News
Farm to School BC Grants
Do you have an idea for a local and sustainable food project? Schools across British Columbia can once again apply for Farm to School BC’s Start-up Grants (up to $3000) and Scale-up Grants (up to $1000). Projects can include building garden beds, foraging for local food, growing indigenous plant gardens, small-scale farms, indoor growing spaces and more. The deadline to apply is November 14th, 2021. Find out more.
Articles
Making the Healthy Choice the Easy Choice
School District 54 (Bulkley Valley) was featured in the fall magazine edition of Education Canada for their innovative approach to embedding social and emotional learning (SEL) into schools and classrooms. From hiring an Elementary Social and Emotional Helping Teacher in the district, to offering opportunities for professional development, the article explores how their district-wide approach impacted SEL in an individual classroom. Find out more.
Stories
The Trail of Ancestors
On the same trail from Tsakis (Fort Rupert) to Port Hardy that their ancestors once travelled, students of Wagalus Elementary in Kwakiutl used a Healthy Schools BC First Nations Grant to participate in a hike. The project taught students about traditional spirituality and cleansing. They walked and sang alongside drummers who facilitated the identification of traditional plants and harvesting of these plants for medicinal purposes. Find out more.
Burnaby Schools Honour Truth and Reconciliation
In September, in honour of the first National Truth and Reconciliation Day, educators and students in Burnaby Schools learned and reflected on residential schools, the story of Orange Shirt Day and the history of how the National Truth and Reconciliation Day came about. In addition to classroom activities and resources, two schools in the district hosted Elders who courageously shared their stories as survivors of the residential school system during school assemblies. Find out more.
Resources
Student Mental Health Lesson Plans and Resources
The Student Mental Health Toolkit from Stigma-Free Society includes downloadable resources and lesson plans aligned with the BC Curriculum. Designed for students in grades 4 to 7, the activities in the toolkit can be used to teach students about a variety of mental well-being topics including stigma, emotions, empathy and conflict resolution. Find out more.
Outdoor Education Toolkit
Ontario Physical Health and Education Association (OPHEA) released an Outdoor Education Toolkit for Grades 9 to 12 to promote a culture of safety-mindedness and increase teacher awareness, confidence, and preparedness to teach outdoor education. The toolkit includes tips, a checklist, conversation starters, lesson plans, and links to additional resources. Find out more.
Announcements
World Kindness Day is November 13th, 2021
Celebrate World Kindness Day in your classroom using Drama Games for Inclusion and Social Change from Heart Mind Online. Writing skits and improvising together allows students the space to playfully explore social issues. Use the drama games on World Kindness Day to encourage students to consider the importance of kindness in their day-to-day social interactions. Find out more.
