USask teacher candidates combine learning and fun for students

On March 20, more than 400 Grade 7 and 8 students from schools across Saskatoon, Beardy’s & Okemasis’ Cree Nation and Lloydminster participated in activities throughout the Education Building and broader USask campus. The initiative, led by instructor Dr. Chris Clark (BEd'93, MEd'12, PhD'23) and his Educational Foundations: Pedagogies of Place Context-Based Learning class, aimed to introduce young learners to university life while highlighting how learning can extend beyond the classroom.

“The concluding assignment for my university class has always involved students leading an experiential, place-based lesson with actual K–12 students so they can put theory into practice,” said Clark. “This event grew out of conversations last fall with outdoor learning teachers I collaborate with. We talked about how to get their Grade 7 and 8 students on campus in a purposeful way and to build connections between the College of Education, local school divisions, and USask as a whole.”

During the morning session, teacher candidates facilitated 14 stations featuring hands-on activities and guided tours of campus buildings. For candidates Owen Braidek, Lannette Boland, and Brooke Terichow, the day came with a mix of nerves and excitement.

“Any thought of what I was feeling left my head the instant the students walked through the doors,” said Braidek. “I had my notes ready and went straight into instructions. If I had stopped to think about how I was feeling, I think I might have given up.”

After working with his first group of students, Braidek reflected on what went well and how he planned to adjust for later sessions.

“I’m going to give them more variety with the tasks,” he said. “I think I assigned too many of the same tasks, so I want to spread them out more evenly across the building.”

Boland said she was eager to apply what she had learned in class by leading an accessibility-focused activity.

“Seeing how excited the kids were to explore and have fun was amazing,” said Boland, who ran the wheelchair track station. “Watching them navigate the space, try the wheelchair, and search for the hidden rubber chicken was meaningful and a lot of fun.”

In the afternoon, the teacher candidates hosted a gym-blast event in the Physical Activity Complex, alongside leadership sessions led by Knowledge Keepers and local artists from Saskatoon.

“I hope the kids took away that learning can be fun,” said Terichow. “It doesn’t only happen when you’re sitting at a desk listening to a lecturer with a pen and paper.”