Students from around the school division took over the Rocky View Education Centre yesterday (April 26) to display artwork celebrating Canada's 150th anniversary.

"We challenged teachers to design some learning for their students that would be engaging and authentic, while taking up that challenge of representing the Canadian identity through arts," said Dan McWilliam, Learning Design Specialist with RVS.

A number of works were on display for the exhibit, including paintings, drawings, quilts and sculptures. Every piece uniquely demonstrated an aspect of Canadian heritage and identity.

Through the unique learning experience, the schools and students were able to uniquely express their conception of Canadian identity.

"In all these types of experiences that we work with teachers on, we want to have students to have an opportunity to make, create and do things that are meaningful to them," said Jason Ness, Learning Design Specialist with RVS.

Ness added that using art as the avenue allowed the students a unique form of expression.

"The reason for the art is to give them that medium for expressing themselves creatively."

Janelle Fortmüller, Learning Design Specialist, said there was great buy in from teachers, which she attributes to the celebratory mood in the country.

"It's not just curriculum driven, it's driven by what's actually happening in our country. I think there's so much excitement around that as is, and so a lot of teachers really got behind this."

35 teachers from fifteen schools had students participate in the exhibit. The artwork will remain on display at schools around Rocky View for the rest of the year.