Resources (For Teachers & Students)
Beyond Classrooms Kingston is an immersive educational program based on the successful Open Minds model developed by Dr. Gillian Kydd in Calgary, Alberta.
Students and teachers spend an entire week learning in a museum, art gallery, or community space, working closely with site staff, content experts, and one another. Through these experiences, students deepen their understanding of curriculum topics while developing a stronger connection to their community.
Program Highlights
• Learning takes place in real-world community spaces.
• Students engage in collaborative, inquiry-based learning.
• Students build critical thinking, literacy, observation, and reflection skills.
• Teachers create a curriculum-connected learning experience guided by a unique Big Idea or Inquiry Question.
• Every Beyond Classrooms week is customized and unique.
Participating teachers receive professional development and planning support, including summer workshops focused on program planning, journal writing, and object-based learning. Teacher applications are accepted each spring for the following school year.
Teacher Toolkit
Video
Welcome to BCK for students, with transcript and handout for students.
Teacher Information Package
Everything an educator needs to know about logistics, curriculum alignment, and planning.
Teacher Application
Access the application portal to bring your class to a community site.
FAQs
Detailed answers regarding transportation, supervision, and costs.
Learning Tools
Pre- and post-site in-class activities to maximize the learning impact.
-Journaling & sketching videos & activities
Journaling Rubrics
Tools for “See, Think, Wonder” thinking routines.
Educational Videos
A library of past BCK weeks to show students what to expect.