Teachers Will Staff World's Largest Classroom at Aboriginal Festival

TORONTO , Nov. 24 /CNW/ - Elementary teachers will be teaching in the world's largest classroom this Friday when thousands of students and teachers come to Hamilton's Copps Coliseum for the Canadian Aboriginal Festival's Education Day.

Participants can choose from a number of topic areas at 30 teaching stations ranging from heritage and culture, traditional games, dancing, canoe making, and more. Teaching stations are staffed by elementary teachers who are members of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO), a long-time sponsor of the event.

All of the lesson plans used in the teaching stations have been created by ETFO's Aboriginal Education Standing Committee. The themes are based on Aboriginal teachings and beliefs and are directly tied to the Ontario school curriculum for Native Studies.

Teachers attending with their classes are provided with printed materials, including the teaching guides, to assist them in teaching Native Studies. The teaching guides, which are also posted on the ETFO website, can be used by teachers in Kindergarten to Grade 8.

"We are proud to be associated with such an exciting and innovative event that offers a variety of opportunities for students and teachers to learn more about Aboriginal peoples," says ETFO President Sam Hammond . "The information that is available at Education Day can help non-Native students understand and appreciate the history, culture, and traditions of their aboriginal classmates, while instilling a sense of pride in Aboriginal students."

This is the 12th year in which ETFO and its members have participated in the Canadian Aboriginal Festival's Education Day.

The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario represents 73,000 elementary public school teachers and education workers across the province and is the largest teacher federation in Canada .

For further information: Sam Hammond, President, ETFO, [phone] (Office); Larry Skory, ETFO Communications, [phone] (Office), [phone] (Cell)