ISTEAM & PLANT-BASED LEARNING AT VTT
Fostering curiosity, critical thinking and a growth mindset
VTT’s Plant-Based Curriculum (PBC) is one of our school’s signature, newly designed programs—an innovative, land-based learning initiative that brings the BC Curriculum to life through meaningful outdoor, environmental, and experiential learning. Rooted in the First Peoples Principles of Learning (FPPL), the PBC emphasizes interconnectedness, respect for the land, noticing natural cycles, and fostering responsibility and stewardship. Through hands-on work in our school garden and annual visits to West Coast Seeds (ECE–SK) and Stable Harvest Farms (Grades 2–7), students plant, observe, harvest, and explore food systems in ways that deepen their understanding of science, community, and Jewish values. This program directly reflects our MVV (Mission, Vision, Values) by nurturing curiosity, cultivating responsibility, and helping students understand their role in sustaining the world around them.
This work connects deeply with VTT’s second signature program—our ISTEAM initiative, which stands for Israel Innovation, Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics. ISTEAM integrates the Ministry’s ADST curriculum through design challenges, coding, robotics, innovation projects, 3D printing, and cross-curricular inquiry. The program highlights meaningful connections to Israeli innovation and encourages students to think creatively, design solutions, and apply scientific and technological thinking to real-world challenges. ISTEAM reflects our MVV by encouraging innovation, problem-solving, and joyful learning anchored in Jewish identity and global citizenship.
Read this article featuring VTT's ISTEAM program: Israel Integration Into Steam: A Case Study in Innovation, which highlights VTT's partnership with master educator, Tal David, from the Center for Israel Education.
This work connects deeply with VTT’s second signature program—our ISTEAM initiative, which stands for Israel Innovation, Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics. ISTEAM integrates the Ministry’s ADST curriculum through design challenges, coding, robotics, innovation projects, 3D printing, and cross-curricular inquiry. The program highlights meaningful connections to Israeli innovation and encourages students to think creatively, design solutions, and apply scientific and technological thinking to real-world challenges. ISTEAM reflects our MVV by encouraging innovation, problem-solving, and joyful learning anchored in Jewish identity and global citizenship.
Read this article featuring VTT's ISTEAM program: Israel Integration Into Steam: A Case Study in Innovation, which highlights VTT's partnership with master educator, Tal David, from the Center for Israel Education.
PARTNERSHIP WITH STABLE HARVEST FARMS
Hands-on learning about our responsibility to be shomrei adamah
VTT is proud of its partnership with Stable Harvest Farms, spearheaded by community philanthropist Syd Belzberg. This relationship began in 2020-21 when grade one students were allocated a plot of land to begin growing food for our community. They learned about agriculture, including seeds, germination, horticulture and best practices. Inherent in this learning is the Jewish responsibility to be guardians of the earth, otherwise known as the mitzvah of shomrei adamah. The more we appreciate the gifts of our planet, the more benefit we can derive from these gifts.
Today, our students visit Stable Harvest Farm at least once during the school year to connect with our plant-based learning curriculum.
Read about this unique relationship in the Jewish Independent
Today, our students visit Stable Harvest Farm at least once during the school year to connect with our plant-based learning curriculum.
Read about this unique relationship in the Jewish Independent
