19. Queen Mary Elementary School – Great Garlic and Radishes!

Organization Information

Organization Name

Queen Mary Elementary School

Mission and Vision of Organization

Our mission is to build a respectful community of lifelong learners. We work towards being caring, accomplished and cooperative citizens. We aim to provide an enriched environment in which children are encouraged to think, question, create and wonder.

Guiding Principles + Values

• Demonstrate personal responsibility and self-control
• Respect each other, respect each other and respect property
• Becoming socially and environmentally conscious learners

As students develop in age, they will show increasing maturity, decision making and leadership qualities.

We value:

• Connection to land, teaching students how we obtain our food
• Accessibility for all students and staff to use the garden

Contact Information

• Primary Contact Person(s): Maria King
• Email: mking@vsb.bc.ca
• Secondary Contacts: Michael Atkinson, Sabrina Kuah (matkinson@vsb.bc.ca; skuah@vsb.bc.ca)
• Address: 2000 Trimble Street, Vancouver BC
• Phone: 604 713 5464
• Website: http://go.vsb.bc.ca/schools/queenmary/Pages/Default.aspx
• Best time(s) method(s) to contact: Email anytime. Text Maria's cell if needed, during business hours only (778 834 6478), M-F 9am-4pm

Project Description

UBC students will research and present cultural uses of garlic, how garlic is used around the world, how garlic is planted and harvested.

Queen Mary has on-site raised European garden beds and native plant areas. Staff have been working with students and a variety of community groups for the past several years to make the best use of these resources (teaching spaces). Classroom teachers and students plant and harvest throughout the year. UBC students will work with the grade 4/5 students using a tri-mentoring model. They will teach them about the cultural context of garlic, where garlic comes from in the world, culturally how it is used and plant garlic with the class. The grade 4/5 students will share information with Quadra Day care students to engage the students through shared garden planting. The grade 4 and 5 students will mentor the younger students.

Note: We do not expect UBC LFS students to be teachers. Any and all interactions with elementary students will be led and facilitated by classroom teachers with input from UBC students and through collaborative planning.

What challenge or issue does the project aim to address?

Through this project, the grade 4/5 students will gain knowledge about different cultural practices, food growing skills, and how to mentor younger children. The project helps students to develop connections with the land and with each other, helping to address issues related to loneliness and disconnection.

Main Project Deliverables

• Research and presentation on cultural uses of garlic, how garlic is used around the world, how garlic is planted and harvested.

Student Assets and Skills (preferred or required)

• Research skills, to find out how garlic is used around the world
• Investigation skills, find out how other cultures use garlic and why it is important
• Critical thinking: how is agriculture in Canada, similar and different in terms of production and use of land in different countries
• Organization skills: to present the information in an organized, thorough,  clear format to the grade 4 and 5 students who will present the information to the pre school students

Student Assets and Skills (to be developed through the project)

Is a criminal record check required?

Yes - to be discussed at the first community partner meeting (Sept 18)

Project Location

• Queen Mary Elementary School
• Quadra Daycare

Preferred Days of Week and Hours

• To be determined with the community partners.

Project/Partner Orientation Materials

Students should review these materials prior to the first partner meeting:

• Cullen, T. et. al (2015). Food literacy: Definition and framework for action. Perspectives in Practice, vol. 76. DOI: 10.3148/cjdpr-2015-010
• Sumner, J. (Ed.) (2016). Learning, food, and sustainability: Sites for resistance and change. New York: Palgrave MacMillan. Available from UBC Library. Students should read the Introduction before the first community partner meeting.
• Please ask your TA for the relevant past LFS350 student reports

Additional Project/Partner Orientation Materials

The following will be provided at the first community partner meeting:

• Site visit to the school garden and daycare gardens

Related Community Service Opportunities for Students

Students are always welcome to volunteer in the classroom! Please ask about opportunities.