December

Learn how to set up a simple and fun biological survey of your local area. Great for homelearners and people of all ages!

You may know your human neighbours, but do you know which birds live in your local area? Which bugs? Do you know the names of the plants growing on the sidewalk? Do you want to? If you do, then this is the program for you!

First, you’ll join an FRDC educator on Zoom for 1 hour to learn how to set up and conduct a biological survey of your neighbourhood. A survey creates a list of all the species that live in an area. Second, you’ll go out on your own to conduct the survey. Third, you’ll share your findings with the other workshop participants through a invite-only video message board.

A survey can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be, so all ages and levels of experience are welcome. You don’t need any prior knowledge; this workshop will give you all the tools you need to conduct a successful survey!

To participate in this program, you will need:

• A stable internet connection.
• Mobile devices or tablets, to run the Seek app. A data connection for the device is recommended, but not required. Participants can work independently or in groups.
• The ability to see and hear a video conference with the FRDC educator, on a device separate from the one running Seek.

Curricular connections:

This program fully supports curricular competencies in the science curriculum as students go through the entire scientific process: questioning and predicting, planning and conducting,  processing and analyzing data and information, all the way to communicating. A super scaleable activity, it also has applications at every grade level.

For more information, visit our website or email us. 

Online booking form here.

Uncover the science of archaeology by investigating artefacts from the ancient cultures of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Indus Valley, China, Greece, and Rome. Work in teams to do a simulated field dig, then research and analyze artifacts in a lab to formulate and test your hypothesis. Learn about several prominent Northwest Coast archaeological sites. Using traditional First Nations belongings, examine the role and limitations of archeology in studying First Nations culture and ways of knowing.

Explore c̓əsnaʔəm: the city before the city through a scavenger hunt activity based on the Big Six Historical Thinking Concepts. Learn about the impact of colonization on the Musqueam community and their resiliency toward assimilative policies. Through Object-Based Learning, examine the impact of colonial policies on First Nations history, language, and culture and learn about our shared responsibility in the reconciliation process.

Invite OWL (Orphaned Wildlife) Rehabilitation Society to join you in your classroom to learn about the amazing species of raptors that call BC home, the features and adaptations that make them unique, their life cycles, and about the dangers they face and how you can help. You also get the chance to meet some of OWL’s Raptor Ambassadors up close in person! Each program will be focused to each grade level that is participating.

Have a specific topic in mind? We are more than happy to work with you to make the program you are looking for. Some popular requests include focusing on a specific species, such as owls or just hawks, life cycles, or food chains.

https://www.owlrehab.org/education/in-class/

These art activities are inspired by the symbolism and architecture of a Chinese garden and allow students to explore CHinese symolism and our beautiful leak windows to create artwors of their own. 

This activity can be adapted easily to the age of the students and the time available in class.

Options: 

• Framing Views: https://vancouverchinesegarden.com/wp-content/uploads/FramingViews.pdf
• Exploring Chinese Symbols: Bats https://vancouverchinesegarden.com/wp-content/uploads/Exploring-Chinese-Symbols-1.pdf

Hosted through video conference software, an FRDC educator will lead your students through a fully interactive program, engaging them with the material by utilizing the latest tools in online and remote education. 

Join us as we journey down the river of stories from the headwaters to the mouth of the Fraser. Travelling along an interactive map, students will learn all about the Fraser River Basin through stories from the near and distant past. The program ends with a reflection on our place in this landscape, as students add their own story to the map. 

Curricular connections:

This program supports curricular competencies in English Language Arts as students engage actively as listeners, viewers and readers; create stories to deepen their awareness of self; and use oral storytelling processes. This program also supports competencies in Social Studies as students learn about cultural characteristics and ways of life of local First Peoples, and understand the significance of the Fraser River Basin to individuals and groups. This program incorporates the First Peoples Principles of Learning, specifically that learning is relational; recognizes the role of indigenous knowledge; is embedded in story; and requires exploration of one’s own identity. Further, this program supports students in the process of developing a positive personal and cultural identity.

To participate in these programs, you will need:

• A stable internet connection.
• A device for each student (laptop, tablet, or chromebook, etc) with a stable internet connection. They will use this throughout the program for the interactive activities.
• The ability to join the video conference with the FRDC educator. This can be done one of two ways: the teacher can join the video conference and project it with sound for the whole class to view; or each student can join on their device with headphones.

Online Booking Form Here! 

Tundra & I will visit your school if it is within a reasonable travel distance. During the COVID 19 pandemic, this visit occurs outdoors, preferrably in a forested area on your school grounds or nearby. If no such location, then we use your school fields & we improvise that it is a forest. Students & staff get to watch Tundra's behavior & I explain what wolves in the wild would be doing. I tell many First Nation stories & legends about the wolf & why this animal is so important to their culture. I explain the important role the wolf plays in the ecosystem as an apex predator & keystone species. Opportunity for many questions from students & staff. Cost is $100 for the walks & travel expenses to the school.

If your school is too far away, I can over a ZOOM version of this program where the same material is covered & the students & staff get to see the four wolves our centre has.