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

Q: What school do you teach? A: I teach at Glenrosa Middle School in West Kelowna, BC.

Q: What grade(s) do you teach? A: I teach grades 6.

Q: How and when did you first learn about BCAITC? A: I was first introduced to BCAITC during my Master's Program at UBC, when a representative gave an insightful presentation to our class.

Q: How long have you been teaching students about BC agriculture and food? A: I have been teaching students about BC Agriculture and food for over 3 years now.

Q: What are the most important things that you want your students to learn about BC agriculture and food? A: I want my students to understand how food is grown and to recognize what is grown and sourced locally here in BC. With the benefit of multiple growing seasons, I want them to learn about the different seasonal crops and the local produce available throughout the year. Additionally, I aim to introduce them to Indigenous agriculture and food systems in BC, helping them appreciate the deep cultural connections and sustainable practices within our local food landscape.

Q: BCAITC has over 500 free downloadable resources including lesson plans, activities, videos, recipes, and more! What is your favourite BCAITC resource and why? A: I have a few favourite resources that I absolutely love using in my classroom! One of my top picks is Fresh Stories, which pairs perfectly with the BC School Fruit and Vegetable Nutrition Delivery program. It’s such a fun way for my students to learn about how fruits and vegetables are grown in BC while enjoying delicious, fresh produce.

Another favourite is the Agriculture Fish and Food BC Map—my students are always captivated by the colourful graphics! I also enjoy using the Salmon - The Environment and Society resource. This module helps students explore the important roles of aquaculture in BC, including salmon farming and the connections between salmon, the environment, and society. These resources not only enrich our learning but also make it fun!

Q: What is your favourite BCAITC program and why? A: One of my favourite programs is the Fresh To You Fundraiser! It’s such a fun and engaging way for students to get hands-on experience in the classroom. Through this program, they learn about seasonal produce while creating their bundles at the end. Plus, it offers a fantastic opportunity to obtain much-needed resources for the classroom, which can be tough to manage with budget constraints.

One of the highlights is when students chat about their experiences with past classes, comparing their bundles and sharing what’s different from previous years. It's wonderful to see their excitement and curiosity grow through this real-life learning experience!

Q: Describe an agriculture or food-based project/program you have implemented in your classroom/school recently. A: Every spring, I love giving my classroom a chance to choose an agriculture and food-based project that sparks their interest and curiosity! Last year, we studied the important topic of climate change, exploring how it impacts our agricultural land and environment. The year before, we did a project on the food crisis and discussed ways we could grow food to support lower-income families. These projects not only enhance their learning but also teach them about community involvement. For instance, we had the wonderful opportunity to collaborate with Paynter’s Fruit Market in Kelowna, which allowed the students to see firsthand how local businesses can contribute to positive change and added a real-world connection to their learning!

Q: Do you have any advice for other educators on how to integrate agriculture and food education into their curriculum? A: One of the best pieces of advice I can share is to build community connections and learn from the experts around you. We don’t have to be experts in everything, and that’s totally okay! Reaching out for help from local specialists can make a world of difference in our classrooms. By bringing in community experts, we can give our students real-life experiences that truly enrich their understanding. It’s much more impactful than just explaining concepts in words.

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.