Generalization and Rationale Objectives Teacher Information & Introductory Activity Main Lesson Supplementary Lesson #1 Supplementary Lesson #2 Print Lesson

Lesson 1 - Supplementary Lesson #1 (Page 2)

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Despite an abundance of game in the Athabasca region, fish have been the most reliable source of food for various Aboriginal People and their dogs, who camped where they could fish as well as hunt. Later, the fur traders located their posts close to good fishing locations, or "fisheries." Today, the most common fish used locally are whitefish, lake trout, northern pike (jackfish), walleye (pickerel) and goldeye.

It is important students realize how important it was for Aboriginal People to be aware of their surroundings at all times. Aboriginal People respected the animals and plant life for what they had to offer and they never hunted and killed needlessly.

Aboriginal People frequently called on nature to guide them. The wind was an important navigational tool. They would remember important landmarks that aided them and helped prevent them from getting lost. It was very rare that an Aboriginal person got lost or froze to death.

Lesson

Students will have an opportunity to learn the importance of understanding and remembering their surroundings. Give students approximately two to three minutes to examine the classroom. Encourage them to remember as much as they can. What temperature is the room, what time of day is it, where are specific things located in the room? Once the time is up, have each student bring a piece of paper and pencil with them into the hallway. Close the classroom door and have students try and recall as much as they can about the classroom environment. Only give students a maximum of five minutes. Once the students are situated in the classroom again, have them volunteer to share observations they made about the classroom environment. Write everything on the board until a comprehensive list is created. Discuss some of the elements on the board. What things did student remember right away? What is missing from the list? Why did students think they could remember everything? Why were certain things easier to remember? Have them write a short paragraph about what they learned from this exercise. How does it relate to Aboriginal People during the early contact period? Can students imagine how hard it would be to remember things in nature?

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