The Pickel Jar
Miss Pickel's Educational Adventures
Rural Teaching Practicum
6 weeks (intended 9 weeks, shortened due to COVID-19)
February 3- March 17, 2020
Gold River, BC, Canada
My final practicum was very special- I taught in a Grade 6/7 split class in a remote mountain village at the heart of Vancouver Island. Gold River is a truly unique place. Only 1,200 live here. Ray Watkins Elementary School has just over 100 students with a 35% indigenous population. Here, I found myself inspired to bring in my worldly experiences and share them with the class. We explored the world through Black History Month, a multi-day digderidoo workshop, and a French-style conversation cafe!
Black History Month Explorations
For the month of February we studied black history across the world through a novel study (A Desperate Road to Freedom), drama activities, making Creative Canadian Currency inspired by Canadians of African descent, reading picture books about figures such as Nelson Mandela, and learning about rights activists in the U.S.A.... like Rosa Parks. This bulletin board was created over the month to show our learning!
Didgeridoo Workshop
With special guest Matthew Haussmann we explored the history and splendour of this Australian instrument over 2 fun filled days! Did you know that this instrument is over 1,500 years old, was not traditionally played by women, and comes from hollowed out Eucalyptus bark that has been eaten by termites? Neither did I before this workshop! We made them from cutting PVC pipe, adding a beeswax mouthpiece, covering it in tape and painting them in traditional colours! Afterwards we learned how to play them, starting with the basic "drone".
Café Français!
Such a fun way to learn a new language! Three French speaking community members came in to discuss the weather, food, body parts, and conversation starters... all in French! We drank tea, ate les biscuits, and wore berets.
Bye Gold River!
It was really sad to leave this town early because of the coronavirus. However, I feel so grateful for my time there, and will never forget what I learned and the connections I made!
