Like every parent, education is a big decision for our children. What type of preschool or daycare will they go to? What Elementary school is best? Should they do french-immersion? What summer camps and sports should they be involved in? Each decision is part of the bigger picture of setting our children up for success. I chose the boys’ current school because of it’s strong foundation in values I hold dear and want my boys to experience.
A Field Trip to the Beach Changed the Way My Boys Saw Community
Last year, in my boys’ kindergarten class (at a catholic elementary school) their teacher took a remarkable interest in my boys passion for nature and understanding the world around them. She researched projects in the area and teamed up with our local environmental protection agency to work with the kindergarten students on a field trip to the beach (an area all of us spend lots of time at in the summer). Students spent a half day on their field trip to the beach learning about invasive species, soil erosion, water run off and the ecosystem of the beach. They planted flowers, special plants to help with erosion and learned about all of the organisms at the beach. It was truly remarkable! My learns not only about how the ecosystem of the beach worked but their place in it. Now, each time we visit the beach they see the flower beds and understand how these flowers keep the soil in place while also providing food for the ‘pollinators’ of the area. From that day on the beach ceased to be a place we went to in the summer but a living, breathing organism that required care, nurturing and respect. While our local beach is very much the centre of our community it was not until that special field trip that we understood our role in it. The boys teacher incorporated the value of “care for the environment” into an experiential learning opportunity the kids still talk about. For more Lessons For Life take some time to explore the OECTA website and see what values are part of their teaching.
Lessons For Life
Catholic teachers promote values that help students become engaged and contributing citizens. Graduates of our schools participate in elections, donate to charities and volunteer in their communities at very high rates. Find out how the value of social justice impacted Cheryl in this Lessons for Life – Cheryl Can’t Sleep from OECTA on Vimeo.
Disclosure: This post is part of the YummyMummyClub.ca and Ontario’s Catholic Teachers. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. This post reflects my personal opinion about the information provided by the sponsors.
I LOVE when teaching happens outside of the classroom. Yes, a classroom is truly needed, but there is a lot that isn’t truly understood until it’s seen with our own eyes. It’s so great that your boys’ teacher found a way to showcase that their passion can be nurtured while helping their community and environment. <3
Couldn’t agree more! It’s truly amazing when passion, interest and learning come together!
We had my eldest in the Catholic school board for throughout most of her elementary school years. She really enjoyed her time in this system and learned a lot. It is great that your children had a great field trip and are having a fantastic experience in this school board.