‘Mon Animal’ project combines learning at Maplehurst Middle School

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A local school combined Science, Social Studies and Art for a special learning experience.

Maplehurst Middle School students created their own ‘Mon Animal’ with the help of Ryan Smallwood and Art Specialist Jennifer Aikman-Smith.

"Mr. Smallwood, who teaches science and social studies and I partnered this year. We looked at our curriculum, and we realized that there could be a lot of commonalities. So as he taught them about vertebrates and non-vertebrates and the classification of animals, I actually had them come up with the brainstorming ideas to invent their own animals, to take three different ones and then come up with five combinations of piecing them together. We also had a climate action grant to get some extra supplies," Aikman-Smith says.

She says each time the students went between Art class and Science and Social Studies, the project got a little bit deeper, "They learned about Naturalists like John James Audubon or scientists like Charles Darwin. They started looking at Habitat and climate change. Mr. Smallwood came up with a brilliant project to have them design their own island, and then for sculpture, we really wanted them to re-purpose as much as possible. They brought in stuffies, we used clothing from Frenchies and stuff that had been lying around."

Aikman-Smith adds it was really fascinating to see how students who never really had an interest in Art or vice-versa, adapted very well.

Some of the things they’ve learned from the project include how to reuse items a little more which in turn will lead to taking better care of the planet, "A lot of them are starting to be more conscious about garbage and plastic waste. They are starting to realize that they can have an impact on the world around them," Aikman-Smith says.

As a part of the project, the students also made a donation to the Magnetic Hill Zoo, from those who learned how to make handmade notepaper from office shreddings and art room scraps.

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