Artifact 1

Integration of Knowledge and Practice

TEP Program Value

TEP supports the seamless connection between knowledge (academic disciplines), educational theory, and practice (methods for achieving educational ends). Educators must constantly engage in the recursive interplay of knowledge, educational theory and practice throughout their professional lives.

During my Canada unit I had my students take part in a critical challenge. The critical challenge had students pick 6 landmarks or tourist locations that we had study from 4 different provinces/territories to visit. Each student made a booklet with a short paragraph describing why they wanted to visit each place. The idea for this lesson originally came from our social studies methods class. I took the idea and added my own twist to the lesson. 

The set up for this lesson was huge. We spent two classes learning about the different locations that the students could choose from. I compiled a "travel guide" with locations across Canada. Each student was given 2 location descriptions along with a picture. We gathered around the map at the carpet and located the place on the map. The student would read their description and than place their picture by the map. There were tags on the map pointing to the locations. The students all had a piece of paper with them at the carpet to write down the places that they wanted to visit most. They particularly loved seeing the pictures. There were many excited gasps as they learned about the exciting places we have in Canada. 

The "travel guide", pictures, and bulletin board set up required a fair amount of work, but it was well worth it. This allowed for students to learn about Canada in a new and exciting way. They are learning about land forms and characteristics of the provinces and territories as the PLO's specify, but in a more dynamic way. Canada is often taught from maps and pencil crayons. This lesson encouraged students engagement and participation levels. They loved the lesson and continued to go and look at the map and pictures well after we had finished with the activity. 

The research and preparation that I did for this lesson speaks to the knowledge and practice that is required of a teacher. This lesson allowed for me to make learning about Canada on the map more exciting, and hands on. I was able to get away from the typical mapping lesson, and branch out to new ideas about studying Canada. The biggest bonus to all this was the kids loved it! I think it will be a long time before they forget about the giant pumpkin races in Windsor, Nova Scotia or the giant ice slides in Quebec City.