THE STORY OF
This Integrated Unit will explore a vast array of content, curricular and "Big Ideas" outcomes. Students will learn about their personal identity and story, develop strong sense of self and role in community, explore storytelling, and dig into poetry, with a focus on metaphor and symbolism. Students will explore social responsibility ideas such as gratitude and kindness, self exploration, coping and calming techniques for dealing with issues and see what it is to have a voice through our "healing circle", share students explore issues relevant to them and offer and analyze solutions. This is a compliment to our Character Strong development through CORE. All of this will play out in the bigger content arenas of Short Story, Poetry, Ancient Civilizations, First Nations principles, Public Speaking, Creative Writing and Journalling.
Who I Am
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Students will explore characteristics about themselves using First Nations concepts. Tasks in this section include: (initial portion ~ 4 weeks)
1. Naming themselves using First Nations techniques - from story "Big Thunder" - Poetry exercise 2. Selecting a personal totem and completing a drawing based on what animal they connect to. 3. Writing a Metaphor Poem about personal characteristics and their animal choice. 4. Regular participation in a "Talking/Healing Circle". 5. Learning about their passions, personal learning and communication styles. |
The Lifeline
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The film INSIDE OUT will be used to explore the concept of emotions, events, change, struggle, brain responses, etc. helpful for students to deconstruct their own emotional and thought processes to create more meaningful journaling and decision making.
Guided activities - Gratitude Letter, Stepping deeper into personal exploration, TedTalks, Prince Ea, Calming techniques and personal awareness Extension - Storytelling - based on similar recording techniques. Students will come to appreciate the role of the historian and create their own stories about how something in our world was formed based on First Nations belief systems. Guest speakers and First Nation literature and film will help guide this process. |
Journalling :
Students will have a daily journal to fill out, The Bell Ringer Journal provides a variety of ways to get students to expand vocabulary, think critically and creatively and reflect on their values. Each day they will spend approximately 10 minutes completing an activity, and then at months end, select the best for me to evaluate. |
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