Abbotsford Students Launch “Cultural Puzzle Lab Challenge” to Celebrate Diversity and Foster Community Connections

Blue Jay Elementary School and Eugene Reimer Middle School students are putting their creativity to the test with the Cultural Puzzle Lab Chal- lenge Community Project, which aims to bring communities together and celebrate differences. The project, involves building a 500-piece cultural puzzle over three weeks.

Elementary, Rick Hansen Secondary School, Blue Jay Elementary, and William Fraser Middle School.

The first round of the competition has already concluded, with Eugene Reimer Middle School’s Mr. Grewal and Mrs. Sangha’s Grade 7 classes and UFV Teacher Education tying for first place. Ms. Meullers’ class at Rick Hansen Secondary School came in second place, while the Abbotsford Fire Department came in third. Fourth and fifth place went to Blue Jay Elementary School’s Ms. Pagulayan, Ms. Mani, Ms. Fehr, Ms. Sandhers, Ms. Sidhu, and Ms. Neger’s classes, and Mr. Batt’s Grade 5 class at Harry Sayers Elementary, respectively.

The project’s goal is to share the important stories of prominent figures in our world, such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Malala, Ruby Bridges, and Maharani Jindh Kaur, among others. Students from grade 3 and 7 collaborated on the project, selecting prominent figures that the Puzzle kits are based on. In each kit, there is a map to allow the community to reflect on the importance of place and stories and how we are all interconnected.

Participants are competing with other classrooms and organizations to put together these puzzles, and many community members are participating, including the Mayor’s office City of Abbotsford, UFV, and the Abbotsford Fire Department. The project has attracted a wide range of schools, including Bradner Elementary School, Eugene Reimer Middle School, Harry Sayers

The project aligns with the core competencies in the B.C. government’s curriculum, focusing on creative thinking, critical thinking, and communication. It also develops students’ positive personal and cultural identity and celebrates the First Peoples Principles of Learning.

The project is currently in its second round, with participating schools including Blue Jay Elementary School, Bradner Elementary School, Rick Hansen Elementary School, Eugene Reimer Middle School, UFV International students, and the Curriculum office Abbotsford District. A third round is planned to take place in-house at Blue Jay Elementary with different classes participating in this friendly challenge.