Talk to any student in the halls of Victoria Terrace Public School in Fergus and ask them where energy comes from and you’ll get an informed, detailed answer. Chances are, they’ll have some good questions for you too.
That’s because when Victoria Terrace examines an issue they go all the way. This Platinum EcoSchool selects one topic each year for their “School-Wide Inquiry” program. As part of this inquiry program, the school’s 189 students, teachers and administrators all get involved. EcoTeam Lead Teachers, Anna Mark and Patsy Collier agree that, “For a relatively small school, getting every classroom involved makes a big difference.”
In 2014 the topic was Waste; in 2015, Water. This year, the whole school has been focused on Energy.
The inquiry kicked off in April, when staff and students set the study question: “Can we survive on renewable energy?” Since then, everyone at the school has been engaged in a rich inquiry-based learning process. Students from Kindergarten to grade 6 added their own questions to drive the inquiry forward, then worked with teachers and administrators to find ways to investigate issues with hands-on activities. Poetry and art has also been used to explore the issues in a “minds-on” approach.
You can see the results of this inquiry everywhere. Big boards in the main hallway are devoted to different types of energy, and combine information, analysis and colourful artwork. Students walking to and from class, as well as visiting parents and community members, are reminded of the importance of energy conservation and the school’s amazing inquiry process.
And Victoria Terrace doesn’t stop there! Next year, they’ll be taking their study further, accessing data from the school’s solar panels, plus extending “Sweater Day” to an entire week.
| Victoria Terrace students care deeply about the planet and are eager to do their part. They have waste-free lunches, and turn the lights off at snack time. They analyze their school’s data to track natural gas use and electricity consumption. An active EcoTeam manages recycling and compost, and Facetimes with other schools to brainstorm around challenges. This spring, the grade 5 /6 classes celebrated the planet in a new way when they took part in a photography workshop organized by the non-profit Focus On Nature. The professional calibre results are on display at the school and are being auctioned off to raise money for Sick Kids Hospital. |
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