Seabird Island Curriculum Development
Partner
Seabird Island Schools (2023 - Present)
Deliverables
Curriculum materials, including lesson plans, teacher guides, course plans, and learning tools for K–12. Land-based learning modules and activities designed to bring students onto the land and learn directly from Seabird community members. Produced more than 90 short video vignettes featuring Seabird Knowledge Keepers for classroom use, organized by subject, curriculum connections, and cultural sharer. Searchable curriculum website to host videos and learning materials. Grade 10 Social Studies course structured around the Stó:lō seasonal calendar, centred on Seabird Island history, culture, and governance Conducted extensive research into Seabird history, teachings, and place-based knowledge and transformed this research into curriculum content.
Project description
Through community-directed partnership with Seabird Island Schools since 2023, PARC student staff have been creating curriculum materials that reflect Seabird Island history, culture, language, and land-based teachings.
The first phase focused on creating curriculum resources across K–12 that centre Seabird Island’s stories, place-based knowledge, and teachings. PARC produced lesson plans, teacher guides, and learning tools aligned with provincial learning standards to ensure ease of classroom adoption. During this stage, more than 90 short video vignettes featuring Seabird Knowledge Keepers were filmed by Dr. Alessandro Tarsia and prepared for classroom use. These videos were then incorporated into a searchable website organized by grade level, subject area, curriculum competencies, and Knowledge Keeper.
In 2024, the collaboration expanded to include land-based learning modules designed to bring students out onto the land and into relationship with Seabird Island knowledge holders. These modules embed community voice into every stage of learning and continue to reflect the Nation’s priorities.
In 2025, the students began developing a full-year Grade 10 social studies course created specifically around the Stó:lō seasonal calendar. This curriculum highlights Seabird Island’s history, cultural teachings, governance, and relationships to the broader Stó:lō world, offering a uniquely place-rooted approach to learning.
This work continues into 2026, with ongoing curriculum development, additional land-based learning opportunities, and continued refinement of the growing digital archive of Seabird Knowledge Keeper videos. The project remains grounded in Seabird Island’s vision for education: learning that is community-led, culturally resonant, and deeply connected to land, language, and identity.
Student involvement
Students supported this multi-year initiative by developing curriculum resources including lesson plans, teacher guides, and learning tools for K–12 classrooms. Their work included conducting literature reviews, gathering Seabird Island–specific historical and cultural materials, and adapting these into accessible classroom content. Students also assisted in organizing and structuring the Knowledge Keeper video library, helped draft land-based learning modules, and contributed to the development of the Grade 10 year-long social studies course based on the Stó:lō calendar. Through this hands-on work, students strengthened their research, curriculum design, and community-engaged learning skills while contributing directly to a Nation-led educational initiative.