger money habits before becoming income earners. This leads students to become smarter consumers, gain an understanding of the impact of their consumer activity, and to be confident and comfortable talking about money.

Better yet, students who learn financial literacy early will build a better understanding of personal finances, the economy, and will develop early saving habits.

By opening up these discussion topics in school, we can prompt students to talk about money with their families, bridging the gap between learning and real-life application.

But how can you engage students in money conversations, in a way that makes sense to them you ask? Here comes myBlueprint.

It is important to create an interactive and multimedia experience when teaching them about finance. myBlueprint has a number of features and tools that can support educators and families with this topic:

Grade 1: Grocery Shopping Role Play - This lesson plan focuses on the decision-making process when spending money and how the amount of money you have affects the items you can buy.

Grade 2: Needs vs. Wants - This lesson introduces students to the difference between needs and wants and focuses on the concept of spending money wisely.

Grade 3: Planning a Purchase - This lesson will help students develop problem-solving skills through exploring concepts related to saving, value, and hidden costs.

Grade 4: Distribution of Wealth - This lesson plan helps students explore concepts such as income and expense, as well as the distribution of wealth.

Grade 5: Consumer Awareness and Healthy Choices - This lesson plan focuses on consumer awareness and the right to be informed. Students will learn to create a budget and make responsible purchasing choices.

Grade 6: Saving Energy - This lesson focuses on hidden costs and helps students gain an understanding of managing finances in the real world.

Gr. 7-12
Title: The Importance of Financial Literacy

Paul Goebel of the Student Money Management Center Financial, shared that the future success of students relies on providing opportunities for them to learn, develop, and strengthen the core life skills they need today, and more importantly, tomorrow. Financial literacy is considered to be one such life skill!

Teaching students about money early on will increase their financial literacy and build their understanding of personal finances, the economy, and the results of their consumer activity. By having these discussions in school, we can prompt students to talk about money with their families, and bridge the gap between learning and real-life application. These conversations can also lead students to make their own financial plans, inspire them to start saving money and make smart investments, and set post-secondary and career goals.

But how can you engage students in money conversations, you ask?  Here comes myBlueprint.

myBlueprint has a number of features and tools to engage youth and educators with this topic through interactive and multimedia experiences:

TFSA vs. RRSP: What is the right choice for me? - This is an introductory lesson focused on students learning the difference, and similarities between a TFSA and RRSP, and how they can begin determining which option is right for them.

Investments and Savings - An introductory lesson on the concepts of investments and savings

Overcoming Obstacles -  A lesson on budgeting and revising a budget through employment changes in an experiential context

GLC2O Financial Literacy Portfolio Checklist - This checklist will help students build and improve their financial decision-making process. They will learn how important financial literacy is while working towards a post-secondary destination and pathway of their choice.

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The rain doesn't need to stop you from going outside!  Check out this graphic 5 Things to do in the rain for some inspiration.
#GetOutside #OutdoorLearning

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Ignace Students Benefiting From Outdoor Learning

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Ignace Students Benefiting From Outdoor Learning

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Ignace Students Benefiting From Outdoor Learning

Way to go Ignace Public School!
#OutdoorLearning #ExperientialLearning #KPDSBPride

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Ontario Aboriginal Head Start Association

Indigenous Professional Learning Knowledge Exchange Gathering

November 24, 2021 from 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm CST

This month Elders, Knowledge Keepers and early years professionals will share about the importance of land-based learning in the winter months with relation to belonging, wellbeing, expression and engagement for children in the early years.

If you are interested in this topic or know of a colleague who is, please let me know!

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Here is a page on the Take Me Outdoors site that lists several great activities for a variety of ages and seasons for learning outdoor.

Take a look HERE!

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This week's theme focuses on UN Sustainable Development Goal #2, Zero Hunger. Currently, the UN estimates that 690 million people, around 8% of the world's population, are hungry. Many factors, such as climate change, economic conditions, and man-made conflicts, all play a role in leading to this unfortunate number. The COVID-19 pandemic has further worsened this situation by putting an additional 130 million people at risk of acute hunger by the end of 2020. The Zero Hunger goal hopes to eliminate world hunger by the year 2030 and ensure that all people, regardless of their situation, have access to sufficient, safe, and healthy food all year round!

Check out K-12 resources HERE! French & English

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Check out the article Nature Paints: Fall Foliage for some great links to Science and Art.

Resources for Rethinking is a great source of resources, ideas for the outdoors, and lessons plans, and can be searched in English or French.

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TAKE YOUR STUDENTS OUTSIDE ON OCTOBER 20TH 2021!

Take Me Outside Day aims to raise awareness about outdoor learning by encouraging teachers to take their students outside for 1 hour on October 20th.

In partnership with Canada’s Non-profit Outdoor Learning Store and MEC, TMO is hosting a full week of speakers, activities and events that you can engage your students in throughout October 18-22.

Deepen your connections with Indigenous perspectives, strengthen your health and well-being with outdoor learning, and increase your knowledge on climate change and the environment. With three different themes to focus on, this will be an educational and engaging week for students of all ages!

Register your class here!

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Next week is Waste Reduction Week in Canada.  There are several great resources on their webpage and they will be conducting specific learning themed days:

Monday, Oct 18th - Circular Economy
Tuesday, Oct 19th - Textiles
Wednesday, Oct 20th - E-Waste
Thursday, Oct 21st - Plastics
Friday, Oct 22nd - Food Waste
Saturday, Oct 23rd - Sharing Economy
Sunday, Oct 24th - Swap & Repair

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Orange Shirt Week & National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

For those interested in learning more about Land-Based Learning and the connection to National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, please check out Natural Curiosity's September Newsletter.

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LIVE: Friday, November 5th at 11 am (EST)

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LIVE: Friday, November 5th at 11 am (EST)

Science North l look at the innovations that Indigenous people have and have continued to provide throughout history!

Check out the livestream HERE!

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K-8 Teachers!
Don't forget to check out programming offered by Science North!

There are monthly live streams for classes, professional learning sessions for teachers, classroom STEMkit and resources, and a live "chat for help" function.

Teachers can create an account with their kpdsb.ca emails at Science North.

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Role of LEL & Projects - To share with staff - Applications DUE Oct 4th

I am pleased to introduce myself as the new Leader of Experiential Learning (LEL) for KPDSB.  My portfolio and work for this upcoming school year have taken a slightly different focus from years past.

My portfolio includes support for the following topics:

Instructional leadership and coaching support on concepts such as:

Co-planning, co-teaching, modelling

Project-based learning

Decolonizing and Uncolonizing Education

Triangulation of evidence

Relationship building at the student, class, school, and community levels

Resource sharing → SucceedAtKP

Matching high-yield instructional and assessment strategies to embed three of my portfolios listed below into all curricular areas:

Experiential Learning → What is Experiential Learning Video and Experiential Learning Cycle

Outdoor Education → Any learning that happens outdoors (i.e. not just PAD courses), in all courses, grades 7-12.

Land-Based Learning → Helping to connect your learning to community and traditional ways of knowing in a culturally responsive and relevant way.  Indigenous cultures are the guiding compass, however, the Aki (land) teaches everyone to be stewards of the earth.

I am also happy to share that I can support work in these areas through funding for grades 7-12 in your schools.  I invite you to explore this Google Form Funding Application for those interested in planning a project connected to Experiential, Outdoor or Land-Based Learning.  Here is a list of some Example Projects for you to consider.

Applications are due Monday, October 4th at 12 pm.  There will be a second opportunity to apply if funds are available in February.  If you have questions about the Google Form Funding Application, they can be sent directly to me - I am happy to support you through this process!

I look forward to having the opportunity to visit and work in each of your schools and communities.

Sarah

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The Beanstalk Project presents a free webinar for students and educators:

Everything Students Should Know about SHSM - a pressure-free way to explore careers!

Tuesday, October 5th 2021 at 10:00 am ET (9AM CST)

To register, click HERE. For those who can't make the live webinar, a recording will be available to those who have registered until October 15th.

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myBlueprint provides suggested monthly objectives and I will outline these with resources in this announcement stream!

September's focus is 'developing a growth mindset'.

As educators, we have a lot to celebrate based on our ability to adapt - we have rapidly and effectively adjusted teaching and assessment practices to be prepared for the unknown. As we move forward, it is more important than ever to continue modelling a growth mindset and instil this way of thinking within our students.

Theorized by Carol Dweck, and researched through child behaviour studies, findings show several benefits to a growth mindset:

1 ) Students with a growth mindset tend to choose challenging tasks that can help them learn new things

2)  Students with a growth mindset are more persistent when working through difficult tasks than students with a fixed mindset

3)  Students with a growth mindset generally cope well with transition, exhibit the ability to self-regulate, and have higher self-esteem

Through the type of work given and feedback provided to students, studies indicate a person can shift from a fixed (I can’t) to a growth (I can) mindset. (Hear Carol Dweck speak towards the power of believing that you can improve.)

Ready to promote a growth mindset in your classroom? Explore the Creating a Growth Mindset Portfolio lesson plan where students will discover and discuss how the brain works as well as how their mindset can dictate how their brain functions.
In this lesson, students will build a portfolio to document their growth mindset journey and better understand how they can overcome challenges and failures by shifting their learning.