Calgary Board of Education - Olympic Heights School

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OLYMPIC HEIGHTS SCHOOL
Learning and Inquiry Studies
2007-2008

Grade 2 - Mr. Bohn

Inusuk Forest Virtues Project

For the buddy classes of Room 20 (Mr. Innes) and Room24 (Mr. Bohn) the school forest has been a place to practice the virtues of peace, respect and responsibility.

Through the study of Inuit legends and Inuit communities our students have become fascinated with the many types of Inuksuit and their importance the Inuit people. The building of our school Inuksuk also inspired the children to build their own Inuksuit.

Once each set of buddies completed an Inuksuk, they then placed them in special spots in the forest. Specifically, they chose peaceful places to put their inuksuks, as a reminder to others to respect the forest. We hope this activity has helped to foster an increasing awareness of the value and fragility of our natural environment.

Forest Virtues Project
By Mr. Innes’ Rm 20 class and Mr. Bohn’s Rm. 24 class

Room 20 and room 24 buddies have been discussing a number of virtues that are important in our daily life. They decided to focus on peacefulness, caring, cooperation and responsibility. They thought that a very meaningful way to put these virtues into practice would be take responsibility in the study and care of our school forest.

The grade 5 children had been studying the different birds and animals that can be found in this region of Canada, while Grade 2’s have been inquiring about birds in science. Together, our students discovered what types of birds that they might find in our forest, and then they sketched pictures of a select few.

Next, they decided that the birds of our forest might need food and shelter. They researched ideas for bird houses and ways to feed to birds. Buddies worked together to design and build bird houses, and found a peaceful place to hang them. Later, they also put bird feeders by the houses.

Through this work, the children seem to have gained a sense of ownership of the forest, and look forward to observing the changes in our forest in the coming months.

So far they really enjoyed practicing some of our virtues in a practical way. They already have many ideas of how to continue to take this project up in the future.

Dreams

We dream of living in peace.
We dream of having lots of friends.
We dream of respecting and helping others.
We dream of making our school a better place.
We dream of making everyone feel like they belong.
We dream that we can be free like a bird.
We dream of being the best we can be.
We dream of warm hearts.

Prairie Pioneer Inquiry

The children have been engaged in a Prairie Pioneer inquiry. The children had questions about how the pioneers lived. Just like pioneers in the past, the children worked together as a community. They found answers to their questions using books and internet websites. Then they shared their understanding by making a Pioneer News Network (PNN) show. The students wrote scripts, created props, acted out their scripts, filmed their movies and edited and finalized their clips.

Peace in Nature

In celebration of International Peace Day, the buddy classes from Grade 5 Room 20 and Grade 2 Room 24 got together. They went to the forest and designed symbols of peace using natural items they gathered. Afterwards the children wrote about how they communicated peace through their art work.

Peace of the Flowers
The purple flowers and growing grass makes our flower beautiful.
By Halle and Calista

Peace is leaves falling of trees in the mountains.
By Kyle and Rory

Flowers and leaves representing peace.
By Aarushi and YiomaraPeace is many things from nature.
By Nada and Jessica H.

Doves flying free, the frost is coming, rain falling from the heavens above peace. The rice fields are ready, the sun is shining brightly … Peace.
By Slater and Darren

Our house is kind to other people. We wish for no wars.
By Henry

The picture of love means peace and happiness.
By Paul, Luke, and Ashley

This is a peaceful sunrise. The moss is the ground. The dirt is the sky.
By Dezmond and Tanner

This is a symbol of peace. It means no wars and that people will be nice all over the world.
By Kat and Emily

This is a picture of a place with no pollution, a happy place with peace.
By Kat and Emily

We think that our picture means peace on earth. We think peace makes our world safe. We think there should be peace all over the world.
By Reem and Amanda

A peace swan. Whenever it is cold and rainy I will remember this!
Louis and Hamza

Rising rose on an autumn day, fills the air with its peaceful way.
By Vanessa and Nyalong

Peace
A beautiful sunset that lights up the sky,
the peace of the forest that flitters and flies.
By Sarah and Christina

We think that this picture is peaceful because there is a kid in the forest all by himself. We also believe that the forest is a peaceful place to think.
By Ben and Jake

This made us think of peace. Fallen leaves are a peace symbol.
By Hugo and Aidan

This reminds us of the stars glowing high in the sky.
By Hugo and Aidan

Ryan – this lets me think of a deer walking through the forest peacefully.

Zach – This deer says to me, it is walking through the grass nice and peacefully.

A crane is a sign of peace. This crane is in a peaceful land.
By Jennifer and Cat

Peace
When it’s cold I think of the sun and it makes me feel like peace. When the sun is bright it let’s us see otherwise it would be dark. If there was no sun plants couldn’t grow.

Peace
By Jessica R. and Alison D.

Leaves of peace have come down in fall. This makes us think of peace.
By Evan and Ashton

When we think of skiing it makes us think of peace and a smile on some ones face. When you are flying down the hill with the wind in your face, it makes you feel good and peaceful.
By Brock and Aliyah

Peace makes a garden grow.
Peace is a rainbow.
Peace makes flowers grow.
By Kianna and Callen

Peace is a flower blooming in summer. One of the most beautiful plants on earth.
Peace.
By Durrand and Jack

Acadian Inquiry

During their inquiry of Acadia, the children in Room 24 had many questions about Acadia. They used books and internet to find out answers to their questions. Our big question is, “How do we belong?” The Acadian history of exile from Canada brought up discussions of what the Acadians did to feel like they belonged. The virtues of caring, respect and peacefulness played an important part the Acadian identity. The children decided to share their understanding of Acadia by working together to design an Acadian community called Boutouche, N.B. Every one played a role in building the town and experienced a wonderful sense of community while doing so.