Place-Based Learning

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Marie Sharpe students have a weekly opportunity to explore and learn at Scout Island Nature Center. Martin Kraus supports the learning there by sharing many resources and hands-on activities for the students in and around the nature house. The students and staff also enjoy the time and freedom to explore outdoors: fort building using natural materials, sand and snow play, toys as well as creating musical instruments are just some of the creative ways students are engaging with the environment. We are grateful for this partnership and the ongoing privilege to learn and play on Scout Island.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/ca5f9e28-6b77-497b-adb3-e73feac736b8" alt="Scout Island Winter heather mckinnon" width="580" height="580" style="width:580px;height:580px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Some curious students noticed different markings frozen in the school yard. After learning that they were deer tracks, they asked questions and took turns guessing how and when a deer might have made its way through the playground. They were also able to explain the weather conditions that made it possible for the tracks to remain there for us to see. Place-based learning in the moment!</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/747c3279-36c0-4448-80e6-3620fc6f6c86" alt="Footprints in the snow heather mckinnon" width="563" height="751" style="width:563px;height:751px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Cariboo-Chilcotin School District trustees sported their Take Me Outside for Learning shirts at the BC School Trustees Academy to show their support and enthusiasm for this priority in our district.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/c739b255-e1fe-4860-99af-0e6b7578c17b" alt="Trustee Show of Support cheryl lenardon" width="484" height="363" style="width:484px;height:363px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Cariboo-Chilcotin team at First Nations Education Steering Council (FNESC) got to hear from Niigaan Sinclair about Truth and Reconciliation in education in Canada. It was meaningful for our team to see Phyllis Webstad and Orange Shirt Day honoured alongside the achievements of the great Murray Sinclair.</span></p><table class="editor-table"><colgroup><col><col></colgroup><tbody><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/bab5f82e-e402-4c0c-a283-08756d8f6aa0" alt="Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day at FNESC1 cheryl lenardon" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/53cabbc0-9430-489b-abe3-4d7ad498315e" alt="Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day at FNESC2 cheryl lenardon" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th></tr></tbody></table><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Cariboo-Chilcotin School District is honoured to have the story of how we are intentionally growing place-based learning across our district in the BC School Superintendents Association journal InspirEd. We are engaging leaders, teams, and students in activities and experiences beyond the walls of the classroom. We are working with partners to build capacity, equip schools, and expand opportunties. It is good work that we are proud to share. https://flip.matrixgroupinc.net/bcsb/2025/fall/#page=21</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/46504310-d6c5-4a39-b065-39ef953392b2" alt="InspirEd 2025 cheryl lenardon" width="563" height="316" style="width:563px;height:316px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Mr. Parkin’s class spent part of the day learning French vocabulary in a creative and hands-on way by taking their language lesson outdoors. Students explored the school grounds to find natural items that matched specific colour words in French, then sketched what they observed in their notebooks. This activity supported both language acquisition and meaningful time spent outside.</span><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">By connecting academic learning with the natural environment, this lesson directly supports our district’s focus on Human and Social Development. Students strengthened their communication skills, collaborated with classmates, and built confidence as they applied new vocabulary in a real-world setting. Outdoor learning also promotes well-being by giving students space to move, observe, breathe fresh air, and feel connected to their surroundings.</span><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Experiences like this help students develop curiosity, resilience, and joy in their learning, core elements of SD27’s vision for success.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><table class="editor-table"><colgroup><col><col></colgroup><tbody><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/31380dc4-0562-41c0-90c3-182913f44a94" alt="IMG 3095 marina campsall" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/f5df5aec-5e3f-4604-ae42-b2795f402e1c" alt="IMG 3091 marina campsall" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th></tr></tbody></table><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Some of our littlest learners spent some time outside collecting materials for some indoor activities. Tied to story, science and sense of self, these works of art are posted on the walls in our hallways which also contributes to the students' sense of belonging and their pride in our school. Bringing the outdoors in has brightened up the halls!</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/6822ad9f-0199-4c81-8892-6d48f9136085" alt="Outside In heather mckinnon" width="405" height="405" style="width:405px;height:405px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Some of our grade 1 &amp; 2 students took a walking field trip over to Boitanio park where they used natural, found materials to create habitats for toy animals. They used their creativity to build habitats, keeping in mind their science learnings about what different species need in their environment.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/443926a5-67b2-4092-a65c-c75e0f6ff773" alt="Building habitats 1 heather mckinnon" width="435" height="326" style="width:435px;height:326px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Mrs. Goertz and Mr. Parkin's grade 6s learned about land art -- using natural materials to create sculpture. They walked over to Boitanio Park to create works of art using shape, line and colours to express their creativity.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/e3defc4e-059f-4e0a-a928-87f3b0f075c6" alt="Land art 2 heather mckinnon" width="421" height="560" style="width:421px;height:560px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">This week, Ms. Brown's K/1 class explored ­­­­­during outdoor learning time! Students searched the school grounds to find natural materials like leaves, rocks, sticks, and pinecones. Using what they collected, they created beautiful repeating patterns. It was wonderful to see how creative and observant everyone was while discovering that math can be found all around us in the natural world. 🌿🍂✨</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/d1bf9c0a-18c2-4c2e-a406-5a2cf0bb4a50" alt="Kindergartens Grade 1s create repeating pat marina campsall" width="491" height="948" style="width:491px;height:948px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">This week one of Marie Sharpe's EAs Brianna Hall caught some students observing a Dragonfly. The students are soaking in all the Fall animals and nature they can before the snow falls!</span><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you for sharing this with us Brianna!</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/4eb0a403-bbf2-47f0-a326-4939d9e3e55a" alt="1000005125 marina campsall" width="620" height="826" style="width:620px;height:826px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Primary students at Marie Sharpe Elementary learn to co-operate, use their imagination, develop fine and gross motor skills and build relationships in the outdoor classroom right outside our front doors.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/6aeac2d9-2ac9-4865-a727-d4ae54eb1506" alt="Learning in our Outdoor Classroom heather mckinnon" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Marie Sharpe’s hardworking PAC planned a wonderful Family Fun Night and BBQ that was well attended by many families. Thank you to the PAC and many staff who helped make the event a memorable experience!</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br></p><div data-lexical-layout-container="true" style="grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; display: grid;"><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/ab158619-dc0a-487a-a2ef-5f7496b97c0d" alt="Family Fun Night!" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></div><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/a3f6cfc9-a4e4-4b6a-80a7-2d408ff89250" alt="Family Fun Night!" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></div></div><p class="editor-paragraph"><br><br><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">After completing a unit on resource management, Mr. Parkin took his grade 5/6 class to Mt. Polley Mine for a tour. Students were treated to a full tour of the mine and its operations. This was an amazing day that enriched the learning and had students fully engaged. A huge thank you to Mt. Polley and their employees for taking the time to do this for us.</span></p><div data-lexical-layout-container="true" style="grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; display: grid;"><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><img src="/images/3377097b-531a-5de7-aba6-1345e5f8d2f3" alt="xk9rsal8.jpg" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p></div><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><img src="/images/9205b136-c425-593f-955a-e43215b34d72" alt="zo75xvua.jpg" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p></div></div>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">TMO4L Week got all of us outside for great learning opportunities. Classes spent time at Scout Island, walking through our neighbourhood to conduct polls, and all over our school grounds for math, art, and gym. Here we see Ms. Campbell's class taking in an amazing Fall Day while creating nature art.</span></p><div data-lexical-layout-container="true" style="grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; display: grid;"><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><img src="/images/9eb6de06-8dd5-50bc-acd3-4a5225fb510d" alt="n0f2clyz.jpg" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p></div><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/1ebe917c-13f1-5e58-b716-96dfb46f8460" alt="gf8lmqwo.jpg" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p></div></div>