Innovative Ideas
LAND-BASED LEARNING: CONSIDERING THE FUNDAMENTALS
Written by Andrea Barnes. Originally published in GEOEC Connections Journal, October 2021. As an Environmental Educator with Alberta Parks and a classroom teacher, one of the silver linings of this past 1.5 years has to be the dramatic uptake and motivation for teaching outdoors. As we move into another year, hopefully, this energy and passion…
Read MoreHAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE JOY4ALL PROJECT
By the student team behind Joy4All It’s important to celebrate all things big and small as we move into another spring focussed on virtual learning and caring for the well-being of our families, friends, and communities. Here at Ever Active Schools, we recently celebrated the very first birthday of The Joy4All Project: a phone hotline…
Read MoreUSING ARTS TO EXPLORE WELLNESS
Submitted by Karena Munroe, Calgary Board of Education Special thank you to co-authors Cindy Thomson and her grade 7 classes In my School District, students and teachers have sent a resounding message through an internal survey about the importance of prioritizing school wellness responses as critical work in our school development planning. I set out…
Read MoreFOUR REASONS TO TRY PODCASTS FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Podcasts are a rich source of information, stories and entertainment, with a surprisingly wide range of topics: the history of the elevator, the secret world of moss, Dolly Parton, and much, much more. Many of us listen to podcasts while we cook, travel, or move our bodies – but have you ever considered using podcasts…
Read MoreLEARNING TO EMBRACE THE COLD WEATHER
Written by Chesa Peter and Kayli McClelland If you’ve lived in Alberta between October and May (okay, really, any time of year), you know that our winters here can be harsh! The cold weather isn’t going anywhere and neither are we, so it’s time to learn to get along. The Cold Weather Recess Planning Guide…
Read MoreREFLECTION, GRATITUDE, GROWTH AND THE FUTURE
My mom’s birthday is September 3rd, and I remember how excited she would always get at this time of year. It was back to school, back to routine and schedules. As a child I never shared her optimism for summer’s end; but as the years go on I find myself with the same enjoyment of…
Read MoreTRAIL TALES: STORIES THAT MOVE YOU
Written by Tracey Coutts and Scott Bailey Looking for a versatile, cost-effective way to increase physical activity and improve literacy in your school community? Well, have we got a tale for you. Trail Tales was launched in Parkland School Division 70 as a means to promote physical activity and literacy, while enhancing the active travel…
Read MoreA TRADITIONAL FOODS CAMP IN ENOCH, ALBERTA
Written by Chelsea Cattroll, Ever Active Schools Once upon a time, in a not-so-distant past, Ever Active Schools and Edmonton Public School Board (EPSB) launched a project called Miyomahchihowin (“In Good Health” in Cree). This project aimed to support pathways to employment and post-secondary education for Indigenous youth. Fast forward a few years and new…
Read MoreMY HEART IS FULL: COMBATING COVID-19 THROUGH TRADITIONAL SKILLS
Written by Chelsea Cattroll, Ever Active Schools, with support from Dr. Kevin wâsakâyâsiw Lewis, kâniyâsihk Culture Camps We turn to the land when we are stressed to re-connect to ourselves and become grounded. During a time that can be perceived as stressful and turbulent, I have seen that many people are starting to return to…
Read MoreINDIGENOUS STUDENTS ATTEND SUMMIT TO STRENGTHEN RESILIENCE
MORE THAN 300 STUDENTS, TEACHERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ELDERS FROM FIRST NATIONS AND METIS COMMUNITIES ACROSS ALBERTA GATHERED AT WINSPORT IN CALGARY ON NOVEMBER 27 AND 28 FOR A SUMMIT ON HEALTH, WELLNESS AND RESILIENCE. The two-day event began with a host of active icebreaker activities that saw students interacting with new faces right off…
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