Step Into My Sessions: Poutinia, Part 2: When Ideas Grow Together

The flag of Poutinia.

Every detail tells a story they built together.

Last month, I shared how one group’s idea about poutine 🍟 quickly took on a life of its own. This week, Poutinia is back—and it’s grown. What started as a playful detour has become a shared world 🌎, with new layers, new details, and even more student investment. It’s a wonderful example of how ideas, when held collectively, don’t just continue—they evolve.

🤝When Ideas Grow Together

I taped a huge piece of blank paper onto the table to become the world of Poutinia, and students quickly chose their areas of expertise. The artists took on the flag, the cartographer 🗺️ the map, the writer the history, and the foodie the menu. But no one worked in isolation. Over the next 45 minutes, the room was abuzz with conversation—opinions, requests for feedback, quick revisions, and lots of laughter 😄.

The map of Poutinia (see history for details)

National menu (paid for with Pucoins) & the Defending Dragon

The (exhaustive) history of Poutinia

They even developed a national salute—standing tall, right arm bent up, covering their eyes—and lined up so I could see it in action. They declared themselves honorary citizens. I, however, was granted only the ambassadorship. 🎖️

Next on the agenda: making poutine 🍟👨‍🍳, of course, so stay tuned!

What struck me most wasn’t just the creativity—it was how naturally the collaboration unfolded. 🤝

Students stepped into roles, shared ownership, negotiated ideas, and stayed engaged with each other’s thinking. They asked for input, responded to feedback 🔄, and adjusted their plans in real time. This kind of work weaves together so many of the skills we care about—flexibility, perspective taking, communication 🗣️, and investment in a shared outcome. And it didn’t come from a carefully structured task 📋. It emerged because there was space for ideas to grow and be held by the group. Afterwards, we checked in using a SocialScale we have used in the past:

By allowing a “Part 2,” I was also communicating something important—that their ideas 💡 were worth returning to, expanding, and taking seriously. In that moment, I wasn’t running a session—we were collaborators 🤝 in the learning process. This kind of work takes time ⏳ and trust—and it’s worth slowing down for. 🐢💛

Reflective moment 🪞

When do you choose to follow your students’ ideas—and what happens when you do?

Hope you are staying calm in these weeks of transition to summer!