Accomplished Artist Inspires Learning on the Land

This week, schools across BC are participating in a worldwide movement to reconnect children with nature and community. Take Me Outside Week celebrates the understanding that meaningful learning can happen anywhere. Through regular experiences on the land, students deepen their sense of belonging, strengthen their relationship with place, and discover that the world itself can be a classroom.

At PIESS, our Grade 4/5 and 6/7 teachers are committed to redefining the traditional classroom. Through regular learning experiences on the land, our intermediate students are building stronger connections to themselves, one another, and the natural world around them. Weekly visits to outdoor learning spaces provide opportunities for students to develop a sense of belonging, curiosity, and responsibility while recognizing that a classroom can be a beach, a forest, a meadow, or a community gathering place. By grounding learning in place and relationship, students are encouraged to slow down, observe, wonder, and engage with the world in authentic ways. This commitment to outdoor learning was beautifully reflected in a special visit that inspired students to see the connections between creativity, community, advocacy, and care for the land.

This past Monday, both the 4/5 and the 6/7 classes visited the old W̱SÁNEĆ village site at the SDÁ,YES canal for their regular Monday afternoon learning. Only this Monday, they were met by a team of artists and musicians. Local artists have been working together with renowned illustrator Jackie Morris, who has travelled all the way from Wales to share an important message.

After learning that the Oxford Junior Children’s Dictionary had removed many nature words such as raven, bluebell, dandelion, fern, and otter, replacing them with terms such as voicemail, blog, and broadband, Jackie began a peaceful awareness campaign to reconnect children with the language of the natural world, a world she describes as one that “supports our very life on this planet.”

Gathered on the beach, students listened as Jackie shared her beautiful illustrations alongside Robert Macfarlane’s words from The Lost Words. She told stories as she painted, captivating students who watched in awe as an otter emerged from a seemingly effortless sweep of her brush. Jackie encouraged everyone present to remember “our place on the planet” and to continue learning about the many living beings with whom we share it. She reminded students of the importance of holding onto knowledge of creatures such as the wren and raven, even as technology occupies an increasing part of our daily lives.

Students enthusiastically shared their own knowledge of local plants and animals and spoke about the joy they experience when spending time outdoors. One of the accompanying local artists remarked that the beach classroom where students were learning was “the most beautiful classroom” they had ever seen.

It was a truly memorable experience to welcome Jackie Morris to inspire our learning on the land. Her visit reminded us that words, stories, art, and personal action all have the power to foster understanding, advocacy, and care for the world around us.

Thank you to Ms. Emily and Mrs. Williams for launching the week in a beautiful way!

Artwork by Jackie MorrisThank you Jackie for sharing your beautiful artwork and stories with our students. This stunning image of three swallows can be found on Jackie's website.