Tier 2

Teacher-led. Curriculum is divided into nine themes; with three classroom visits supporting each theme (a pre-family visit, family visit and post-family visit) for a total of 27 visits.

Roots of Empathy uses best practice approaches to reduce levels of aggression among school children by raising social/emotional competence and increasing empathy.

The program is teacher-led based on available materials and manuals that have many links to curriculum (e.g. the use of math, literature, art, music, etc.).

In addition, the program uses an experiential learning approach by having students observe the relationship between a neighbourhood parent and infant who visit the classroom.

A trained Roots of Empathy instructor coaches students through this process. 

Offered through SchoolsPlus.

https://rootsofempathy.org/nova-scotia/ 

The Walking Curriculum is an innovative interdisciplinary resource for educators K-12 who want to take student learning outside school walls. Walking Curriculum activities can be used in any context to develop students’ Sense of Place and to enrich their understanding of curricular topics. Based on principles of Imaginative Ecological Education, the 60 easy-to-use walking-focused activities in this resource are designed to engage students’ emotions and imaginations with their local natural and cultural communities, to broaden their awareness of the particularities of Place, and to evoke their sense of wonder in learning.

https://edapps.ednet.ns.ca/nssbb/

https://www.amazon.ca/Walking-Curriculum-Evoking-Wonder-Developing-ebook/dp/B078QXQ5NJ

Aimed at boys in grades 7 and 9 in Nova Scotia, it covers topics such as sexual coercion, power dynamics in intimate-partner relationships,  and gender-based violence.

Encourages self-reflection and vulnerability

For more information visit, https://www.bridgesinstitute.org/guyswork

Each student has an opportunity to be the "Student of the Week".  Throughout the week, students write complements about the Student of the Week in a booklet (digital or hardcopy). 

At the end of the week, students will form a circle and the "Student of the week" will receive complements, verbally, from each student. Students take turns giving complements, passing a talking piece, as they do so. 

The 'Student of the Week" can be wrapped in a blanket while receiving complements to enhance feelings of warmth and connection. 

The "Student of the Week" will receive the book full of the complements to take home and keep. 

As a school, choose a “helping” opportunity that interests its students and staff - such as collecting supplies for disaster victims, raising money for a cause, or working together on a community service project. 

By together deciding how they would like to help with a cause, students are likely to develop an internal commitment to reaching their goal and in the end see that they really can make a difference in the lives of others, their community, and the world when working together

Reference: *Caring School Community: School Wide Community-building Activities: Working for a Cause (page 37-39) for more information