Subject/Grade: Social Studies/4

Lesson/Date: The Foothills Region Connections to Nature/Dec. 4, 2020

Time: 9:10-9:40 a.m.

Stage 1: Desired Results

Lesson This lesson will introduce grade four students to the connections to nature in the Foothills
Overview: region. The purpose of this lesson is for students to learn about how we are connected to nature
and the patterns that we see in our natural environment. Students will work independently to
describe the natural environment in their birth month. In activity three students will contribute
to class discussion to share their work and connect it to the Nakoda Moons Calendar. By the
end of the lesson students will demonstrate an understanding of the importance of the natural
environment and the connections that can be made to the Nakoda Moons calendar. Students
will recognize how people live according to the patterns in nature.
GLOs: Students will:
- 4.1:
- Demonstrate an understanding of how physical geography, climate, geology and
paleontology are important in Alberta’s landscapes and environment.
- 4.2:
- Demonstrate an understanding of how stories, history and culture strengthen
communities and contribute to identity.
- 4.3:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the change that has occurred culturally, economically
and socially in Alberta since the beginning of the 1900s.
SLOs: Students will:
- 4.1.1 Value Alberta’s physical geography and natural environment:
- Appreciate the natural resources in Alberta.
- 4.1.4 Identify how people in Alberta interact with the environment.
- Identify how natural resources are used by people in Alberta.
- 4.2.1 Understand Alberta’s history, peoples and stories and how it influences our
identity.
- Recognize the diversity of Aboriginal peoples and its importance to Alberta’s
culture and identity.
- 4.3.1 What factors contribute to quality of life in Alberta?
- Value and respect our relationship with the environment.
Learning Students will:
Objectives - Identify examples of renewable resources in Alberta.
- Describe how people in Alberta use natural resources.
- Describe vegetation, animal life, and natural resource use in different months of the
year.
- Connect months of the year to the Nakoda Moons calendar.
- Recognize the connections the Nakoda Moons calendar makes to our natural
environment.

Stage 2: Assessment Evidence

Formative - Student summaries on the Summative
Assessment natural environment in their Assessment
birth month will be submitted
in Hapara.

Stage 3: Learning Experience

Prior to - Create Google Slides and Resources/ Resources:
Subject/Grade: Social Studies/4
Lesson/Date: The Foothills Region Connections to Nature/Dec. 4, 2020
Time: 9:10-9:40 a.m.
Lesson: Google Doc. Materials: - Teachers Manual of Our
Alberta, Chapter 3.
- Hapara
Materials:
- Google Slides with textbook
reading and visuals.
https://docs.google.com/present
ation/d/1YhqwUcVvnmqdH5D
RwzQr7AMEm1y5jA4a0YpuX
em3zIs/edit?usp=sharing
- Google Doc for learning
activity one.
https://docs.google.com/docum
ent/d/1GIxgsIFRISRph8fzJOR
NGzocYrQeFEMFJtwQJydVl
WQ/edit?usp=sharing
Time: Content/Description Differentiation/
Assessments:
Introduction:
Review of Previous Concepts/New Learning:

Can you list the different topics in the Foothills that we have written about in
Finish our mini books? Landforms, bodies of water, climate, vegetation, animal life
at 9:13 and natural resources.

Today we are going to study connections to nature, specifically looking at the

Nakoda Moons calendar.
Transition

Secure students’ attention.

Body:
Learning Activity 1: Textbook Reading

Read the paragraph on page 46.

Finish The text will be projected on the Smartboard and students will follow along.
at 9:18 - When I pause, students say the next word.

The environment is very important to the Stoney Nakoda Nation. We see that
the changing of seasons is very important to them. The Nakoda people used
moons to describe the different seasons. They would use the moons to tell
about vegetation, animal life, climate and resources.

Discuss the natural environment and how it differs in each month. Each month
has important as animals migrate and new vegetation grows.
Transition

Students will take out their laptops and go to Hapara.

Learning Activity 2: What month were you born in? Formative
Subject/Grade: Social Studies/4
Lesson/Date: The Foothills Region Connections to Nature/Dec. 4, 2020
Time: 9:10-9:40 a.m.
Assessment:
Finish Students will write descriptive sentences to answer the following questions Student
at 9:25 about their birth month. summaries on
- What is the weather like? natural
- What kinds of animals do you see outside during this time of year? environment in
- What does the vegetation look like during this month? their birth month
- What types of natural resources do we use to help meet our needs? will be submitted
in Hapara.
Describe what I am looking for in their work.
Transition

Students will not submit their work yet. They will turn their laptops around, so
the screens are facing me, so they are not a distraction to them.

Encourage students to volunteer to share what they have written.

Learning Activity 3: Sharing and Connecting to Nakoda Calendar

Finish Students will share their summaries according to the month being discussed.
at 9:35 1. Student summaries
2. Discuss Nakoda Moons calendar for that month. Identify animals,
climate, vegetation and resources.
Transition

Students will submit their summaries in Hapara.

Consolidation:
Review of Key Concepts/Point to Next Class:

Review
- Learned about the Nakoda Moons calendar.
Finish - Learned how there is patterns in nature like the seasons and the moon.
at 9:40 Next Class
- Finish natural resources summary if you have not already.
Stage 4: Reflection
1. How the students responded to the lesson as planned and taught:
2. Were all students able to access meaningful learning in this lesson? How could we adapt this lesson
to support a wider range of students (High support needs and High challenge needs)?
3. Specific strengths of the lesson plan and delivery:
4. Specific weaknesses in the lesson plan and delivery:
5. What must be addressed to improve this plan?
6. How I have grown from this teaching experience: