In this issue of our BCAITC Teacher Champion series, we profile BC teacher Kamaljit Singh. Discover her passion for educating students about BC agriculture, food, and the environment.

What school do you teach? A: I teach at Dr. Annie B Jamieson Elementary in Vancouver.

What grade(s) do you teach? A: Currently I am teaching Grade 1.

How and when did you first learn about BCAITC? A: I heard about the BCAITC's programs as TTOC (Teachers Teaching on Call) ten years ago.

How long have you been teaching students about BC agriculture and food? A: I have taught students about BC agriculture and food for the last five years.

What are the most important things that you want your students to learn about BC agriculture and food? A: The most important things I want my students to learn by doing the programs offered by BCAITC are the need for plants, we can grow our own food, the varieties of food which are available, knowledge about farming, & seasonal crops, and much more about soil culture and bugs.

BCAITC has over 500 free downloadable resources including lesson plans, activities, videos, recipes, and more! What is your favourite BCAITC resource and why? A: My favourite resources are Fresh Stories. I have printed them to use in the classroom to teach students about fruit or vegetables and learn more about what they are eating.

What is your favourite BCAITC program and why? A: My favourite BCAITC programs are Planting a Promise, Spuds in Tubs and Farm Explorer.

Describe an agriculture or food-based project/program you have implemented in your classroom/school recently. A: I have implemented Planting a Promise, Spuds in Tubs and Farm Explorer programs and they are currently running in my class. Recently, Daffodils from Planting the Promise bloomed and students enjoyed watching them, while documenting their growth from bulb to flower growth.

Do you have any advice for other educators on how to integrate agriculture and food education into their curriculum? A: My advice to other educators is that students learn more by doing hands-on activities and they get excited to explore more. The programs offered by BCAITC can be easily integrated into the Science curriculum.

About the Teacher Champion Series: This monthly BCAITC series features BC teachers and school staff who are passionate about providing agriculture and food education to K-12 students. For more information, contact BCAITC Communications Coordinator, communications@aitc.ca.