In 1783, the Montgolfier brothers launched the first hot air balloon and were able to sustain a flight of nearly ten minutes. The petrified farm animals who were the passengers probably were’t impressed by the experience, but the brothers pushed their passion for flight to the next level. This is a project!
At the Maples Met School, we love projects! As a project-based high school, we offer learners the opportunity to pursue their passion, work with passionate adults in the field, and demonstrate their learning in authentic ways.
And now, just like the Montgolfier brothers, learners can pursue their projects in French!
Beginning this fall, the Maples Met School will be offering French Immersion at the Grade 9 level. Learners will be able to engage in high quality project work, internships in the Francophone community, and exhibitions of learning all in French.
As a Big Picture Learning school, our mission is to cultivate a safe and educative environment by which learners engage in critical issues of interest to them so that they can develop the skills and knowledge essential for affecting positive change through meaningful and informed action, or praxis.
Over the winter break, I spent a lot of time reading, thinking, and hanging out with my kids doing projects. I also spent a great deal of time speaking with people throughout the world as to what they think a project is. What is a project?
Based on this line of inquiry, I started to comb various media outlets to get a sense of what people were doing in the world in terms of projects that might inspire Maples Met School learners. There is a huge difference between a project and an activity or hobby. Projects come from a place of questioning, of curiosity, and of purpose.
While we all know that great projects begin with a powerful essential question that questions our role within the universe, here are links to potential final products, resources, platforms, and other supports for our inquiry:
Preserving the History of a City
Why is it important to preserve the history of a city?
The Winnipeg Free Press recently published a photo essay of aerial views of the Winnipeg. What parts of the city are missing? Why? What would you include? How could you use GIS to create maps of areas of Winnipeg that are ignored? What are important areas for youth?
50 Book Pledge
The 50 Book Pledge is an amazing way to motivate yourself and also share your research with people throughout the world. No matter what essential question you’re attacking, this is a greta way of creating a digital library.
Radical History Poster Project
The Graphic History Collective has launched a project called the Radical History Poster Project. This is a fantastic way for learners to use their artistic talents to think historically (The Big 6!) about Canada, Treaty 1, and what it means to live in Red River.
Manitoba Robot Games 2018
Take a crack at the Manitoba Robot Games!
Northern Hydroponic Project
Can Flying Machines Help Save Lives?
Create Work Benches for your School’s Fabrication Lab
Hint: We need these at the Met for great projects!
Lego Crane (Why not?)
Create an interactive Periodic Table!
CBC Nonfiction Prize
What a perfect final product for a project! (And you could take home some loot!)
Mennonite Central Committee Hygiene Kits
Design a New Arlington Bridge
Banning Plastic Bags
There is some recent support for banning plastic bags in Winnipeg. This might be a really cool, authentic, and impactful project to investigate!
Imagine Portage & Main
What should Portage and Main look like? Design it!
Create Your Own Zine!
Go underground and create a zine that reflects your manifesto!
Make your own Wind Turbine!
Aquaponics System
Lots of essential questions and tangents with this project!
A critical part of the Met School model is our internship programme. Twice a week, our learners venture out into the community and work with experts who are passionate about what they do. Are you passionate about what you do? Do you like working with youth? If so, please fill out the following form and indicate that you would like to become a mentor:
Henderson Hallway 