“What powers our world? How is empathy a catalyst?” - a SEEDSchool Exploration

“This is the best thing I’ve ever done!” – Student 

Grade 5 students at Divine Mercy school in Mahogany spent a week of SEEDschool exploring the questions “What powers our world? How is empathy a catalyst?” Throughout the week, students explored the ideas of empathy, responsibility, kindness, and innovation through various stories, interviews, community walks, and projects.   

One of the highlights of the week was making an advent calendar of acts of kindness and prayers for those around us over the Christmas season. Students brainstormed a list of ideas including setting the table, complimenting a teacher, making a new friend, shoveling someone’s sidewalk, and praying for those who are sick. The class decorated a star with one act or prayer for each day leading up to Christmas and hung those stars up around the class. As students learned about how empathy is a powerful force in our world, they committed to practicing empathy through these acts of kindness during the advent season.

Another highlight was our design thinking challenge. Students explored the challenges experienced by those who sleep outside (called “rough sleeping” or “living rough”). They learned that people may have trouble staying warm, finding privacy, keeping their belongings safe, finding somewhere safe and welcoming to sleep, staying healthy, and transporting their belongings from one place to another. Students worked in small groups to brainstorm inventions to mitigate some of these challenges, and then were tasked with making prototypes of their designs. The class came up with some brilliant inventions.  

“Our group designed a coat, the TBJ (The Blanket Jacket). When you pull the sleeves it folds out into a blanket. So we tried to solve the warmth problem. This would be helpful for winter.” – Ellie, grade 5

After brainstorming some of the challenges faced by homeless people, the students were asked to design an object that could help the homeless population.  

Overall, students spent the week diving growing empathy not just for those experiencing homelessness, but also for all those who live, work, and play on the land we call Mohkinstsis. We are so grateful for another wonderful SEEDschool week and can’t wait to see what the rest of the year has in store!

“It’s a backpack that when you unzip it, it turns into a pop up house—tent. They can get their own house that they can take anywhere. The don’t have to pay for a house or electrical bills” – Beau, grade 5

~ Kelsey Brown, SEEDschool Coordinator

SEEDschool students explore "How does empathy drive innovation?"

Grade 5 students from R.T. Alderman spent their SEEDschool week exploring the question “How does empathy drive innovation?” The classes spent time exploring creative inventions created to help people in need and built their own prototypes to solve problems surrounding homelessness.  

A highlight of the week was meeting with Alice Lam who is co-owner of Tigerstedt Flea in Crescent Heights, and who collaborated with friends to start a community fridge initiative on their shop’s block. The fridge is an example of mutual aid – neighbours helping neighbours. Everyone is encouraged to donate food to the fridge and accompanying pantry, and anyone in need is welcome to take from it, no questions asked. Alice shared about how her empathy for the community inspired both the store and the fridge, and how she continues to give back through social enterprise. Alice provides local makers' space in her shop to sell their homemade products and encourages the artists to donate some of the proceeds to causes they care about. 

The Grade 5 students were so inspired by her example, they decided to make works of art to see at Alice’s store as a fundraiser for The Mustard Seed. The pieces of art are currently being sold by donation, and are on display at Tigerstedt Flea (918 Centre St N). 

~ Kelsey Brown, SEEDschool Coordinator