Embedded Files
Suggested Unit Schedule:
Suggested Unit Schedule:
Units are designed to take approximately 10 hours, spread over the course of 2-3 weeks.
Units are designed to take approximately 10 hours, spread over the course of 2-3 weeks.
Unit Overview at a Glance
Unit Overview at a Glance
Unit Overview Details
Unit Overview Details
Working with Community Elders
Working with Community Elders
From GUIDELINES FOR RESPECTING CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE, Alaska Native Knowledge Network:
"It should be understood that the identification of "Elders" as culture-bearers is not simply a matter of chronological age, but a function of the respect accorded to individuals in each community who exemplify the values and lifeways of the local culture and who possess the wisdom and willingness to pass their knowledge on to future generations. Respected Elders serve as the philosophers, professors and visionaries of a cultural community. In addition, many aspects of cultural knowledge can be learned from other members of a community who have not yet been recognized as Elders, but seek to practice and teach local lifeways in culturally appropriate ways"
Find out who is acknowledged as an Elder in your community. They could be someone in their 50s, not necessarily "old."
Xerox copies of the faces of each student and, ideally, a xerox copy of the face of an Elder they identify. They will use these photos to create a self-portrait puppet and an Elder puppet. The xeroxes of the faces should be big enough so that, after cutting around the face, it is large enough to use for their puppet.
In the unit, students learn how to say "hello, thank you and goodbye" in their native language. You may need to find someone to help you with this language lesson.
Arranging for an Elder visit: On day 4, the suggested activity is for the students to interview an Elder. Read the Interviewing Process resource from the Alaska Native Knowledge Network before this activity. Students can either go visit an Elder or invite them to come to the classroom. Plan on giving the Elder a gift of local subsistence food, if possible.
Honoring Our Elders event: On the last day, the suggested activity is to invite Elders to come to the classroom to share the book, quilt, puppet show and give them a gift of local subsistence food if possible. This event may vary, depending on what is the best way for the students to honor the Elders in their community.
Elders Book; What Our Elders Teach Us
Elders Book; What Our Elders Teach Us
Students will be completing two drafts of a drawing showing an Elder teaching them something about their culture. Students will practice giving and receiving feedback with peers. This portion of the project is based off of the Austin's Butterfly video, so be sure to familiarize yourself with the process before beginning the unit with students. If possible, copies of the book can be given as gifts to Elders and added to the school library.
Puppets
Puppets
Students use xerox copies of Elders' faces and their own face to create an Elder puppet and a self-portrait puppet. They create a show puppet show, "Acts of Respect" for Elders to share the last day.
Class Quilt; Respecting Our Elders
Class Quilt; Respecting Our Elders
Students will create a class quilt, "Respecting Our Elders" in which they each draw an example of how they can show respect for an Elder, write a sentence and design a border for their square. Each paper quilt square is glued onto a large piece of butcher paper to create a class quilt to share with Elders.
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