Lattes, Lashes, & Learning:
Capstone Project 

 

 

Land Acknowledgement

This fall, my students and I learned about Treaty Six land, and reflected on all that it gives us. Together, we wrote and recorded a land acknowledgement.

 

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"We understand and remember that we live on Treaty 6 land, and the traditional land of the Metis. We are thankful for many things this land that we learn and play on gives us. We are thankful for the warm sun that makes our world bright, the trees that give us our “Think Spots,” shade, air, and places to learn, for the changing colours of trees and the leaves so that we can make piles to jump in. We are thankful for the moon that shines in the dark so that we can see and the beautiful stars at night. We are thankful for the rain so that we can splash in puddles and the clean water we can drink. We are thankful for the sticks and pumpkins that we can make stuff with, for the wind that cools us off, and for the animals that give us food and share their land with us. We are thankful for the soft grass we walk on and the blue sky that gives us beautiful and silly clouds. We are thankful for the delicious food that grows from trees, the clean air we breathe, and the soft sand we play with. We are thankful for the flowers that help bees make honey, for the snow so that we can make “ice” angels, and for the changing seasons. We promise to not hurt living things on our land, care for plants and animals, and pick up litter."

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Context

Hi! My name is Elle, the face behind this site! I am a Grade 1 teacher in Saskatchewan and in my 6th year of teaching. I fell in love with outdoor learning during my internship at Pike Lake School in 2017, where I experienced a pedagogical focus on outdoor education in a K-4 combined classroom. Through this experience, I was able to see the benefits and success that outdoor learning had on children academically and holistically, which in turn is reflected in my current teaching philosophy. Upon entering my teaching career, I knew that I wanted to incorporate outdoor learning into my own classroom in a meaningful and authentic way, but did not feel well enough equipped or confident in my knowledge and abilities. In 2021, I began my master’s program in Curriculum Studies at the University of Saskatchewan, where my research focus was on play-based learning and outdoor education in the early years. The more I learned about play-based learning and outdoor education, the more I incorporated it into my teaching. I have been using outdoor education as my professional growth goal for the last two years and have never looked back. With experience in teaching in both rural and urban areas around Saskatchewan and through my extensive research, I am confident in the benefits of outdoor and play-based education.

 

My Purpose

Due to the large gap between Kindergarten and Grade 1, and the limitations of resources in my current urban school setting, I have struggled with the high demands of the Grade 1 curriculum. As I researched the benefits of play and outdoor learning, I have learned how to bridge the gap in a playful and hands-on way. I decided to design this site for my capstone project in hopes that my work and research can inspire and equip other educators with knowledge and confidence to incorporate outdoor learning and play into their Grade 1 classrooms.

 

 I also included my design of The Wonder Wagon program (which was inspired by a literal wagon) in hopes to use this site as a possible grant proposal and program pitch. This program was designed with the intention to one day make it a reality and run a specialized program for Grade 1 students using play-based learning and outdoor education at the heart of it's philosophy. To protect my work, this tab is currently protected by a password and unable to be viewed by the public.

 

My Next Steps

• Moving forward in my career, I hope to continue to grow and learn as an educator. Although this project marks the end of my master's journey, it does not mean that I will stop learning about play-based education and outdoor learning. I hope to continue adding to this website as I learn and grow in my experience and knowledge.

• I plan to continue to keep updated on the most recent research around play-based learning and outdoor education. Next on my professional reading list is The Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv, The Sky Above and the Mud Below: Lessons From Nature Preschools and Forest Kindergartens by David Sobel, and The School Garden Curriculum by Kaci Rae Christopher. I am also looking forward to diving more deeply into Margaret McMillan's work and Dr. Angela Pyle's research and work on play.

• I have just received a grant from SaskOutdoors, so I look forward to receiving some items to use for my professional development and outdoor learning. I will continue to apply for grants to improve the outdoor learning experiences I provide for my students. I also want to collect some nature guides so that I can teach my students about the plants in our outdoor learning space.

• As I continue to grow, I hope to bring my students outside more frequently and for longer periods of time.

• I plan to get my Early Childhood Educator Certificate to further my education.

• I plan to continue to attend professional development opportunities around play-based learning and outdoor education. Two opportunities that I am interested in is The Outdoor Learning Conference in Banff, AB in May 2023 and The Manitoba Nature Summit.

• Lastly, I would love to have an opportunity to pilot a real Wonder Wagon program.

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