The Thunder Bolt

Concordia’s middle school Environmental Sustainability class hosted Reception students on a scavenger hunt to teach them about the environment. 

The environmental sustainability students made scavenger hunt booklets of plants and insects found around the Concordia campus, and shared them with the Reception students. Both groups had a fantastic time looking for the different plants and insects around campus - and learned a lot in the process. 
Some Reception students shared why they enjoyed the experience: 

“I was having fun because we were finding flowers,” said Sarah.

“I was excited because I found a bee,” said Emma.

“I liked it because I found a spider,” said Dino.

“I liked it because I found a butterfly,” said Bap.

“I found a dragonfly,” said Henry.

“I was happy because I found all the flowers, a butterfly, and a bee,” said My Uyen.

Environmental Sustainability students also shared their perspectives: 

Miya (G7) said of her experience, “I really like how the kids were so energetic and were willing to like our scavenger hunt book. They were able to get along with us and have a lot of fun. I also enjoyed running around with them; we even played a tiny tag game.”

Dominic (G6) said, “My partner was Charlie in the scavenger hunt. I really enjoyed guiding Charlie because he was so chatty and excited to find the animals and plants. And when we started eating popcorn and listening to the story, he really wanted me to read the fun facts I added to the hunt. I hope we have another project with them.”  

Hai Bach (G8) said, “Our group was Matthew, Mito, and Jiyul. I had a very fun time helping to guide the kids around and pointing them towards where each of the items on the book were. I look forward to being able to return and do another scavenger hunt with the kids again.”

Yerin (G8) said, “I enjoyed how the kids got along with each other and were willing to follow through with all of the activities. I think a factor that I found really interesting was how they were really engaged in the activity; as well as how they showed a lot of enthusiasm, patience, and thought throughout the activity.”

Hillary (G8) said, “I was so honored to be able to contribute to the environmental sustainability hunt. I absolutely love kids and being able to be a part of something like the hunt has really taught me responsibility and cooperation with other students around me. I haven't always been a very cooperative person because I've always liked doing things on my own and being independent. Being with kids who are much younger than me has shown me the amount of cooperation the teachers put in. The students that had the chance to take part in this project stepped out of their comfort zone and cooperated with one another to be able to take on a significant amount of responsibility. I loved spending time with the kids because it was like breathing a different kind of air. Being able to see what our school has to offer has really changed the way I observe Concordia and has really opened my eyes. After completing the project, I truly felt like I was stepping into another world. I really loved this project because there were so many chances for teamwork and showing kindness between students. If in the future there are more chances like this, I will definitely sign up and contribute.”

As part of the collaboration of our professional learning community teachers Dr. Mer Mills and Ms. Louise Graham created this exercise as a way for students across divisions to engage. 

Dr. Mills said, “In our quest to nurture a deep-rooted love for nature and cultivate a sense of environmental responsibility in our younger generation, the middle school Environmental Sustainability class crafted engaging scavenger hunt booklets that served as captivating lessons in environmental sustainability. These booklets, tailored for our younger Concordia students, were designed to spark curiosity and awe by showcasing the diverse array of plants and animals thriving right within our school campus. By embarking on this scavenger hunt, we hoped that the Reception class not only connected with the natural world but also gained a firsthand understanding of the incredible balance between flora and fauna. Through interactive exploration, we aimed to instill a lasting appreciation for our environment and inspire the next generation of Concordia eco-conscious stewards.”

Reception teacher, Ms. Louise Graham said of her student’s experience, “It was an excellent opportunity for the Reception students to connect with middle school students. The Reception students are fascinated by insects, plants, and flowers. I knew they would enjoy going on a scavenger hunt around the school grounds to find all the different types of plants, flowers, and insects, so we were very excited when middle school invited us to join. The Reception students didn't stop talking with each other about what they had found, and it was wonderful to see them interact with nature and be so excited about it.” 

Learn more about Concordia’s elementary school program and our school’s commitment to environmental sustainability.