Climate Change Curriculum Connections K

DENE KEDE CURRICULUM K-6

“In order to survive and to live life to the fullest, Dene students must develop respectful relationships with the Land, the Spiritual World, Other People and Themselves. These relationships are best developed with the aid of the Dene Elders and their voice which is the Dene Language.”

General Learner Expectations

The Land

Enjoy the Land:

• be aware of the sights, sounds, smell and feel of the land. (K-6)
• recall personal land experiences. (K-6)
• enjoy and retell others’ stories about the land. (K-6)

Demonstrate increasing skills in land survival:

• observe habitats and habits of plants and animals. (K-6)
• familiarity with how Dene use plants and animals. (K-6)
• Observe nature and its ways. (K-6)

The People

Understand the importance of group identity and group cooperation for survival:

• with others in the extended family, community and tribe and Dene Nation. (K-6)
• work within a group with assigned responsibilities: (K-6)

Thematic Units

The Land and the Sky: Water and Rivers

Water and Rivers

• students can learn how important water is for life

The Land

• know the characteristics of the rivers and lakes in different seasons, i.e., the animals hunted and the condition of the river. (K-6)
  
  
  • spring: water levels, breakup and ice conditions, beaver, ducks, fish spawning grounds
  • winter: ice conditions, fish, which rivers do not freeze over
  • fall: freeze-up and ice conditions, ducks, geese, moose
  • summer: windy and calm, fish

The People

• be aware of how the seasonal changes of rivers or lakes near a community affect the mood and activity in a community: summer traffic and travel, threat of flooding, etc. (K-4)

Plants

• students will recognize the different kinds of plants in their area and know what their uses are
• The Land:
  
  
  • Recognize, name and pick local plants used for food, dyes, medicines or domestic purposes (K-6)

Animals

Caribou

• to give students understanding and appreciation of the caribou
• The Land:
  
  
  • know kinds of caribou, their habitat, migration patterns, life cycles and kinds within a herd. (K-6)
  • know what caribou eat: (K-3)

Birds

• students will begin to notice and appreciate the many birds found in the North and their value to the Dene both past and present.
• The Land:
  
  
  • identify edible and non-edible birds in local area, and describe their habits or characteristics. (K-6)

People

Grandparents

• students should know about the traditional role of grandparents in Dene cultures, and how important they are for transmitting the knowledge, skills and attitudes of our ancestors.
• The Land:
  
  
  • know that elders are a rich source of information about the land. (K-6)

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS K

General Outcome 2: Comprehend and respond personally and critically to oral, print and other media texts.

2.3 Understand Forms and Techniques

• create original texts [such as dramatic play, pictures, chants, story boards] to communicate and demonstrate understanding of forms and techniques

General Outcome 3: Manage ideas and information.

3.1 Plan and Focus

• discuss personal knowledge of a topic
• choose different ways to gather information and ideas

3.2 Select and Process

• seek information from others [such as people at school, at home, in the community]
• ask questions and use prior knowledge to make sense of information

General Outcome 4 Enhance the clarity and artistry of communication

4.4 Present and Share

• share information and ideas with a group

General Outcome 5:Celebrate and build community

5.1 Encourage, Support and Work With Others

• participate in group activities