Schools

In partnership with teachers, we have strived to open students minds and broaden their view of the society they inhabit. To that end, our activities aim to expose youth to authentic and diverse cultures and communities through artistic workshops. Workshops can take place in class, at after-school/club meetings, or during pedagogical days.

PAAL views childhood as a critical period during which major social and cognitive developments occur. For that reason we offer our services to preschools, elementary schools, and high schools. We are always looking to develop critical thinking in the citizens of tomorrow.

The PAAL program complements Quebec's official teaching policies as it is signed up in the “Politique d'intégration et d'éducation interculturelle” created in 1998 by the Quebec government. PAAL workshops contribute to democratic citizen education as is proposed by the province, by encouraging students to enrich their intercultural communication skills. Our activities also respect the “Soutien à l’accueil et l’intégration des élèves issus de l’immigration” program created by the “Ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement Supérieur” (MEES) which aims to help young immigrants integrate into Quebec society.

For more information please consult the catalogue below.

PAAL Catalog

Detail concernant les ateliers de PAAL, Details on PAAL workshops

Broad Areas of Learning

Our workshops are based on the QEP’s “Citizenship and Community Life” broad area of learning. The overarching aim of that area of learning, as described by the MEES, is “to enable students to take part in the democratic life of the class or the school and develop an attitude of openness to the world and respect for diversity” (Quebec Education Program). Through our workshops, we encourage youth to respect and value plurality. Our work through PAAL is designed to develop competencies from the social science, ethics and religious culture, and visual arts subject areas. All PAAL workshops are designed with those specific objectives in mind. While developing participants' intellectual skills, we encourage cooperation, self-expression, and open-mindedness.

Social Science

Competency 3: To be open to the diversity of societies and their territories

Ethics and Religious Culture

Competency 1: Reflects on ethical questions

Competency 3: Engages in dialogue

Visual Arts

Competency 1: To produce individual works in the visual arts

Competency 3: To appreciate works of art, traditional artistic objects, media images, personal productions and those of classmates

Cross-Curricular Competencies

According to the MEES, cross-curricular competencies “play a determining role in developing thinking” (Quebec Education Program). These competencies affect students across subject areas and allow them to attain their full potential through the development of cognitive, social, and emotional skills. Our workshops contribute to the development of four cross-curricular competencies as described by the MEES.

Competency 3: Exercises critical judgment

PAAL helps students develop their critical thinking skills by pushing them to create logical arguments, to adapt their thoughts and conclusions to different contexts, to question, and to put aside preconceived notions and biases. The basic principles of this competency are the abilities to form opinions, and to express and reconsider those opinion.

Competency 4: Uses creativity

Our workshops are made up of activities that stimulate students' imagination. All participants are encouraged to create original pieces and to leave their comfort zone, while being introduced to new ideas, strategies, and artistic techniques. Through this method, students are permitted, and encouraged, to think outside the box and create something unique.

Competency 7: Achieves his/her potential

Our workshops encourage students to develop their self-confidence and autonomy by pushing them to utilize their strengths and overcome obstacles. Through PAAL, students will learn to express their opinions and beliefs, accept differences, and value diversity. Our activities help students understand their place in their communities and their belonging to a larger Quebec society.

Competency 8: Cooperates with others

Students are provided the opportunity to participate in open dialogue with their peers about multiculturalism and respect in our workshops. They learn to recognize what everyone brings to society, to be open to pluralism, and to show tolerance to all. Students are given the opportunity to interact with open minds and to benefit from group work.

We invite you to read “Un atelier avec l'organisme PAAL pour un meilleur climat scolaire”, an article published in the second issue of the 31st volume of Vivre le primaire.

"A workshop with the PAAL organization for a better school climate"