Tomekichi Homma Elementary, Brunswick Drive, Richmond, BC, Canada
Our group was impressed by the intentional layout of the outdoor learning space at Homma Elementary School as it actively integrated place-based learning and community involvement into the students education. Below I have attached images of the outdoor space featuring natural loose materials such as: mud, leaves, logs, acorns, wooden planks and wood chips. The space also encouraged cross curricular outdoor learning as there was a designated space for literacy and exploring reading. As we were in the season of fall, many stations were organized so children can explore different topics such as harvesting and the life cycle of various vegetables available to us in the lower mainland. As this is an outdoor space, it also encouraged developing children’s physical literacies as children could explore their physical abilities in mud pits, on various obstacle course and being able to play with wood.
This specific experience can relate to our inquiry question and the significance of the Shadow Tree in our local UBC community in encouraging place-based learning and building a stronger connection not only with our local land, but various communities. Investigating the space where the Shadow Tree is located not only encourages being outside, but probes kid’s curiosity of what the Shadow Tree is as an art piece and similarly to what the children were learning at Homma Elementary School, possibly exploring the life cycle of a Douglas Fir and its significance in our community.
