Learning Story – Is It Winter?
The Week of November 5th, 2024
What Happened?
The debate continued as students took turns discussing why they thought it was winter or not. We decided to continue to make observations throughout the day to help us decide
“Look! I found a moth!”
“There’s something in this wood.” “We should leave it just in case there is an insect inside.”
Bushkid: “We should go play across the lake.”
Educator: “Can we go on the ice?”
Bushkid: “I don’t know. Can the fox walk on it? I think that is because he is so light.”
Bk1: “I’m going to make an avalanche.”
Bk1: “Look at all the acorns in this tree, I mean pine cones.”
BK2: “It’s a bird’s nest or a squirrel’s nest.”
Bk1: “I think the squirrel lives there.”
“Juneau ordered a big load of snow for the quinzee!”
“I found ice- a big chunk of ice.”
Why is it Important?
When children are given the space to discuss and voice their opinions, they build critical and creative thinking skills. We returned to this topic to demonstrate that we don’t need to find the answer immediately, and that the answer may be different to different people. In our closing circle one of the youth volunteers definitively spoke about how she defined winter, but that others may follow the winter solstice, and that their definition would be different.
Through place-based learning we recognize that the Land gives us instructions. How you connect to the Land depends on where you are, who you are, and what language you speak. When the Bushkids are met with different or opposing ideas in a safe environment, they build the capacity to communicate in a respectful way.
What Does This Mean For Next Time?
In the Tłı̨chǫ language, there six words for the different seasons. We will practice those words and learn about what defines those six seasons such as hunting, trapping, fishing and what the animals are doing.
We also have noticed how much the younger Bushkids love being read to. We will continue to bring books written by Indigenous authors. This coming week Cathy Modeste Short will join us to read her new book and share her mother’s teachings.
Several weeks ago Larry Jones shared some stories about the tipis that his family members lived in.Now that the poles are up, we will soon have the opportunity to finish the tipi and learn about its significance.