Lesson

Inuit Culture Day Celebration Date Mon. Dec. 11th 2017

Title/Focus
Subject/Grade Time
Grade 2 Social 2:54 3:40
Level Duration

OUTCOMES FROM ALBERTA PROGRAM OF STUDIES

General 2.1: Students will demonstrate and understanding and appreciation of how geography,
Learning culture, language, heritage, economics and resources shape and change Canadas
Outcomes: communities.
Specific 2.1.1: Appreciate the physical and human geography of the communities studied.
Learning 2.1.3: Students will investigate the cultural and linguistic characteristics of an Inuit
Outcomes: community in Canada by exploring and reflecting upon specific inquiry questions.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Students will:
1. Eat traditional bannock.
2. Listen to a story about traditional Inuit culture.
3. Participate in different traditional Inuit games.
ASSESSMENTS
Formative Assessment:
I will be giving out an exit slip that will show me what they liked, and what they wish we would have
tried.
I will ask what the important Inuit celebration is, and I will be asking them why these sorts of cultures
and traditions are important.
I will ask them questions about their language, and why it important for them to speak their own
language and have their own names.
Key Questions MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
What did you like the most at todays culture day Bannock
celebration for the Inuit peoples? Paper Plates
What is the main Inuit celebration? Exit slips (16)
Why is it important to celebrate someones culture? Tradition music from Susan Aglukark, and
What language do the Inuit speak? (Inuktitut, French, throat singing sisters
Ukrainian) Hot Apple Cider packages and hot water
Why is it important that the Inuit people get to speak Cups
their own language and have their own names? Mark the floor for kneel jump and back
push
Bench or stool for bench reach
Bench reach blocks
Masking tape to mark out placements
PROCEDURE
Introduction Time
Welcome to our Inuit Culture Celebration!
Before we get started, I would like to acknowledge that we are gathering on Treaty 7 territory
and the traditional territory of the Niitsitapi (knee-its-ata-pee) (Blackfoot), Nakoda (Stoney),
and Tsuutina people.
Alright, now well distribute the food and the drinks.
12 mins
On the menu today we have tradition Bannock, on each plate is a piece of cheese bannock and
regular bannock.
Please give both types of bannock a try! If you dont like it, thats totally fine, but lets all be super
brave and try at least one bite!
Lesson: When I was trying to think of what to make for the celebration, I went online and asked a
bunch of my friends. One of my friends suggested this, Bannock.
I was stoked, because it sounded perfect.
Then, one of my other friends, who belongs to the (knee-its-ata-pee) (Niitsitapi) or Blackfoot tribe,
taught me something new.
The Aboriginal peoples, which includes each of the First Nations Tribes, as well as the Inuit people,
made Bannock because it was one of the only things they were able to make.
When the Europeans came to Canada, they didnt like the way that the Aboriginal people were
living.

The Europeans forced the Aboriginal peoples onto Reserves, which was land that was set aside
for the Aboriginal people to live on so the Europeans told the Aboriginals were to live.

Then, the Europeans told them they couldnt hunt like they originally did, and instead, the
Europeans gave the Aboriginals only specific amounts of specific foods.

Now, theyve told the Aboriginal people where to live, and how to live.
The Aboriginals had to use the food carefully or they might starve.
So, they made bannock. It was really the only thing that they could make out of the food that was
given to them by the Europeans.

Traditionally, the Inuit would eat things that they could hunt or fish for.
We talked about Arctic Char, as well as, Caribou Stew.

Were going to be drinking Hot Apple Cider. Traditionally, the Inuit made tea out of shrub bushes,
and it was called Labrador Tea.
The Inuit people used the tea mainly to heal them, and I would assume to keep them warm.

Once you get your food and drink I would like you to move back to your desks, and Ill read you a
story by an Inuit writer.
Can I get my first line to line up at the sliding doors, then my second line, then my third group can
line up?
- Distribute the food and drinks.
- Read, Sweetest Kulu (6 Mins)
Body Time
I really love that book, and I love how it shows the connection between the people and their land.
The Inuit people really cherished the land and they would use every part that they could.

Now, were going to begin the Arctic games portion of today. I will be breaking you into groups
two groups of 6 and one group of 4.
Because class is so short, you will only have 5 minutes at each activity. This means you need to
listen very carefully to the instructions so that when you get there you know exactly what to do!

There will be three events going on. Im going to show you short videos of a couple of these. 22 mins
The first is the Inuit Push Back, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Vfj_Rowufo
- PE 78 First Nations Games (Back Push)
Ill have marked out two spots on the floor, then the goal is to get the knees of your opponent on
the other side of the line.
You will pick one person to push against and we will have all three pairs going at the same time.
You can take breaks whenever you want, but you only have around 5 minutes.
- Held in shared space on the carpet
 Then well be doing the kneel Jump. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR5kW0WMJsA
- Kneel Jump Instructional Video
- Held in shared space.
You will get to jump twice, which ever is farther, that will be your best jump.
I will mark it with a piece of tape.

And the last activity is the bench reach. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMNUBLi0bfo

- Kyles Bench Reach 2013
- Held on carpet in main room
You will get two attempts. It only counts if the piece of wood remains standing and successfully
make it back up to kneeling position.
If you fall, make sure you catch yourself, and, it wont count. So, be careful. This will also be
marked with a piece of tape.

- Split them into their groups and give 1 group to each activity.
- Start traditional Inuit Playlist & Susan Algukark
- Start a timer for 5 minutes
Closure Time
Alright, Grade 2s, I need everyone back at their spots.
We have a really quick exit slip to end todays celebration. (7 mins)
- Read through each of the questions. 12 mins
Once youve finished the exit slip, just take them and put them on my desk and you can get ready with clean
to go home. (5 Mins) up

I think todays class is going to be pretty epic. I hope they have fun, because I think the most
learning happens when you actually enjoy what youre learning about. Ive put teaching
moments within the activities, so I think that will still give the lesson value.

I do not want this to just be a free for all, I want there to be control and respect throughout.

I am hoping to get another aid in the classroom, but Im not sure how do-able that is. Well see
what happens. This can be successful with just the two of us, but it would be awesome to have
three.