During the fall season, our Grade 1–2 class explored a grounding thematic focused on connection to self, body, and land. One anchor experience within this thematic was a barefoot sandal-making project, where each student crafted their own pair of leather sandals from start to finish.

Students traced and measured their feet, cut leather soles, and used paracord to create adjustable straps—developing fine motor skills, spatial reasoning, and problem-solving along the way. Once completed, students wore their sandals on a guided barefoot walk, mindfully observing how their bodies felt and discussing the benefits of grounding and direct contact with the earth.

This project aligned seamlessly with multiple cross-curricular expectations in Grades 1 and 2, weaving together learning from mathematics, science and technology, health and physical education, the arts, and language, while nurturing embodied awareness, confidence, and a sense of connection to place.