A NEW APPROACH TO EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING WEEK

Last week, Middle School students had a great time participating in a variety of activities as part of our experiential learning program, which we have adapted this fall in alignment with public health guidelines for schools.

Grade 6 students spent time practicing their French and learning about Franco-Manitoban culture and history with a virtual tour of St. Boniface Museum and a workshop with cartoonist Gerald Laroche. They also explored science outcomes during their trip to Oak Hammock Marsh, where they examined life cycles, adaptations, and food chains of various aquatic invertebrates. The end of the week was spent at Manitoba Museum. They participated in a gallery tour entitled “Canada: An Emerging Nation,” which highlighted historical events in Canada’s history such as the World Wars, the Great Depression and the Winnipeg General Strike. Finally, Grade 6 students watched a show at the Planetarium that addressed the big question: How did life on Earth begin? Students witnessed key episodes in the 13.7-billion-year history of the Universe that have made life on Earth possible, from the first stars to the formation of Earth’s atmosphere, leading up to the incredible diversity of life on Earth today.

Meanwhile, Grade 7 students participated in three different activities to start the week. They worked with Minecraft Education to create electronic biomes. Students also walked to the Legislative Building to complete an “Agents of Discovery” mission, which focused on the sculptures outside the building. Lastly, they spent time outside studying photographic techniques with a focus on artist Andy Goldsworthy. Thursday and Friday were spent at FortWhyte, participating in canoeing, hiking, wilderness survival, and observing the diversity of ecosystems.

Grade 8 students also participated in a variety of experiential learning activities. Small groups of students rotated to different stations where they completed heart dissections, worked with clay to create sculptures, and joined Indigenous educator Gloria Beckman to learn about creating art with birch bark and the importance of trees and the environment to the Indigenous community. Thursday and Friday were spent with the group Momenta, engaging in activities that focus on strengths and connections. Grade 8 spent their days cycling, trekking, creating art, and playing team-building games, all of which were enjoyed by both the students and staff!

Thank you to Middle School faculty for planning and organizing these activities to allow us to continue with our very popular experiential learning program this year!