Heritage Community Foundation Presents
Alberta Online Encyclopedia and Edukits

Heritage Community Foundation Presents
Alberta Online Encyclopedia


Grade 7 Lesson: Native Plant Usage

General Learner Expectations

Generalization: Beliefs and values influence behaviour

Rationale: Aboriginal People maintain a special connection and certain respect for the plants, trees, and roots that were developed by the Creator. In fact, Aboriginal People harvested many plants, roots and berries for medicinal and spiritual purposes. Respect for nature combined with traditional knowledge of the many uses for foliage is an important aspect of Aboriginal spirituality that students will be introduced to.

Knowledge:

  • Students will recognize the importance of nature to Aboriginal spiritual beliefs and practices as well as world view
  • Understand how Aboriginal Peoples respect for nature affects their behavior
  • Make connections between traditional Aboriginal medicinal remedies and contemporary treatments
  • Learn select Latin names for plants, roots and berries
  • Develop an understanding of some of the ailments or spiritual practices that plants, roots, and berries were used for

Skills

  • Create an information chart that tracts the common and Latin names of various plants, roots, and berries as well as the Aboriginal group that used them and for what purposes
  • Search and retrieve information from various internet sites
  • Identify plants based on Latin name and a picture

Attitude

  • Respect the infinite amount of knowledge that Aboriginal People have regarding the many possible usages for plants, roots, and berries
  • Appreciate the contributions of Aboriginal Peoples knowledge of plants, roots, and berries upon contemporary medical treatments and solutions

Teacher Information

In the traditional Aboriginal view everything is parallel with nature. The earth itself is often regarded as Mother Earth as it provides all the people need to survive. Aboriginal People did not take things that the earth provided for granted. When they did harvest a particular plant or root, they often gave an offering of tobacco to the earth as a symbol of thanks and appreciation. Many Aboriginal People, typically Elders, were given the gift of knowledge of particular plants, roots, and berries healing, nutritional, and spiritual properties. Aboriginal People used the plants, roots, and berries growing around them as natural remedies to cure sickness, they used special plants in important spiritual ceremonies, and they also used plants, roots, and berries to supplement their diets. Many of their traditional methods have been become the foundation for present day treatment of ailments

Intro Activity

Since the following lesson plans discuss nature, the introductory lesson would be best conducted in an outside environment if possible (weather permitting). Using the school grounds as the backdrop, have students search the grounds for a plant, leaf, berry, root etc. that they find interesting. Once they have chosen something, the students will draw their own interpretation on a piece of paper. The student will then create their own name for the plant (this activity is designed primarily to let the students be creative, not to learn the scientific or common name of plants etc) and then hypothesize what natural curing abilities they think their chosen species might or would have. Students are encouraged to use their imagination and give a specific recipe as what to do with the plant, root, leaf or berry. All of this can be done outside or inside the classroom. Students should then share their creations with the rest of the class.

Main Lesson

Print and cut out the following common names of some important plants that were used by Aboriginal People in Alberta. Pass one slip of paper to each student. Print and distribute the Plant Name Chart to all students. Students must locate their plant on the chart. Each student will then read aloud the corresponding information on the chart.

Discuss with students how the plants were generally used to cure common ailments or for spiritual purposes. Do they think it is interesting how Aboriginal People used plants, roots and berries from nature to cure themselves? How do they think Aboriginal People discovered the natural healing components of some plants?

The students will be responsible for further researching the plant that they were given. Students will want to

  1. Find a picture of the plant
  2. List the common and scientific name
  3. List some areas where the plant commonly grows (ie: does it grow all across Alberta or only in certain regions, what kind of conditions does it need to flourish)
  4. Briefly describe the group (s) that utilized the plant
  5. What were some of the specific usages? Include others that are not already on the Plant Names Chart
  6. Does the plant still grow naturally today? Why or why not?
  7. Why do you think nature and the plants, roots, and berries were so important to Aboriginal culture, spirituality, and survival?
  8. What parts of the plant were used?

Supplementary Lesson

As a group discuss what other possible natural remedies the students may know of. Perhaps their parents use a home remedy that was passed on from a grand parent.

  • Do the students think these remedies have an Aboriginal connection?

Supplementary Lesson 2

Students will do a research project on the spiritual connection between Aboriginal people and the land/environment. Some questions they may want to ask are:

  1. Why do Aboriginal people hold nature and animals in high regard?
  2. How do creation stories play a role in this belief system?
  3. Do you think that other cultures can learn from Aboriginal people about respecting the environment?
  4. Are there some special ceremonies or practices that Aboriginal people have when it comes to honoring the land?


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