SWATCA2018

Play is the work of the child,' and one of our key roles as educators is to create spaces that allow unstructured play that stimulates and engages young children, allowing them to directly experience the natural world as they follow ants and smell the flowers. Research shows that children who play outside in nature in the company of a caring adult – you! - are more likely to practice responsible environmental behavior when they grow up. In this session, you will learn about the research and benefits of active outdoor nature play, see what others have done, and consider how to weave this in your teaching.

One of the best ways to teach a lesson is to tell a story. In this workshop, you will learn simple storytelling techniques, identify important ‘teachable’ stories in your life, and craft a successful oral tale. The focus will be on telling the stories that demonstrate the positive environmental future we all want to see. Not only that – you’ll thrill to a gripping story of struggle, competition, life, and death that took place in Christina’s worm composter!

Learn about ways you can bring Nature into the classroom. Be some of the first to learn about a new Watershed Video Conference Alberta Parks is developing with Oldman Watershed.
Summary:
Through out this session, teachers will have the opportunity to learn about a new program that Alberta Parks has developed, With Oldman Watershed that brings an understanding of Watersheds right into the classroom. This new program creates an awareness to how important a resource water is and shows all the ways we have been using water for thousands of years. Find out how you could get your presentation for free. There will also be the opportunity to learn about activities you can do with your students in your school yard that make curricular connections but are still fun and engaging.

Explore how teachers from any grade or specialty can incorporate Environmental Education into their teaching practice. Includes: local resources, example activities, stats, etc. If you are interested in learning more about how to incorporate Environmental Education into your teaching practice, regardless of the grade/subject you teach, this session will provide you with resources and information you need to get started. This presentation will include local resources, programming examples, tips on transportation, excellent guest speakers, outdoor teaching spaces in our area and many lesson ideas that incorporate new perspectives, physical wellness and inquiry-based learning. Environmental education is wonderful for engaging multiple perspectives, boosting student engagement, layering concepts and content and setting up future generations to better understand complex environmental issues and navigate sustainable solutions.