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.