INQUIRY CLASSROOM

I hope you will join my class on our journey of learning and understanding.

My name is Alison Katzko. I love learning. I love what I do.
There is so much to learn and explore.
Inquiry means to me:
Providing rich learning opportunities. Learners take ownership by discovering and developing their potential, passions and gifts. As life-long learners and deep, critical thinkers, they are able to make significant contributions within a complex and changing world.
I feel it is important that students should always work with authentic ideas.

How are canadians connected to water?

A year long Grade 5 study into how people of today and the past are influenced, impacted and custodians of water. Students created an interactive teaching exhibit to showcase their chosen water issue.

ZEB HOGAN
EXPLORER- EXCHANGE

What happens when National Geographic Educators and Explorers connect?
What a meaningful connection that inspires students!

Where is the mathematics in snowflake formations?

Connecting to our grade 5 water studies, we looked into the mathematics of snowflakes and made these beautiful designs.

ART -SCIENCE CONNECTIONS

A grade 5 class represents science through art to better understand data.

A QUILT STUDY
"WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BELONG?"

While looking at,
a grade 1-2 combined classroom's study of quilts.

BACKYARD Bird Studies

A Grade 1-2 combined classroom's study of birds for the year by connecting with experts
and doing field studies.

Park Study
"WHAT ARE THE CHANGES IN OUR COMMUNITY?"

A grade 1-2 study of our local park. We visited the park for a full day, each month and observed the changes we saw.

Inspiring Landscapes of Canada

A grade 5 study of the geography of Canada through sounds and songs.

"WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF Food WastE?"

A grade 3/4 study of food and how it impacts us globally and locally.
We looked at: "What is the impact of food waste?"

STEAM Challenges

The students in Grade 5 participated in STEAM challenges to build skills in communication, cooperation, critical thinking, and much more!
Skills were used for a final design task connecting to our years studies about water.

ESRI MAPPING THE HEALTH OF OUR LOCAL WETLANDS

Students in Grade 5 researched our local wetland to see how healthy it is through data collection and GIS.

Arts Commons
Open MInds

Grade 5 students spend a week downtown visiting and learning about art. We returned to create out own art instillation in our school to create positive change.

Energy Challenge

Students in Grade 5 participate in the Royal Canadian Geographical and Shell Energy Challenge.

The Canadian Diet Energy Challenge is to reduce the amount of energy students use through classroom and home challenges.

Shadow Art

Grade 1-2 Students explored Jazz music. We used different art mediums to represent the sounds of Jazz. We had a jazz band visit us and help us create our own school jazz song. We then created a book that that has poems about different instruments and sounds.

outdoor journaling

This year the value of getting students outside and connected to the outdoors seems more important than ever.

Check back again to see how grade 5 students do a GeoInquiry about the naturalization space at our school.

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Neighbourhood Stories

Through a Public Arts Grant, community member participated in sharing their stories that were created into a fence mural. Schools in the neighbourhood, after school programs, senior's groups and community artists all participated.

Students created a map of where in the community some of the stories took place (including thunder mountain and turtle hill)

Teaching in Bhutan

Students in Bhutans share how their school is a green school and how their country is known as the country for Gross National Happiness.

External Links and resources

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