This year’s primary teachers study group has chosen the focus of trans-disciplinary learning in outdoor settings, connecting to the land and to place. For our first session of the year we met at McNeely Elementary on October 3, hosted by Anna and Shannon. Teachers were able to choose a focus book from four selections that we will draw upon over our time together this year.
Jess Eguia framed our focus around thinking about planning through big ideas and concepts and shared some planning frameworks to support our work together.
Concept and planning handouts from Jess Eguia:
Anna and Shannon shared the planning they have been doing with Jess and the three questions that are framing their year of learning with their students.
We moved outside to the wooded area near McNeely. Teachers were asked to think about how the land inspired them to think about concepts. Some of us began with a concept and looked for where we made connections to that concept.
With thanks to Jessica Szeto of Anderson Elementary for sharing her knowledge of local mushroom species. “For Richmond/Vancouver specific mushrooms that are more urban, the ones in the list are the ones that come to mind. There are also some other mushrooms that have been spotted in Richmond, but they look quite similar to each other (ie. russulas, cone caps) and need some closer looks at the gills and spores to identify. But the ones above are the most memorable and easy to identify!”
Mushrroom pictures and list: Mushroom PDF
Our study group is in its seventeenth year and has endured because of the teachers involved and the participatory nature and the valued contributions within our group.
Looking forward to our next session together in November and how we might share our thinking.
~Janice