Learning Through Nature
The Mud Lake Project explores teaching critical thinking skills utilizing the natural environment as text, while integrating multiple perspectives, including Aboriginal, curricular, and community.
Regina Street Junior division teaching staff make connections to the Ontario Curriculum as they develop authentic projects that reach across multiple subject areas. Students and teachers routinely engage in outdoor learning opportunities, within the school yard and the neighbouring Mud Lake Conservation area, and use their experiences and knowledge to help to develop an environmental education hub. This hub allows Regina Street Junior teachers to act as mentors and share their teaching practices with peers from other schools.
During the 2014/2015 school year, we focused our attention on the completion of our TLLP project which was comprised of three components:
We were excited to participate in a research project (Exploring Impacts of Nature-based Learning on Primary-aged Children in the Ottawa Carleton District School Board) over the the 2015/2016 school year. Thanks to Lisa Glithero from the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa for including us in the project.
Up next, we'll be working on a Teacher Learning Co-op (TLC) project funded by the Ontario Teachers' Federation. Over the next few months, we will create an inquiry-based, integrated, cross-curricular learning challenge for each of the Social Studies strands in the Junior division. A key component of each of the challenges will involve taking our students outdoors within our diverse school community (which despite being very urban, also includes a 79 hectare conservation area). Using field studies not only provides students with primary resources to assist them in the inquiry process, but also promotes community discovery and engagement.
The Mud Lake Project explores teaching critical thinking skills utilizing the natural environment as text, while integrating multiple perspectives, including Aboriginal, curricular, and community.
Regina Street Junior division teaching staff make connections to the Ontario Curriculum as they develop authentic projects that reach across multiple subject areas. Students and teachers routinely engage in outdoor learning opportunities, within the school yard and the neighbouring Mud Lake Conservation area, and use their experiences and knowledge to help to develop an environmental education hub. This hub allows Regina Street Junior teachers to act as mentors and share their teaching practices with peers from other schools.
During the 2014/2015 school year, we focused our attention on the completion of our TLLP project which was comprised of three components:
- creating a digital field guide of nearby plants and animals;
- using materials from nature to create art works;
- developing an outdoor math trail.
We were excited to participate in a research project (Exploring Impacts of Nature-based Learning on Primary-aged Children in the Ottawa Carleton District School Board) over the the 2015/2016 school year. Thanks to Lisa Glithero from the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa for including us in the project.
Up next, we'll be working on a Teacher Learning Co-op (TLC) project funded by the Ontario Teachers' Federation. Over the next few months, we will create an inquiry-based, integrated, cross-curricular learning challenge for each of the Social Studies strands in the Junior division. A key component of each of the challenges will involve taking our students outdoors within our diverse school community (which despite being very urban, also includes a 79 hectare conservation area). Using field studies not only provides students with primary resources to assist them in the inquiry process, but also promotes community discovery and engagement.
