Going Gemmill is a grassroots approach developed in 2008, that emphasizes how a municipal park can become more accessible and fit into existing curriculum taught in local classrooms. Between Grades 1 and Grade 10 there are approximately one dozen opportunities for a science or social studies topic to be taught within the Gemmill Park environment. Gemmill Park is a municipal park in the town of Almonte in the municipality of Mississippi Mills, Ontario.
These curriculum-based outdoor education lesson modules were developed for use by local educators for the benefit of local children and youth and to the ultimate benefit of the local community as a whole. It is thought that these site-specific lessons provide an excellent opportunity for ongoing student visits throughout the park and through the seasons; besides meeting curriculum expectations, they will help to foster an ever-increasing appreciation and respect for this tremendous local resource.
Developed a number of years ago, the project was brought into local schools by Nature Works Learning. Thank you to Patricia Larkin for providing the following lesson modules for download from the MVFN site whenever they are needed in the future by interested local educators:
Grade 2 – Life Systems – Growth and Changes in Animals
Grade 4 – Life Systems – Habitats and Communities (Winter)
Grade 7 – Life Systems – Interactions in the Environment
High school:
Grade 9 – Science – Sustainable Ecosystems
Grade 9 – Geography – Methods of Geographic Inquiry, including orienteering flag
For further information contact: Patricia Larkin, Nature Works Learning, 613 256 5301; plarkin@xplornet.com
