Environments have the ability to foster self-empowerment.
Community sets the tone of the classroom environment.
Self-awareness and ongoing adjustments according to need will help maintain a respectful community.
Ideal upper grade 21st century classroom. I would incorporate more natural elements such as plants.
Lower grade multi use interactive classroom. I like the separate spaces for different activities. The calming colors and organic elements help bring the natural world into the classroom. The space is inviting.
Human Rights Day activity: An example of an social studies and art lesson.
Focused on key vocabulary: Respects, Love, Peace, Social Justice, Community
The activity involved a read aloud, hypothetical scenario in which the students were separated by the color of their shirts and given preferential treatment. Students discuss how they felt and why their feeling were legitimate.
Higher order thinking skills required. Meaningful connections to historical issues.
On the back of each bookmark was a student written dream associated with the lesson.
Chicks that were brought into my classroom.
I support the incorporation of animals and plants into the classroom.
I value the connection between students and the natural world.
Students can connect to living and non-living things.
Observing the interaction of living things and the environment creates meaningful experiences for students .
Pictured on right: Product of living and nonliving organism interacting with their environment lesson. My class created a mini ecosystem to explore how things interact with their environment.
Let the classroom be decorated in student art.
Create a space that students feel proud in.
Pictured below: Student art of the Aurora Borealis. Part of the culture and environment unit on Alaska.
