Overview
Students will examine changes in the methods used to harvest and produce natural resources over time in their communities. They will also make predictions about how new technology may influence these industries in the future.
This lesson assumes that students will have time to work collaboratively to produce a Thought Book “story board” to show changes which have occurred over time in a natural resources industry in their community. Students will be asked to interview and record an older person in their community (may include family connection) who has worked in a natural resources industry and can describe how their worked changed over time. Students will also research changes in this industry and record this information on their story boards.
Indigenous ways of cultivation and harvesting of natural resources will be researched and, if possible, an elder consulted to discuss traditional and modern natural resource production in First Nations communities.
NB Curricular Connections
Social Studies (3-5)
Strand: History, Big Idea: Events and Peoples
Strand: Geography, Big Idea: Human Systems and Interactions
Science (3-5)
Strand: Learning & Living Sustainably, Big Idea: Responsible and Sustainable Application
English Language Arts (3-5)
Strand: Interactions, Big Idea: Expression
What You’ll Need
- Thought Book “Story Board” Templates (paper or electronic) Click on link to download:
- Recording device for interviews (could be a parent’s cell phone)
- Access to resources (internet or library) on natural resource production
- Art materials to produce a “prototype” of their design for future natural resource technology (low tech option)
- Access to computer graphics software to produce a “prototype” of their design for future natural resource technology (high tech option)
Instructions
- Teams of approximately 3-5 students choose a natural resource industry to focus on for their cross curricular learning project. They should discuss the task and determine older adults they could interview to discuss changes in that industry over the years. They may need to consult with their parents to see if they have family connections to a person who could be interviewed.
- When they have decided on an industry, they should be given time to research and produce a storyboard using the ‘Thought Book’ template provided or another storyboard format of the teacher’s choice. Their storyboard should indicate how the industry has changed over time.
- Students will be asked to interview and record an older adult talking about how their work changed in that industry over time. They should/could upload video or audio files to a class Teams site. Teams will watch/listen to these stories and produce a storyboard for these interviews using the ‘Thought Book’ template or another of the teacher’s choice.
- For a First Nations perspective, consult an Elder to provide information on how these communities have traditionally harvested natural resources and how these practices have changed over time. Discuss possible resources and presenters with your First Nations Subject Coordinator.
Reflection Activity
Please see the attached PDF for several choices on how you and your learners can reflect on today’s activity.
