CATCA 2025: Full Schedule

9:00am MST

EcoSchools in Alberta: A Curriculum Linked Framework for Environmental and Climate Action

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST

Are you an educator in Alberta passionate about integrating environmental, climate, and sustainability action into your school curriculum? Join the Alberta Council for Environmental Education for a workshop that focuses on the EcoSchools Canada certification program—a curriculum-linked framework designed to empower students, educators, and schools to take meaningful environmental and climate action. Discover practical strategies, resources, and best practices for implementing EcoSchools in your educational setting and fostering a culture of environmental stewardship and sustainability.

Learning Outcomes:
- Understand the curriculum connections that the EcoSchools program provides
- Understand the interdisciplinary potential of the ecoSchools program
- Sign up on the ECA platform and create and EcoAction Plan

Speakers

Alberta Council for Environmental Education

Environmental Education and Engagement Coordinator, Alberta Council for Environmental Education

Our mission at ACEE is to work collaboratively to advance environmental education in Alberta, with a focus on empowering young people to become environmental stewards. We believe that educating today’s youth is the key to creating a sustainable future for Alberta and beyond.As Northern... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
RDP Room AC160 (Arts Centre)

10:20am MST

Equitable Climate Justice in the Classroom

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST

RDP Room AC160 (Arts Centre)

As educators, it is critical to consider how diversity, inclusion, and equitable our practices are. But how can we ensure that a curricular focus lives alongside a social-justice approach? Join ACEE staff to learn about climate justice, and how to include multiple perspectives when teaching about the climate and environment. Questions covered include: What is intersectionality? What is the role of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in understanding climate impacts, resilience, and solutions? What is the role of environmental education in reconciliation? Why are two-eyed seeing and social justice vital climate solutions?

Learning Outcomes:
- Understand that climate change is a human rights issue, not just a global and scientific one
- Understand how positionality impacts how we view and understand global issues
- Gain tools on how to approach topics with students from a justice perspective

Speakers

Alberta Council for Environmental Education

Environmental Education and Engagement Coordinator, Alberta Council for Environmental Education

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST
RDP Room AC160 (Arts Centre)

11:40am MST

Critical Digital Literacy: Discussing ‘Hate’ Online

Thursday February 20, 2025 11:40am - 2:00pm MST

RDP Room AC160 (Arts Centre)

This session, Critical Digital Literacy: Discussing ‘Hate’ Online, equips educators with ways to address and unpack online hate through engaging, age-appropriate methods. Teachers will learn to guide students in critically assessing their online behaviors and understanding the social and personal impacts of their digital actions. The session includes practical resources and activities to use in the classroom, case scenarios to explore real-life applications, and policy discussions centred on hate legislation and the proposed Online Harms Act. The goal is to use critical thinking to prepare students to engage responsibly and thoughtfully in digital spaces as well as their potential for influencing policy.

Speakers

Tiffany Efird

Tiffany Efird is a writer, educator, and facilitator with the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights. Tiffany roots her work in creating safe, brave spaces where people can engage with challenging topics on hate and discrimination. She is driven to strengthen the cause of... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 11:40am - 2:00pm MST
RDP Room AC160 (Arts Centre)

Technology (TQS/LQS 2), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12) | Social Studies (TQS 3), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12) | Diversity, Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12) | Equity & Human Rights (TQS/LQS 4), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12)

2:20pm MST

Unified Sports: Building Inclusive Teams to Thrive in Every School

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:20pm - 3:20pm MST

RDP Room AC160 (Arts Centre)

Come learn from experienced schools who have already launched Unified Sports programs and hear first hand stories from Unified athletes about the challenges and triumphs they've faced. Gain insight into the ins and outs of running a Unified Sports program, from setting up teams to fostering inclusive school environments. This is a chance to understand the positive impact it can have on students with and without disabilities. We believe that every high school in Alberta should offer Unified Sports, creating opportunities for all students to come together, break down barriers, and experience the power of inclusion through sport. Let’s work toward making this a reality for every school in our province!

Speakers

Cassie Shaw

Unified Sports Program Manager

Alison Snow

Alison is a Notre Dame teacher

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:20pm - 3:20pm MST
RDP Room AC160 (Arts Centre)

Physical Education (TQS 3), Division 4 (Gr 10-12) | Inclusive Education (TQS/LQS 4), Division 4 (Gr 10-12) | Special Education (TQS 3), Division 4 (Gr 10-12)

9:00am MST

Financial Literacy for Grade 4-6: Ready to go lesson plans that your students will love!

Friday February 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST

RDP Room AC160 (Arts Centre)

Welcome to Enriched Academy, where we make financial literacy fun and easy for teachers and students in grade 4-12! Join us as we explore the KickStart program designed to support the PE & Wellness Financial Literacy outcomes. The videos, activities and interactive tools make learning about finances a blast for students. Enriched Academy has taken the complicated language of money and transformed it into clear, relatable concepts that students in grades 4-6 can connect with. Teachers, you will find our resources comprehensive and user-friendly, enabling you to effortlessly integrate financial literacy into your classroom. At no cost to you or your school, get ready to empower your students with the knowledge and confidence they need to navigate their financial futures successfully!

Speakers

Enriched Academy

Sonya Fox is an experienced educator with over 20 years of teaching experience and has worked with students from grades one through twelve.  In her last four years, Sonya took her passion for business and finance into the classroom, teaching entrepreneurship and finance to high... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
RDP Room AC160 (Arts Centre)

Physical Education (TQS 3), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 2 (Gr 4-6) | Mathematics (TQS 3), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 2 (Gr 4-6)

10:20am MST

Bringing Financial Literacy to Life: Grade 10-12

Friday February 21, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST

RDP Room AC160 (Arts Centre)

Welcome to Enriched Academy, where we make financial literacy fun and easy for teachers and students in grade 10-12! Join us as we explore the EnrichedStart program designed to support CALM, Math and CTS Finance Modules. The videos, activities and interactive tools make learning about finances a blast for students. Enriched Academy has taken the complicated language of money and transformed it into clear, relatable concepts that high school students can connect with. Teachers, you will find our resources comprehensive and user-friendly, enabling you to effortlessly integrate financial literacy into your classroom. At no cost to you or your school, get ready to empower your students with the knowledge and confidence they need to navigate their financial futures successfully!

Speakers

Enriched Academy

Friday February 21, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST
RDP Room AC160 (Arts Centre)

Career & Technology Studies/Foundations (TQS 3), Division 4 (Gr 10-12) | Mathematics (TQS 3), Division 4 (Gr 10-12)

11:40am MST

Energize Fractions with Online Simulations

Friday February 21, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST

RDP Room AC160 (Arts Centre)

Dive into the world of interactive math simulations, where conceptual understanding and student confidence grows. Gizmos online simulations can inspire your students to think like mathematicians. Participants will engage in an interactive lesson with scaffolding fraction Gizmos. Explore Gizmos resources that you can incorporate immediately into your classroom! Access to Gizmos for K-6 teachers has been provided by Alberta Education. Please bring an electronic device to get the most out of this session.

Speakers

Karen Blumhagen

Implementation Coordinator, Alberta, ExploreLearning

Karen Blumhagen is an Implementation Coordinator with ExploreLearning. She has over thirty years of experience in education as a classroom teacher, learning facilitator, and administrator. Karen has observed firsthand the positive impacts of online simulations on student understanding... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST
RDP Room AC160 (Arts Centre)

Technology (TQS/LQS 2), Division 2 (Gr 4-6) | Mathematics (TQS 3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6)

1:00pm MST

Build Conceptual Understanding Using Online Math Simulations - Grades 1 and 2

Friday February 21, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST

RDP Room AC160 (Arts Centre)

Discover how Gizmos online simulations can encourage young students to think like mathematicians. Explore the use of online simulations to enhance conceptual understanding, fostering student confidence in mathematics. Engage in a structured lesson aligned with the new Division 1 math curriculum, and access ready-to-use Gizmos classroom resources. Access to Gizmos for K-6 teachers has been provided by Alberta Education. Teachers are encouraged to bring a device.

Speakers

Karen Blumhagen

Implementation Coordinator, Alberta, ExploreLearning

Friday February 21, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
RDP Room AC160 (Arts Centre)

Technology (TQS/LQS 2), Division 1 (Gr 1-3) | Mathematics (TQS 3), Division 1 (Gr 1-3)