cookshire elementary

Cookshire, Quebec, Canada

In the fall of 2017, Chris Adam, the Sustainability Coordinator at Dawson College in Montreal, led a series of workshops that engaged Cookshire Elementary students with nature, both indoors and outside. Observing the impact this had on the students, the Cookshire staff were convinced that integrating Nature more fully into their teaching practice and school design would enhance student well-being and particularly benefit students who were struggling with anxiety. By December of that year, the staff voted unanimously to become a Living School. They chose to start with a focus on Nature with specific activities for each grade as well as whole-school projects.

By June of 2018 Cookshire hosted a celebration event to officially launch their Living School. It was remarkable and inspiring to see what this small rural school had accomplished.

There was an official opening of an insect hotel (Bugz Inn), a ceremonial planting of the first bush in their edible hedge, a pollinator garden already in place and an outdoor learning space. Indoors, a colourful mural graces the front hall, depicting the values they are embracing. The grade one class shared their worm composting project with us. Other grades presented their work on the impact of plastic on ocean species. A grade 5 student proudly told us about the mural that displays what students said make them feel happy. There was a butterfly incubator area as well as a Curious George wall where students could post questions that they are curious about. Students were also painting bee boxes for a local bee keeper.

You can read more about Cookshire on the Media page of this web site.