How to Incorporate Land-Based Pedagogy to Align with the FSL Curriculum

 FSL Curriculum:

As students learn to communicate in a new language, it is important they are given opportunities to communicate in practical and meaningful context. As mentioned below, the goals of the Ontario French curriculum coincide with the goals of land-based learning: to allow students to make real-world connections, emphasis on critical and creative thinking, goal setting and reflecting as well as developing commination skills. 



"The FSL curriculum strives, ultimately, to foster an interest in language learning that continues not only during a student’s time in school but later in life. The FSL curriculum is therefore founded on seven fundamental concepts, or “enduring ideas”, which focus, from Grade 1 to Grade 12, on the development of skills that are also necessary as a basis for lifelong language learning."

            -Ministry of Education, 2014

Incorporating land-based learning into French courses gives students the chance to communicate in an engaging and inclusive environment while exploring relevant global issues. Whether it be to explore environmental issues as a unit or incorporating small fun hands-on activities, there are many ways to include land-based learning within a French course. Some ideas include:

- meditating, praying, yoga or participating in any mental health exercises

- having an elder/ member of the Indigenous come in to speak about topics being studied in class (the environment, Indigenous history, Métis culture, second language acquisition, etc.)

- engaging in a talking circle

- read aloud and storytelling

-learning about animal habitats and migration

-have students clean any litter outdoors as part of a initiative 

-engaging in team building activities where they can practice following directions and communicating in French 

-gather and use materials for art

-going on local excursions 

-creating a scavenger hunt 

-gardening

Resources Within Your School Board:

All school boards in the province of Ontario will have a designated department where teachers can reach out and ask what resources are available to them as well as for a list of Indigenous personnel such as Elders they may wish to contact within their community. This is a great place to start for those looking to incorporate land-based learning within their teaching practices but may not know how to get started.  

Sources:

Ministry of Education. (2014). The Ontario Curriculum Grades 9-12 French as a Second Language. Ministry of Education. http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/secondary/fsl912curr2014.pdf 


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