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Knitting might be the last thing you’d expect Grade 5 students to be doing during their lunch hour, but at least 12 students are doing exactly that—and for a good cause.
Students at École Father Jan School, in St. Albert, are participating in the Scarf Project, an initiative that, upon completion, will provide a unique souvenir for every athlete, coach and volunteer attending the 2012 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games.
The students are among the many volunteers contributing to the project goal of having 2,500 handmade scarves ready to give Special Olympics athletes and their supporters when they roll into St. Albert and Jasper for the national competition, February 28–March 3, 2012.
Teacher Colette Klemmer heard about the Scarf Project from a colleague at another school in the Greater St. Albert Catholic Regional Division. She saw how the project fit with the Grade 5 social studies curriculum on Canada, particularly the topic of the Great Depression.
“It was part of understanding the past,” explained Klemmer, relating the students’ participation to learning about life during the Great Depression, when out of necessity people recycled and made many items by hand. “Today, the kids are so into video games and TV, that we wanted to show them other past times that didn’t cost as much money.”
The Grade 5 social studies curriculum also has expectations related to learning about citizenship, and Klemmer is looking at other ways to take advantage of the opportunities presented by having 2012 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games in her backyard. “There are going to be [Special Olympics] athletes visiting the school,” she said. “It would be nice to take the kids to an event too … we’re within walking distance of the curling rink. And right now, I’m in touch with another French immersion teacher at Marie Poberun [School] about writing messages [of support] in French for the athletes who speak French.”
Teachers interested in the Scarf Project can find more information at www.stalbert2012.ca.
