WOW! It was a busy day on campus packed with experiential, real-world learning and extended inquiry outside of the classroom as our students indulged in this school year’s last Classroom Without Walls (CWOW). In between sessions, we connected with some classes to delve into the learning outcomes and highlights for each CWOW activity.
Grade 6 Painting Indigenous Drums and Budgeting for Groceries
Our Grade 6 students were busy with two different activities throughout the day. First, they painted Indigenous drums which they made earlier this year with the guidance of an Elder from the Sts'alis Nation. They learned Indigenous painting techniques, colours schemes, and about cultural traditions. Then, they took their new art skills to their drum canvases and painted a symbol of something that brought them joy or gratitude.
In the afternoon, students were given a budget and tasked to come up with a snack idea to make and calculate the cost of the food supplies. Grocery list and a budget in hand, they headed to the store to buy their ingredients. After working up an appetite, the classroom transformed into a kitchen with creations like caramel apples, cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches, rice crispy squares, veggie and fruit plates, and more delicious treats.
Grade 7 WildPlay and Ninja Training
For a PHE CWOW, Grade 7 students adventured through the forest on ziplines and high ropes courses as a warm-up to the physically active day. Once the energy levels were high among the group, they headed to Momentum Movement Academy for some intense Ninja Training, where students explored their abilities and agility in gymnastics and parkour tricks. No trick was off the table as the trainers showed off their backflips, twists, and handsprings, impressing our students. Not only did students challenge themselves physically, but they gained some serious ninja skills.
Grades 8: Building and Testing Wooden Catapults
In a Design CWOW, Grade 8 students constructed catapults to wrap up their unit learning about wooden launchers. With the goal of creating a catapult that would launch a ball a fair distance, they worked in teams to test their launching apparatuses in the backfield. With every launch, the groups used innovative ideas to improve their devices and see if they could launch their balls even further than before. The teams were surprised to see the distances double or nearly triple with minor adjustments (Mr. Lester may have had to dodge a few balls during the day!).
Grades 9: Investigating Why Salmon Are Not Returning Home
Why are salmon not returning home to Latimer Creek? Grade 9 students headed to the North Forest as field researchers on a mission for answers to this question during a Science CWOW. In four groups, each team focused on collecting data on the salmon habitat in connection to the four spheres: earth, air, water, plants, or the neighbouring environment. Using an array of scientific equipment like magnifying glasses, Petri dishes, pipettes, UVA/UVB sensors, pH paper, and many more, our researchers examined the flow of creek water, its acidic factors, nutrients in the soil, temperatures, and the surrounding plant life. They discovered that an imbalance in these various factors is impacting the salmon population.
Grade 10
Interview with Dr. Reinink
Our Grade 10 students ventured to The Powerhouse at Stave Falls to learn about hydroelectricity generation. Eager to explore, they toured the facility, where they were immersed in a world of renewable energy and sustainable power generation. Students gained knowledge of the intricate workings of the electrical grid, as well as the mechanical processes involved in making hydroelectricity. The interactive and immersive displays gave students an opportunity to get a closer look and understanding of the process. Many students were surprised to learn that the electricity that powers most of their houses happens so close to home.