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Running Head: INQUIRY OF PERCEPTION Inquiry of Perception: Grade Seven Students Express Their Views of Self in Relation to More- Than-Human-Life by PAMELA LOUISE HOLLINGSWORTH B.A. University of British Columbia, 2003 B.Ed. Simon Fraser University, 2014 A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Social and Applied Sciences in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS IN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION Royal Roads University Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Supervisor: DR. DAVID LANGMUIR NOVEMBER 2017 PAMELA HOLLINGSWORTH, 2017 INQUIRY OF PERCEPTION 1 COMMITTEE APPROVAL The members of Pamela Hollingsworth’s Thesis Committee certify that they have read the thesis titled, Inquiry of Perception: Grade Seven Students Express Their Views of Self in Relation to More-Than-Human-Life and recommend that it be accepted as fulfilling the thesis requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS IN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION: DR. DAVID LANGMUIR [signature on file] DR. HILARY LEIGHTON [signature on file] Final approval and acceptance of this thesis is contingent upon submission of the final copy of the thesis to Royal Roads University. The thesis supervisor confirms to have read this thesis and recommends that it be accepted as fulfilling the thesis requirements: DR. DAVID LANGMUIR [signature on file] INQUIRY OF PERCEPTION 2 Creative Commons Statement This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- ShareAlike 2.5 Canada License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ca/. Some material in this work is not being made available under the terms of this licence: • Third-Party material that is being used under fair dealing or with permission. • Any photographs where individuals are easily identifiable. INQUIRY OF PERCEPTION 3 Abstract This research was conducted over the course of several weeks late in the 2016-2017 school year at Highlands Elementary School in the Edgemont Village community of North Vancouver, British Columbia. I took my grade seven class outside to a semi-natural woods within walking distance of the school. The students were given 20 minutes to be in nature, were asked to choose a more-than-human life form they felt attracted to and one they were repulsed by, complete (through writing) five open ended sentences and then discuss what they had experienced. Upon return to our indoor classroom, students were provided art supplies and asked to create art that expressed themselves in relation to more-than-human life and were later interviewed about their art. This qualitative, ethnographic case study is rooted in the traditions of phenomenology, nature and arts-based inquiry. The results of this research highlight the complex relationship these children have with the living world. Keywords: ethnography, phenomenology, more-than-human life, nature-based learning, art, grade seven INQUIRY OF PERCEPTION 4 Dedication This thesis is dedicated to Kalum James and Piper, who are my reason for everything. INQUIRY OF PERCEPTION 5 Acknowledgements My gratitude extends to Dr. David Langmuir, Dr. Hilary Leighton and my peers at Royal Roads University who provided constant support, especially Sheena and Tasha, who called and sent text messages to keep me on track and remind me why I started this research in the first place. To Craig and my Mile High “family” who have educated and cared for my children so I could complete this inquiry: I raise my hands to you in loving gratitude. Thank you to my Elders – to Nana who gave me love strong enough to carry on without her; to Grandpa who told me the stories I needed to hear; and to Uncle Art who knew the soil and plants, and shared his wealth with me. Lastly, I thank my parents, sister and family. 143. INQUIRY OF PERCEPTION 6 Table of Contents Creative Commons Statement ............................................................................................. 2 Abstract ............................................................................................................................... 3 Dedication ........................................................................................................................... 4 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. 5 List of Tables ....................................................................................................................... 8 List of Figures ..................................................................................................................... 9 Chapter One: Introduction ................................................................................................ 10 Who I Am ...................................................................................................................... 11 Setting the Scene ........................................................................................................... 12 Research Question ........................................................................................................ 14 Significance ................................................................................................................... 14 Chapter Two: Literature Review ....................................................................................... 17 Real Crises .................................................................................................................... 17 Deep Ecology ............................................................................................................ 18 Phenomenological Experience ...................................................................................... 21 Art as a Way of Knowing .............................................................................................. 23 Nature Deficit Disorder and Ecophobia ........................................................................ 24 The Work That Reconnects ........................................................................................... 26 Chapter Three: Research Methodology ............................................................................ 28 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 28 Ethnography .................................................................................................................. 30 Creative Analytical Practice .......................................................................................... 31 Confidentiality .............................................................................................................. 32 Limitations .................................................................................................................... 33 Chapter Four: Data Collection .......................................................................................... 35 Instrumentation/Data Collection ................................................................................... 35 Chapter Five: Data Analysis ............................................................................................. 43 Chapter Six: Results and Findings .................................................................................... 46 Scope of Themes ........................................................................................................... 49 Art Work ....................................................................................................................... 50 Outliers in Q3. ........................................................................................................... 58 Chapter Seven: Discussion and Conclusion ..................................................................... 66 Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 67 INQUIRY OF PERCEPTION 7 Epilogue ............................................................................................................................ 70 References ......................................................................................................................... 71 Appendix A: Student Handout .......................................................................................... 75 Appendix B: Letter of Consent to Parents, Guardians, and Students ............................... 78 Appendix C: Photo Waiver ............................................................................................... 80 Appendix D: School District 44 Letter of Consent ........................................................... 81 INQUIRY OF PERCEPTION 8 List of Tables Table 1. Question 3 – “Some things I LOVE about being alive on Earth are…” . .. 46 Table 2. Question 4 – “Some things I find hard about being alive right now are…” . .. 47 Table 3. Question 1 – “I felt attracted to this living being…”. .. 48 Table 4. Question 2 – “I felt repulsed by this living being…”. 49 INQUIRY OF PERCEPTION 9 List of Figures Figure 4.1. Brushing with a cedar bough………………………………………………...38 Figure 4.2. Community Circle gathering spot………………………………………..….39 Figure 4.3. Sitting in place…………………………………………………………….....40 Figure 4.4. Completing Open Sentences, silently, in groups……………………….……40 Figure 4.5. In reciprocity………………………………………………………..……….41 Figure 4.6. Photos inspire art work…………………………………………………..….42 Figure 6.1. Maple photos with quote…………………………………………………....50