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MONTHLY INSPIRATION - Soundscape Composition

This month, we highlight a captivating outdoor project at École St Germain in Manitoba, aligning with the Manitoba Music Curriculum and the Louis Riel School Division Multi-Year Strategic Plan. Students used sound map paper to visually represent the sounds around the school field, connecting music education with environmental awareness. The interdisciplinary lesson included elements of plants, trees, and Métis culture, enhancing the learning experience. Students worked in groups to select instruments and created a graphic score for a performance, emphasizing an open-minded approach to art. The positive feedback reflected a meaningful connection to nature and creative expression of music.

Thank you, Mme Jennifer, for sharing your innovative lesson!

SFS EVENT:

HUMAN RIGHTS DAY: DECEMBER 10, 2023

Get ready to celebrate Human Rights Day in Canada on December 10th! This day holds special significance as it marks the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a groundbreaking document that enshrines the inherent rights and dignity of every individual.

Check out our curated resources and lesson plans below to make learning about human rights engaging and meaningful. Let's empower our students to become compassionate global citizens. Here are a few ideas of what you could do in your class or school to celebrate Human Rights Day.

Art and Poster Exhibition:

• Organize an art exhibition showcasing student-created artwork that reflects human rights themes. This could include paintings, sculptures, or even digital art.

Poetry Slam or Spoken Word Event:

• Allow students to express their thoughts and feelings about human rights through poetry or spoken word performances.

Host a library reading for student or book club:

• Curate a list of books that cover different human rights issues. Consider novels, short stories, memoirs, and non-fiction works that provide diverse perspectives and experiences.

Thank you for contributing to a world where diversity is celebrated, and the rights of every person are respected

RESOURCE PICKS OF THE MONTH

K to 6 – Rights, Wants & Needs Activity Kit – Teaching for Children’s Rights            

This activity kit introduces students to human rights and citizenship concepts using picture cards and a variety of related activities. The resource explores the idea that children’s basic needs are considered rights.  It uses hands-on activities to help students see the link between rights and responsibilities.   

Grades 3 to 8 – The World is Not Equal. Is that Fair?                                                      

This resource aims to enhance students’ awareness of the many types of inequality in the world. The activities introduce the students to social disparities and explore the consequences of these inequalities on society and the economy. Students will discuss the notion of inequality, answer questions, present a persuasive argument based on research, present the class with a form of inequality, present a day in the life of a person who experiences a disparity and create an "impact chain" based on the inequality.

Grades 5 to 10 – Human Rights and the Global Goals                                                      

This resource will help students better understand human rights. Through various activities, students will learn about human rights, including child rights, and make links between these rights and the SDGs. The resource also provides suggestions for students to take action and stand up for human rights.

Grades 8 to 12 – Women’s Rights – Global Gender Equality                                          

This classroom resource presents six activities dealing with global gender inequality.  The activities range from a consciousness-raising approach towards language and its gendered uses to discussions and research on major issues of inequality facing women. This resource is the first of three booklets developed by Amnesty International dealing with violence against women and women's and human rights.



You can find all of these resources and more on the R4R.ca website. R4R.ca provides immediate access to more than 1700 quality classroom resources and connects teachers to lesson plans, books, videos and other materials that explore the environmental, social and economic dimensions of important issues and events unfolding in our world today.

PD SPOTLIGHT

"Staying Outside" Webinar

As educators, we understand the importance of outdoor learning and its positive impact on student engagement and well-being. In this session, we delve into innovative strategies and practical tips for making the most of outdoor education during the colder seasons.

The Sustainable Future School Playbook

Check out some of our other resources!

Looking for more ideas for including sustainable learning in your classroom? Check out some of our other resources:

• Visit R4R for some great climate change resources (books, videos, lesson plans, games, etc.)
• Learning Inside Out is LSF's weekly collection of learning activities for grades K-12, hand-picked from our award-winning R4R database.
• Looking to get outside and connect with nature this year? Don’t forget our Step Outside guides on R4R!
• Our Climate Change Inquiry Resources: Empowering Learners in a Warming World are fully online or downloadable to bring climate change learning into your K-2, 3-6 and 7-12 classroom!
• Our Green Jobs: Adapting to our Changing Climate video series introduces students to Canadian experts who build climate resilience in their work

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