The Canadian Playful Schools Network (CPSN) is a network of 42 schools across Canada that aim to support play-based learning to engage students in grades 4-8. Two schools from the Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) collaborated on water-focused class projects, which resulted in bringing friendship and clean water to a third CPSN school.
At St. George School, the grade 4-5 and 5-6 classes began a year-long inquiry focused on protecting water ecosystems and access to clean drinking water. The classes worked together once a week throughout the year. “Water Wednesdays” were devoted to collaborative, play-based learning about water. Some of the activities included:
- Learning about the importance of drinking water and programming Ozobots to trace the path of water through the body.
- Educational programming from the Ottawa River Keeper that involved playing games about endangered species and weather treatment.
- Using Mindcraft to design sustainable wastewater treatment plants and then meeting with City of Ottawa staff to receive feedback on their designs, allowing them to adjust and improve them.
The eighth-grade class at Notre Dame High School was studying the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). After much research and discussion, the class chose SDG #14, Life below Water, as their focus for the rest of the year. As both schools had water-based projects, they teamed up through CPSN to share some play-based learning activities. The first event was a collaborative escape room activity over Google Meet. In December, the St. George students visited Notre Dame for a day of science workshops presented by Project Nibi, a student-led social enterprise from the University of Ottawa that works with Indigenous communities affected by water crises. The students from St. George and Notre Dame learned about water consumption, tested the pH levels of various liquids, and created water filtration systems. Later in April, the St. George classes took another field trip to Notre Dame. They learned through play and investigation and got to try various activities with a focus on water and technology.
Engaging in water-based activities led to the creation of two social entrepreneurship projects. The 8th-grade class at Notre Dame founded the business ND S.O.A.P. (Saving Oceans And Planet), which involved the production and sale of natural soaps to raise funds for the water project at True North Aid.
The students received a practical lesson on soap-making techniques from soap makers in their local community. They utilized their creativity to design and 3D print molds for the soap and also incorporated small marine animals made from biodegradable plastic into the soap bars. Additionally, the Notre Dame grade 11 business class mentored the younger students. They taught them how to devise marketing strategies for different audiences and aided them in crafting their pitches for sales, which took place within the school.
Meanwhile, at St. George, the grade 4-5 class connected with another CPSN school, Amos Comenius Memorial School in Hopewell Labrador, which studied water quality. The classes enjoyed their virtual playdates over Google Meet. They played games together and asked each other questions. The students enjoyed describing the different sports they played. The Inuit students taught the St. George class some northern games, such as the owl hop, the monkey dance, and the seal drag.
When the St. George students first met their peers at the Amos Comenius Memorial School, the northern school and its town were under a boil water advisory. The St. George students wanted to help their new friends and decided to raise money for Project Nibi, which aims to provide clean water to students in Labrador. To achieve this, they partnered with Poly Plastics, a local enterprise that converts plastic waste into new products. The St. George students created Every Last Sip and designed coasters made from recycled plastic, which they sold to raise funds. Every Last Sip also became the school’s Lenten project. The class created a video that they sent to other schools, inviting them to join in the fundraiser. Five other schools agreed to contribute to their fundraising initiatives, making it a collective effort.
During spring, the two St. George classes dedicated their Wednesdays to a big play-based water project. They came up with an idea to organize an arcade night called “Play for Change,” where all the proceeds would go to “Every Last Sip.” The students worked in teams of 4-6, and each group chose a water-related issue to focus on. They designed digital and cardboard games around their chosen theme and created promotional and information videos about their subject. At the end of the school year, “Every Last Sip” had raised enough funds for “Project Nibi” to install three filtration systems in Hopedale, Labrador.
One last big sale helped propel the students to their fundraising goal and beyond. While looking for corporate sponsorship for the Project Nibi program, Co-Project Manager Alexandra Whiteduck had previously met with Ashley Chapman, Chief Operating Officer of Chapman’s Ice Cream. She told him about the St. George students’ work with Every Last Sip and their desire to support their friends in Labrador. Mr. Chapman was keen to meet the students. Over Google Meet, they presented their work in creating Every Last Sip. Mr. Chapman then offered to purchase $4,000 worth of coasters and to give the kids free ice cream for all their hard work. This was a great example of learning partnerships and the impact of Deep Learning in action.
By the end of the school year, “Every Last Sip” had raised enough funds for “Project Nibi” to install three filtration systems in Hopedale, Labrador. Project Nibi is working with the community to ensure its solution meets their specifications and is hoping to install the first filter in the near future. Knowing that they had succeded in helping their friends in Labrador was an even better reward than the ice cream party held at the end of the year!