Partnership brings Remembrance Day to life for local students

Students from across the region will be engaging with Remembrance Day in a new and environmentally friendly way this year thanks to an innovative collaboration between Fanshawe College, the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB), Montessori Academy of London and the Royal Canadian Legion.

The Poppy Project, which coincides with the 100^th anniversary of the poppy as Canada’s symbol of Remembrance, involves students creating sustainable poppies made from seed paper that can be worn and then planted in gardens to decompose and grow symbols of hope in the spring. The paper is made with Oriental poppy seeds, a species that is safe for Canadian gardens.

Wendy Sperry, faculty in Fanshawe’s School of Design, worked with two co-op students over the summer to develop the poppy and supporting material for teachers.

“When considering sustainable design, we often talk about single-use plastics,” says Sperry. “I had been thinking about some specific items that are important and meaningful to our society. Can they be changed? Is there an alternative? Could the Remembrance Day poppy be made more sustainably?”

The classroom kits—containing supplies, a lesson plan with step-by-step instructions and a presentation focused on the history of the poppy—are being distributed by volunteers from the local legion halls who will return to collect donations raised by the students.

Each classroom will try to find a community partner where they can plant their poppies, including Parkwood Hospital as soon as COVID-19 protocols will allow.

“This is a great opportunity to teach students about the history of the poppy and the importance of Remembrance Day in a hands-on way that connects various curriculum areas including science, social studies, literacy, the arts and more,” says Nikita Miller, TVDSB’s Experiential Learning Lead.

*The Poppy Design is a registered trademark of The Royal Canadian Legion, Dominion Command and is used under license.

Photo: Design Foundation students at Fanshawe assemble sustainable poppies using hand-made seed paper. After being worn for Remembrance Day, the poppies can be planted to decompose and grow Oriental poppies, a species that is safe for Canadian gardens. Kits have also been provided to Thames Valley District School Board classrooms along with instructions allowing teachers to make poppies with their students.