Our latest Classroom Without Walls (CWOW) had students in Grades 6 to 12 participating in a range of on- and off-campus experiences. Designed to deepen understanding and connect the curriculum to real-world contexts, CWOW enables students to learn in meaningful, authentic ways.
What makes CWOW special:
- Experiential Learning: Students apply classroom knowledge in real-world environments, from forests and mountains to community and cultural settings.
- Collaboration and Growth: Students foster teamwork, communication, creativity, and independence.
- Connection to Community and Place: Students build ethical, cultural, and environmental awareness, some of which is grounded in IB principles or the First Peoples Principles of Learning, to foster deeper reflection and engagement with the world around them.
Grade 6 Snowshoeing at Mount Seymour
Grade 6 students travelled to Mount Seymour for a high-energy snowshoeing experience. Through the Snowshoe Showdown program, students participated in team-building challenges that fostered collaboration, confidence, and outdoor learning.
Grade 7 Design and Poetry Workshops
Grade 7 students explored computational thinking through unplugged activities and Scratch coding, designing simple programs and games. In a poetry workshop, students experimented with spoken word and creative writing, connecting language arts with science by exploring themes such as climate change.
Grade 8 Language, Culture, and Mathematics
Grade 8 French students immersed themselves in Québécois culture through music, dance, and history, then worked with Chef Kevin Houssais of Les Petits Chef to make traditional French crêpes—following instructions entirely in French. In Spanish, students explored Spanish-speaking countries through research and a scavenger hunt, then prepared for a class potluck. In mathematics, students investigated tessellations, designing repeating geometric patterns that connect math with visual art and creative design.
Grade 9 Design and Rock Climbing
Grade 9 students split their day between the Design Studio and The Hive Rock Climbing Gym. In Design, they tested their design toys (Designed for Junior Kindergarten) amongst themselves with a focus on fine motor skill development and iterative testing. At The Hive, students challenged themselves through indoor rock climbing, developing perseverance, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
Grade 10 Nordic Skiing
Grade 10 students spent the day Nordic skiing, supported by mountain guides and staff. Students developed skiing techniques in the morning and, in the afternoon, explored the trails, building confidence and outdoor skills.
Grade 11 Photojournalism
Grade 11 Language and Literature students explored downtown Maple Ridge through a photojournalism lens, capturing images that tell stories about place, power, and dignity while practicing ethical and thoughtful visual storytelling.
Grade 12 Paris Peace Conferences Simulation
Grade 12 students participated in a historical simulation and debate on the Paris Peace Conferences, re-creating perspectives and negotiating outcomes to deepen their understanding of global politics and post-war diplomacy.
Classroom Without Walls reminds students that learning is not confined to a desk or a building; it happens through experience, reflection, and engagement with the world around them.