Wings of Discovery Little Hands Cooking Classes

In partnership with Loblaws Inc., Let's Talk Science volunteers from across Canada will be helping out with the hands-on science portion of the Wings of Discovery Little Hands cooking classes for ages 3 to 5. In addition to preparing pizzas, children will learn what happens when things dissolve in liquid, along with what dissolves and what doesn't.

To register, contact your local store or visit www.pccookingschool.ca

Upcoming dates and locations for 2011 include:

Halifax, NS
October 10:30-11:30 am
Atlantic Superstore, 3601 Joseph Howe Drive (Tel: 902-453-1080)

Toronto, ON
October 12, 10:00-11:00am & 1:00-2:00pm
Loblaws, 396 St. Clair Ave W (Tel: 416-651-5166)

October 8, 11:00am-12:00pm
Real Canadian Superstore, 1755 Brimley Road, Scarborough (Tel: 416-279-0802)

October 14, 11:00am-12:00pm
Loblaws, 200 Bullock Dr, Markham (Tel: 905-294-4922)

Montreal, QC
October 7, 10:00-11:00am
Loblaws, 6767, Boul. Newman, Lasalle (Tel: 514-364-7168)

Calgary, AB
October 19, 5:30-6:30pm
Real Canadian Superstore, 20 Heritage Meadows Rd SE (Tel: 403-692-6245)

Kingston, ON
October 15, 10:00-11:00am
Loblaws, 1048 Midland Ave (Tel: 613-389-5339)

London, ON
October 22, 11:30am-12:30pm
Loblaws, 1740 Richmond St N (Tel: 519-673-6111)

Ottawa, ON
October 15, 10:00-11:00am
Loblaws, 100 McArthur Rd (Tel: 613-744-0705)

October 18, 18h00-19h00
Loblaws, 1980 Ogilvie Rd (Tel: 613-746-8266)

Making Connections - Phase 2

In the spring of 2009, Let’s Talk Science launched Making Connections – a pilot project aimed at learning how Wings of Discovery^® explorations are adapted at childcare centres in Aboriginal communities.

Eight educators, 32 students, an elder and community members from three Saskatchewan Aboriginal communities participated in the pilot project by adapting and using activities primarily from the Trip to My Garden project. Educators found that many of the Wings of Discovery activities fit easily within the framework of traditional Aboriginal culture.

In January 2010, with support from Health Canada, Let’s Talk Science launched Phase 2 of Making Connections with the addition of nine new communities in British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan. Two of the original Saskatchewan communities also agreed to continue documenting the implementation of Wings activities in the classroom. 

Project facilitators for each community participated in a two-day training session in London, Ont., to prepare them to support educators in implementing the activities. Throughout the project, educators documented the successes and challenges and then came together in B.C. in the fall of 2010 to share key learnings with each other. Seventeen educators from six different communities, an elder, two Health Canada staff members from Manitoba and two Let’s Talk Science staff members participated in the Sharing Day, which included presentations from each of the childcare centres and two Wings of Discovery activities.

Let’s Talk Science learned Trip to My Home activities were the most popular, because they were easily adapted to traditional Aboriginal culture. Educators explored traditional homes from their own communities and compared these to traditional homes in other communities. Also popular were activities from Trip to My Garden, during which students learned about hibernation, migration, bird feeders, worm farming and planning and planting activities. 

“We used Wings of Discovery on and off before the project, but we’re using it more now. We never thought about the cultural aspect [of science activities and Wings] before. It was so easy to see how it all fit together, from our homes to animal homes to the uses of plants to the importance of flowers to our culture,” said Lizzie Daniels, Little Hands Aboriginal Head Start.

One of the findings from Making Connections was the value of the role of a mentor taken on by each project facilitator. Let’s Talk Science continues to look for opportunities to support Aboriginal communities in the future.