by Kevin Sonico After studying about different organelles that are present in cells and looking at examples of organisms under the microscope, students in Grade 8 explored the life cycle and life strategies of a unicellular and multicellular organisms. Through their research, students compared and contrasted these two different types of organisms. Students brainstormed on… Continue reading The "Better" Life Strategy
by Deirdre Bailey and Amy Park Our Grade 4 classes have spent the past three months inquiring into the topic of “Waste and Our World” with the goal of developing an appreciation and understanding of their roles and responsibilities as global citizens of this environmentally fragile and increasingly endangered planet. We had hoped that our… Continue reading Inquiring into Waste and Our World
by Deirdre Bailey Today was amazing for a number of reasons. We finished our decomposition lab this morning. It had been an enlightening few weeks of learning what becomes of a perishable food, halved and left in the open for three weeks. Some awesome things happen to rotting fruit after it starts to smell, not… Continue reading These Kids Get It!
At the Connect Charter School we focus on inquiry-based learning, technology-intergration, Collaboration, Education Research, Authentic Learning Experiences and outdoor/environmental education . We believe these pillars come together to provide students with opportunities for authentic, meaningful and relevant learning. At the core of our program is inquiry – an approach to learning and teaching (including teacher… Continue reading Introduction to Inquiry Based Learning
by Erin Couillard The last time I taught grade 6, my colleague Lisa Nelson and I decided to try something different with the flight unit. After a collaborative planning session with another colleague with expertise in this area, we developed a project in which students would design and test ‘objects that fly’ in a wind… Continue reading Hands on with Grade 6 Flight!
On October 5th and 6th, 2011, the Calgary Science School hosted the Forging Connections Conference. This conference was a collaboration between teachers, art and science experts and parents with the goal of integrating art and science more authentically into the students’ learning. This exciting two day event consisted of six, 105 minute sessions. Each was… Continue reading Forging Connections between Science and Art
Tonight is an exciting kick off event for us! On October 5th and 6th, 2011, the Calgary Science School is hosting the Forging Connections Conference. This conference is a collaboration between teachers, art and science experts and parents with the goal of integrating art and science more authentically into the students’ learning. It will also… Continue reading Forging Connections Kickoff
As a 1:1 school, one of our continual goals is to leverage the power of technology to support deep and intellectually rigorous work. Like many others, we believe that teaching and learning should not be about the tools, however emerging technologies, when embedded in well designed projects, can assist students in deep understanding and meaningful… Continue reading Using iMovie for Scientific Thinking
One of the key elements of inquiry-based learning at the Calgary Science School is embedding student work into authentic contexts. Our teachers spend a great deal of time designing work that bridges the program of studies and the ‘real world.’ This notion comes to us from our work with the Galileo Educational Network and their… Continue reading Authentic Contexts for Learning
Our grade 6 teachers are in the planning stages for a unit on the Boreal Forest. The guiding question for the study is currently: How is the Boreal Forest related to the health of the planet? Students will work through two sections of the study: 1. A mathematical exploration of large numbers, connected to the… Continue reading Boreal Forest: Are we doing enough?
