Learning Story – “What do we know about squirrels?”
The Week of December 10, 2024
What Happened?
Inquiry: “What do we know about squirrels? What can the squirrel teach us?”
Today Matt Brien came to share his knowledge about cleaning and stretching a squirrel hide.
While we worked and explored we wondered:
“What’s the yellow stuff?”
“Will we eat the squirrel?”
“You have to be patient!”
“Did you cut the bone?”
“The skull bone is so delicate.”
“Can we look at the insides when we are done?”
“What if you want a challenge? Can you keep the feet on?”
Bushkid: “I feel sad about the squirrel.”
Knowledge Holder: “You don’t need to feel sad about the squirrel. You show the squirrel respect and that positive energy continues.” “It gave its life, so that we could learn from it together.”
Why is it Important?
The Bushkids had the opportunity to learn a skill that is helpful to them in the future. This is an example of authentic learning. As we worked, the educators gave a lot of space for the Bushkids to think, notice, question and explore the squirrel. The knowledge holder framed the squirrels’ deaths through the lens of giving. The squirrel gave its life so that we can learn about animals, their habitats, what they eat etc… The squirrel’s fur will give warmth. By dissecting the squirrel for a very long time, we learned so much about the physiology of the squirrel and that our bodies and systems have so much in common (cardiovascular system, respiratory system, digestive system, urinary system)!
What Does This Mean For Next Time?
We have started asking questions like “what can the squirrel teach us” or “how are we like a squirrel” to help us find other ways to connect with animals. We will continue to do this when we are cleaning and preparing animals. If a Bushkid is focused on the fact that the animal has died, we can find ways to communicate a different perspective and worldview so that they can try to see a bigger picture and appreciate all of the educational and relational benefits that come from trapping and snaring. The Dene Kede curriculum and the Inuuqatigiit curriculum offer really helpful prompts and questions to support discussions like this and to find other ways to connect with the animals that we often have at Bushkids.