Understanding how People of the Arctic Live and Survive 

ENL Proficiency Level | ENL Program | Standards | Technology

Transitioning, Expanding  |  Stand-Alone, Virtual  |  5R1, 5R2, 5R4, 5R6  |  Nearpod, Newsomatic, Google Slides, Jamboard, Smart Suite

Content

I can describe how the Inuit people learned to survive in the Arctic.

Procedure

In this particular sample, students will be working on chapter 4 (“Arctic Animals). 

Students will explain how the Polar Bears hunt their prey and how the native people learned to hunt from the Polar bears.

As students compare and contrast, they will gain an understanding and appreciation for people from other parts of the world.

Students will read chapter 4 and comment and annotate important information using sticky notes (Jamboard).

Students will write about how other cultures are different from our own and how in our differences we can find strengths and common ground. For example, in the fictional story, we see how the Esqumos copy the Polar bear to survive. Also, when they hunt seals, they do not forget to thank the spirits for the food the seals provide. Students do not need to agree with this practice, but they can understand it and respect it. 

Steps:

1. Students will read an article on “Newsomatic”, about how Polar bears are experiencing difficulties surviving due to Climate Warming and how burning fossil fuels is creating a “heat-trapping blanket” that is making the ice melt. 

2. Students will have a chance to read independently (Chap. 4) and they will compare the non-fiction book to the fictional story. (Many times they overlap allowing for the development of critical thinking skills in their discussions.)

3. Students will retell the main parts of the chapter by summarizing important details and following teacher assigned strategies to summarize text. (Usually  5-6 sentences per chapter)

4. Embedded in the text, we will explain key content vocabulary to clarify their understanding. Many of the definitions are accompanied by pictures to help students understand better.

5. Students will either answer questions using the “Share” feature of “Google Meets” or by means of interactive SmartNotebook Suite.

6. Follow up activities will involve a group reading session of an interactive book on the Inuit People on “Lightsail. This will be a guided reading session, followed by an interactive Smartnotebook Suite session of multiple choice questions.

7. I will give the prompt on SmartNotebook Suite, “What I learned About the Arctic”. Students will add their comments on a shout out activity.

8. Another follow up activity would be to find a lesson about the Inuit people using Nearpod.

9. Another follow up activity would be to watch a mini-video clip about the Inuit hunters and how they build igloos to stay warm using “Nearpod”.

Scaffolding will be done by providing and discussing key vocabulary words aided by pictures and discussions as necessary depending on the students.