Traditional Environmental Knowledge: Observing Practice Activity
Total Time: Approx. 60 minutes
Participants discuss their understanding of the term traditional environmental knowledge (TEK) and consider field trips to extend student understanding of TEK. After viewing a 20-minute video on the seasonal life of Métis trapper Larry Big Charles, participants use a placemat activity to review use of TEK in the classroom.
The strategies in this activity can be adapted for Observing Practice activities in other topic areas.
Activity 1: Discussion
Form groups of four. Ask participants to discuss these questions:
- What is your understanding of the term traditional environmental knowledge (TEK)?
- How could you use a field trip to extend student understanding of TEK?
Activity 2: View the Video Métis Trapper Larry Big Charles
Overview of video: Elementary students from Hillview School, East Prairie Métis Settlement near High Prairie, visit with local trapper Larry Big Charles. The students learn about various aspects of his seasonal life, including the building of his cabin and the changes that have occurred over the years. Larry Big Charles also shares his stories of his lifestyle and of living alone without electricity or running water. Walking the trapline with him, students learn about “reading” the land. At the end of their visit, they celebrate with a wiener roast. (20:10 minutes)
Activity 3: Placemat Activity
Handouts: Placemat Activity: Traditional Environmental Knowledge 
Overview of placemat activity: This strategy provides an opportunity for individuals in a group to record their responses and ideas. The strategy can be used to brainstorm ideas, record information or analyze documents. To use this strategy, divide the large group into small groups of four. Provide each group with a placemat and markers. Ask each group to record responses in the allotted space in the outside section, one person per section. Finally, each group decides collectively on the four most important responses and records them in the centre of the placemat. For more information on the placemat activity, see the Support Material: Placemat Activity on LearnAlberta.ca: /Resources/content/sssm/html/placematactivity_sm.html
In the same groups of four, discuss the following questions:
- What did you learn about TEK from this video?
- If you were these students’ teacher, how would you transfer knowledge from the trapline experience into the classroom?
- How could you extend student understanding of TEK?
Provide each group with a placemat and markers. Ask the group to discuss their ideas of how to extend student understanding of TEK. Participants may record their ideas in the outer sections of the circle. Finally, ask the participants to select the four best ideas and record them in the centre.
Closure
Each small group of participants shares their best ideas with the larger group. If time permits, attempt to identify the top four ideas for the large group.
