Lesson 56

 

 We have been talking about some aspects of current events - especially as they pertain to erasure of  knowledge and people (via language) in U.S. 

We looked at the fun/simple symbolism of a fight between a Canada goose and a bald eagle.

We talked briefly about the Minecraft Library.

Students were already aware of Buffy Sainte-Marie's Order of Canada being revoked, but we updated the conversation in relation to her Junos and Polaris awards (and funding that belongs to Indigenous artists).

Last week we discussed Residential School denialism by folks in positions of power, and the ways in which it can set back the Trugth part of Truth and Reconciliation.

• Today we looked at the B.C. Conservative's leader's choice to expel an MLA from caucus
• and the subsequent resignation of other MLA's

We watched a brief video on the concepts and history behind dystopian fiction (please watch if missed) and discussed the following questions:

• Is a perfect world possible?
• Do you see elements of dystopia in our world?
• Do you see elements of dystopia in The Marrow Thieves?
• Is it beneficial to imagine utopia?

We then watched a final video called "Growing up Metis," produced by Parks Canada, and discussed things students noticed.

The final 15 minutes of class were devoted to catching up on note taking for the previous chapter. 

NOTE: Many students were absent today - they are expected to catch up prior to our next block.

 

Lesson 55

 We opened with answering another question from the pile!

We looked at this current news story on the Indian Hospitals, run by the federal government - and the upcoming settlement.

Students discussed climate change, the appropriate age for children to find out about the darker aspects of humanity, and the dangers of  portraying the ol' "two sides to every story" (as it sometimes implies expert opinion is 50/50 - as per this piece on climate change)

We sought to connect the world of the novel to our own, and looked to where those worlds diverge...

We reviewed "Story Part One" and read to the end of "Magic Words." (Blk 8 is a few pages short of that, but we'll catch up in no time. 

STUDENTS WHO MISS CLASS SHOULD CATCH UP ON THE READING BEFORE THEIR NEXT BLOCK.

Lesson 54

 

 We continued our question work, and did a review of "The Fire," before reading to the end of "Story Part One."

Students took notes, which they will continue throughout the novel.

Students were to asked to consider the question: "At what age should children start to learn about the darker aspects of humanity?"

STUDENTS WHO MISS CLASS SHOULD CATCH UP ON THE READING BEFORE THEIR NEXT BLOCK.

Lesson 53

We talked about the Highway of Tears, and the long-standing history of MMIWG2S in Canada, in order to note this good news story about community members possibly being close to bringing home loved one's remains.

We discussed the return of the Sockeye run in the Okanagan - to Okanagan Lake - thanks to the local Indigenous Nations.

We read "The Fire" and students took notes.