Bev Milobar-denOuden

Colchester School, Sherwood Park (Alberta)

Bev Milobar denOuden created a local history inquiry project that presents students with the opportunity to discover the changes in their community over time using critical thinking to connect the past with the present. Using stories as a vehicle for knowledge, Bev encourages students to develop an interest in both local and national history.

This year, students were presented with the question, “Should we preserve the past?” Students formulated their own questions and investigations. Through the use of primary sources and artifacts, students became responsible for their own learning. They created projects that answered critical questions, which were then displayed at a school-wide heritage fair.

Students also worked together to develop both a picture book and a documentary film about the importance of remembering the past in their local community. For the past three years, Bev has also been the lead teacher for the Alberta Initiative for School Improvement project titled “Focus on Inquiry.”