This document describes the BIG IDEAS Education Program, which is run in conjunction with the Vancouver Biennale. The program aims to foster creative and active learning for K-12 students through exploring public art installations. Students engage in cross-curricular, inquiry-based learning experiences connected to themes represented in the artworks. Teachers collaborate with artists to design legacy projects integrating the arts. Examples are provided of past student projects inspired by specific artworks and involving skills in areas like language arts, science, social studies and more. Resources like curriculum plans, videos and student art are made available online.

1. Presents
BIG IDEAS Education Program

2. VANCOUVER BIENNALE
OPEN-AIR MUSEUM
2005 – 2007 Inaugural Exhibition
2009 – 2011 Exhibition IN-TRANSIT-ION
2013 – 2015 Exhibition OPEN BORDERS/XROADS Vancouver

3. BIG IDEAS EDUCATION
Vancouver Biennale "BIG IDEAS" Education
Program creates a learning environment that
fosters active and creative learning

4. BIG IDEAS EDUCATION
The Biennale sculptures are metaphorical
representations of ideas and concepts that induce
reflective thoughts

5. BIG IDEAS EDUCATION
"Learning to Learn" approach engages learners to
experience cross-curricular, inquiry-based
exploration & discovery through the arts

6. BIG IDEAS EDUCATION
Connecting learners with their community and local
artists, opening dialogues and inspiring positive
changes on global, contemporary topics

7. BIG IDEAS EDUCATION
Vancouver Biennale is the recipient of the Arts
Champion in Education Award by ArtStarts In Schools
and ArtsBC

8. BIG IDEAS EDUCATION
Connecting teaching, research and learning

9. BIG IDEAS EDUCATION
2010 – 2011 BIG IDEAS Visual Arts Exhibition Series
2010 Great Race
2011 – 2012 BIG IDEAS Performance Series
2012 – 2013 BIG IDEAS Arts in Action Series

10. • Alpha Secondary
• Argyle Secondary
• Armstrong Elementary
• Arts Umbrella
• Balmoral Junior Secondary
• Byrne Creek Secondary
• Capilano University
• Captain Cook Elementary
• Cariboo Secondary
• Carisbrooke Elementary
• Carson Graham Secondary
• Chaffey-Burke Elementary
• Charles Tupper Secondary
• Churchill Secondary School
• Collingwood School
• David Thompson Secondary
• Ecole Jules Quesnel
• Edith Cavell Elementary
• Gleneagles Elementary
• Henry Hudson Elementary
• Kerrisdale Elementary
• King George School
• Lions Bay Community School
• Lord Byng Secondary
• Magee Secondary
• Matthew McNair Secondary
• Mt. Pleasant Elementary
• Mulgrave School
• Norgate Community School
• Peter Skene Odgen Secondary
• Pierre Elliot Trudeau Elementary
• Prince of Wales Secondary
• Queen Alexander Elementary
• Rockridge Secondary
• Sentinel Secondary
• Simon Fraser Elementary
• Simon Fraser University
• Sullivan Height Secondary
• Sutherland Secondary
• Total Education Program
• Van Tech Secondary
• Walter Moberly Elementary
• West Bay Elementary
• West Van Secondary
• Westview Elementary
• Windermere Secondary
4,200+ Students (K – Gr 12) . 63 Schools . 7 School Districts

11. BIG IDEAS
TEACHING RESOURCES
• Curriculum Plans
• Learning Cases
• Documentary Videos
• Inspired Art Creations

12. LEARNING RESOURCES/Curriculum
OPEN BORDERS/X ROADS VANCOUVER
• English Language Arts
• Arts Education
• Mathematics
• Science
• Social Studies
POWERFUL MOMENTS &
MEDIA CENSORSHIP
Mulgrave Grade 10 (2011)
Inspired by Amazing Laughter
by Yue Minjun.
____________________
LI Xianting, one of the greatest
of contemporary Chinese art
theorists, says of Yue Minjun
that 'he constructs his artistic
language as a self-ironic
response to the spiritual
vacuum and folly of modern-
day China.' It is as if the mass of
contradictions faced everyday
were so absurdly dense that
they led to a sort of
pathological dissociation from
self, expressed through these
grotesque portraits.
SUBJECT AREAS SHARED
EXPERIENCES

13. CURRICULUM/Science
K
Ecosystems support all life, including humans.
Human activities impact ecosystems.
ENDURING UNDERSTANDINGS
Grade 1
Grade 2
Grade 4
Grade 3
Grade 5
Gr 12
Grade 6
Grade 7
The earth’s surface are in a constant state of dynamic change.
Weathering, erosion & deposition as well as human activities work
together to wear down as build up the earth’s surface.
All matter is made up of particle which interact with each other.
Attributes of each particle determine how they combine and interact
with each other.

14. SCIENCE/Grade 7 (1)
Enduring Understandings: Ecosystems support all life, including humans. Human
activities impact ecosystems.
Guiding Questions: How does “Ordinary become Extraordinary”? Given the BIG
IDEAS of "Open Borders/X Roads Vancouver“: In what ways, if any, do ordinary
living and non-living beach specimens add extraordinary value in our life? How do
ordinary living and non-living things that travel cross border have extraordinary
impact on our life?
Mind Opening: Mind-Up or other mindfulness exercise that will guide students to
a more open and focused view of the topic. For more information on mindfulness
in classroom, visit The Hawn Foundation Website.
Discovery & Inspiration: Echoes by Michel Goulet at Kitsilano Beach, Vancouver
BC Ministry of Environment Ecosystem Branch Website.

15. SCIENCE/Grade 7 (2)
Shared Insights: Facilitate discussion on beaches in our community e.g. use a
Venn Diagram to elicit the positive and harmful ways beaches are used.
Share personal interpretation of what it means to be “extraordinary”.
Sample Inquiry Challenges: Find ordinary items at the beach and through
research and investigation discover their extraordinary properties.
Find ordinary cross border items at the beach and through research and
investigation discover their extraordinary impact on our environment (natural,
social and economic).
Cross-Curricular Access: Social Studies: Research current ships in port, country
of registry, previous and future ports of call. What can you surmise from this
information on these cross border trades and have they created extraordinary
change in our lives? What would be perceived as “extraordinary” during ancient
civilizations, as compared to today. In what ways, if any, has our perception of
“extraordinary” changed over time?
Language Arts: Select a poem or a piece of prose that pronounce the
extraordinary in the ordinary. (usually found in nature, relationship, discovery)
Mathematics: Use your knowledge of statistics and probability to present your
findings in the above social studies exercise.
LEARNING TO LEARN

16. SCIENCE/Grade 7 (3)
Sample Creations: Students and teachers decide on medium and methods to
communicate their BIG IDEAS learning to target audience. Consider use of
posters, website, montages, written essays/poems, film and audio, dance, visual
arts or theatre.
Taking Actions: Students can decide individual or group projects to promote their
learning to the broader community for long-term influence. Consider a target
audience who would benefit from the information students and teachers
generate. In this case the Vancouver Aquarium research is a potenial partner to
create a brochure or poster that would be displayed at the Aquarium for the public
to engage with. The focus being students as learners and communicators, engage
with an audience to get feedback, and ideally, the action is propelled even further.
Students & Teacher Reflection: What was learnt through the creative process and
what did they learn when considering the creative product? In what ways, if any,
has this inquiry changed them/their opinions/values/understandings? What
further questions do they have? In what ways, if any, have they grown as
learners?
Sample Learning Case(s): Henry Hudson 2011-2012 learning case

17. Lions Bay Gr 3, Gleneagles Gr 5 & Rockridge Gr 10
Inspired by 217.5 Arc x 13
2012 – 2013 BIG IDEAS Arts in Action Series
LEARNING RESOURCES/Learning Cases (1)
Vancouver Biennale “BIG IDEAS” encourages community-based learning through art installations and provides opportunities for artist
collaborators to interact with students directly in creating a legacy and curriculum integrated projects that enhance students’ learning
experiences. Read about these projects from participating teachers and students here.
Walter Moberly Gr 4/5
@The Walking Figures
Queen Alexandra Gr 6
@Echoes
Cariboo Secondary & Armstrong Gr 3 & Gr 7
Inspired by The Walking Figures
William Bridge Gr 3 & Gr 7
Inspired by Water #10
Sutherland Gr 12
Inspired by the A-maze-ing
Laughter

18. 2011– 2012 BIG IDEAS Performance Series
LEARNING RESOURCES/Learning Cases (2)
Vancouver Biennale “BIG IDEAS” encourages community-based learning through art installations and provides opportunities for artist
collaborators to interact with students directly in creating a legacy and curriculum integrated projects that enhance students’ learning
experiences. Read about these projects from participating teachers and students here.
Queen Alexandra Gr 6
@The Walking Figures
West Bay Gr 6
@Engagement
Norgate Gr 7
@The Walking Figures
Captain Cook Gr 7
@The Walking Figures
Chaffey-Burke Gr 6/7
@The Walking Figures
Carisbrooke Gr 6/7
@Jasper
Henry Hudson Gr 2/3
@Echoes
Kerrisdale Gr 7
@Echoes

19. LEARNING CASES/’11-’12 Henry Hudson (1)
School Name/Teacher(s)/Artist Collaborator(s)/Class: Henry Hudson Elementary,
Vancouver, BC/Gabriela Novotny/Holly Arntzen, Kevin Wright and Ziyian Kwan/Gr
2/3
Overview: Inspired by Echoes & the site, students with their classroom teachers
identified extraordinary everyday elements in the natural environment of Kitsilano
Beach. Students engaged in a cross-curricular learning experience and gained
enduring understandings on the ecosystems and their extraordinary values on
living and non-living things. The students explored, observed, research and
analyzed multiple forms of information within and outside the classroom
environment. Working with the artists-in-residence, the students created and
performed a musical performance titled “Nous Faisons La Vie” with a message
on why the small things in nature are valuable and extraordinary to us.
Guiding Question: How are ordinary things in the natural environment actually
extraordinary and important to us?
BIG IDEAS: Making the Ordinary Extraordinary

20. LEARNING CASES/’11-’12 Henry Hudson (2)
Sources of Inspiration: Echoes by Michel Goulet, Kitsilano Beach
Curriculum Access: Art Education – Drama, Dance, Music and Visual Arts,
Language Arts, Physical Education, Science, Social Studies, Mathematics , Health
and Career Education
Learning Process: The Henry Hudson Elementary School was awarded the
Vancouver Biennale BIG IDEAS residency grant to work with two talented
musicians from the Artist Response Team. To prepare for the project, the students
visited a number of art galleries to learn about the art creation process. During
their visit to “ECHOES”, the students wrote down key phrases which evolved into
poems and songs for their final musical composition. Through this process, the
students used their observation skills to explore their emotions, imagination and
memory and prepare them for the dance part of their planned performance. The
students were engaged in on-site and classroom inquiry-based activities to
explore, research, express and present ideas, information and feelings through
writing, visual arts, creative movements and music.

21. LEARNING CASES/’11-’12 Henry Hudson (3)
Nov ‘11: Visited a number of art exhibitions: BIG IDEAS Student Exhibition at
ArtStarts Gallery, Ian Tan Gallery. Worked on music rhythms.
Dec ’11: Explore ordinary items in classroom. Created songs for Christmas
performance.
Jan ’12: Visited Vancouver Art Gallery. First visit to Echoes @Kits Beach.
Feb ’12: Group research project on environment. Worked on drawings and
poems.
Mar ‘12: Worked on song and performance
Apr ’12: Created dance, choreography, costume. Rehearse, rehearse and
rehearse. Perform at Echoes.
Student Creations: Drawings, Poems, Songs and a Public Musical Performance
Timeline:

22. LEARNING CASES/’11-’12 Henry Hudson (4)
Teacher: “This project was an undertaking that brought my teaching to a different
level. In many ways it helped me connect and bring various aspects of what and
how I teach, and piece them together in more comprehensive and meaningful
ways. Without this experience, I would have probably taught various skills and
concepts in isolation instead of weaving them together in such a holistic learning
context.”
Students: “I would recommend it for other students. It was creative. It is good
teamwork and it gives you a chance to work with people like Holly and Kevin. It
helped with poetry and singing which you might need in the future.” – Jacob
“We were like scientists because we were finding seashells and seaweeds and
learning about seagulls. We learned about the beach and we learned how to listen
to sounds and pay attention to things and be observant. We would like to do
another big project but a different theme (but we liked this one) but something like
flowers, or gardens, or animals, or people, or different kinds of houses.” –
Breanna
“It was really fun even though we had to practice over and over again. It was fun
to have Holly and Kevin because we could be creative and make music. I liked
other parts because we were learning outside.” – Chloe
Reflections:

23. LEARNING CASES/’11-’12 Henry Hudson (5)
Students: “It was fun doing all the artwork, singing and dancing and stuff like
that! I liked telling people that seaweed are not random things or that the ocean is
not just something to be taken for granted.” – Emmaleen
“I liked that other people could hear what kids have to say.” – Don
“It was great because we didn’t have to do boring things. Instead we practiced
and we learned what makes the beach extraordinary.” – Fraser and James
“Other students should do something like this because we learned how to treat
the ocean well. Learning this way was good because first of all it was not only our
teachers ideas it was our ideas (most of it was). Second of all, we learned really
well in a way that most children don’t get the opportunity.” – Clarice
Taking Action: Parental Involvement, documentary video and public performance
Reflections:
Return to Home Page

24. BIG IDEAS in Transition
2012 – 2013 BIG IDEAS Arts in Action Series
LEARNING RESOURCES/Documentary Videos (1)
Vancouver Biennale “BIG IDEAS” encourages community-based learning through art installations and provides opportunities for artist
collaborators to interact with students directly in creating a legacy and curriculum integrated projects that enhance students’ learning
experiences. See and listen to these projects from participating teachers and students here.
BIG IDEAS in Science & Technology
BIG IDEAS in Self-Regulation
BIG IDEAS in
Social Justice

25. 2011 – 2012 BIG IDEAS Performance Series
LEARNING RESOURCES/Documentary Videos (2)
Vancouver Biennale “BIG IDEAS” encourages community-based learning through art installations and provides opportunities for artist
collaborators to interact with students directly in creating a legacy and curriculum integrated projects that enhance students’ learning
experiences. See and listen to these projects from participating teachers and students here.
Queen Alexandra Gr 6
@The Walking Figures
West Bay Gr 6
@Engagement
Captain Cook Gr 7
@The Walking Figures
Chaffey-Burke Gr 6/7
@The Walking Figures
Carisbrooke Gr 6/7
@Jasper
Henry Hudson Gr 2/3
@Echoes
Kerrisdale Gr 7
@Echoes
Norgate Gr 7
@The Walking Figures
Arts Umbrella Senior
Dance Company
Edith Cavell+
@The Walking Figures

26. 2010 – 2011 BIG IDEAS Visual Arts Exhibition Series
LEARNING RESOURCES/Documentary Videos (3)
Vancouver Biennale “BIG IDEAS” encourages community-based learning through art installations and provides opportunities for artist
collaborators to interact with students directly in creating a legacy and curriculum integrated projects that enhance students’ learning
experiences. See and listen to these projects from participating teachers and students here.
Taking BIG IDEAS to the Street
West Vancouver Exhibition
2010 Great Race
North Vancouver Exhibition
@We, 2008 @The Stop @Miss Mao

27. Inspired Art Creations
LEARNING RESOURCES/Inspired Art Creations
350 multi-media student visual art works were selected from over 2,500 creative pieces from 24 secondary and elementary schools of six
school districts to showcase in a series of eight gallery exhibition in West Vancouver, North Vancouver and Vancouver. .
Inspired by Amazing Laughter
Inspired by Artificial Rock
Inspired by Arriving Home
Inspired by Open Borders/X Roads Vancouver

28. WHAT IS NEXT?
2013 – 2014 BIG IDEAS
Cross-Curricular Challenge
BIG IDEAS Workshops