Inside the circle inquiry project

February 07, 2013

Inside the Circle Inquiry Project Big Questions: Past

1) What do we know about the relationship between First Peoples living in what is now Canada and their environment? 2) How was biodiversity integral to the lives of the First Peoples? 3) What were the results of the exchange of European and First Nations culture and biodiversity in what is now Canada?

Present
1) What are some current-day issues facing First Nation peoples resulting from the exchange of culture and biodiversity with early Europeans? 2) What is the present-day relationship between ourselves and our environment? 3) What affect are we as modern-day people having on the biodiversity of our world?

Future
1) What is the ideal relationship that needs to be nurtured between ourselves and our environment? 2) What are the rights of First Nations people and how can they and the biodiversity of their lands be protected? 3) What action can we take, beginning right now, to improve the relationship that we have with our natural world and educate others about the importance of biodiversity?

See next slides for Past, Present, and Future Topics.

Inside the circle inquiry project

February 07, 2013

Inside the Circle Inquiry Project Big Questions: The Past TOPIC OPTIONS
1) Research and draw conclusions about the relationship with the environment and importance of biodiversity in the lives of any the following First Peoples before and after European explorers arrived. Northwest Coast Plateau Plains Arctic Subarctic Woodland Iroquoians Woodland Algonquians

OR
2) Research and present your findings about the positive or negative impact of contact between First Peoples and early Europeans relating to any of the following: culture, plants, animal life, disease, trade, or inter-marriage between First Peoples and the first Europeans. Be sure to investigate perspectives of both First Peoples and European newcomers.

Inside the circle inquiry project

February 07, 2013

Inside the Circle Inquiry Project Big Questions: Present Topics TOPIC OPTIONS
1) Research a present-day issue concerning First Nation peoples relating to the results of early contact with Europeans, such as: -the effect of new technologies on First Nation cultures -land claims -Native reserves

OR
2) Research and present your findings about a current issue relating to biodiversity. It can be: -a biodiversity issue present in your own city or town -a biodiversity issue present in another Canadian province or territory

Inside the circle inquiry project

February 07, 2013

Inside the Circle Inquiry Project Big Questions: Future Topics TOPIC OPTIONS
1) Research ways that humans have a negative impact on the environment in their everyday lives. How do these habits impact our biodiversity? You may want to focus on either: -water pollution -land pollution -air pollution Identify a common habit that threatens the quality of our water, land, or air, and monitor your family's impact over the course of one week. Create a plan to reduce your family's future negative impact on our biodiversity.

OR
2) Research a current issue facing First Nations peoples relating to threats to the biodiversity of their lands. Create a "campaign" to raise awareness about this issue.

Inside the circle inquiry project

February 07, 2013

Inside the Circle Inquiry Project What to do: Step One

Read and re-read the Big Questions for The Past, The Present, and The Future on the previous page. Also read the Topic Menus for The Past, The Present, and The Future. Your Inquiry Project work will focus on a topic from either The Past, The Present, or The Future.

Step Two
Order your preferences for your project work and number them 1, 2, 3, with 1 meaning 1st choice, 2 meaning 2nd choice, and 3 meaning 3rd choice. Use the "Topic Selection" sheet provided. For your first and second choices, write your argument for these selections. Why do you wish to explore these? Why is this so important to you? Persuade us in 1-3 sentences.

more steps on the next page...

Inside the circle inquiry project

February 07, 2013

Inside the Circle Inquiry Project What to do: Step Three

Thinking about products... "Products" are the final work(s) that you will create after you have researched your topic and drawn your own conclusions. We will be showcasing our work to the SMLS community as well as your parents at the

"Inside the Circle" Showcase on Friday, December 14th.

Please note that we will not begin to create the product until the following steps are complete: -Topic Selection (Past, Present, or Future Topic) -Inquiry Process (asking questions, researching and recording information about our questions, asking new questions, finding more answers, using several sources to find information, deciding with teacher assistance that we have enough information, drawing conclusions)

Inside the circle inquiry project

February 07, 2013

Inside the Circle Inquiry Project What to do: Step Three

Product/Presentation Menu Your information and conclusions about what you learned can be presented in any of the following ways, or a combination of some of the following ways. Remember that we will have an audience visiting over the course of a couple of hours so your presentation needs to be able to be repeated if it is a performance. Please note that some of these presentation options are more suitable for certain topics than others. All are to be completed/displayed/performed independently 1. persuasive speech 2. reader's theatre play 3. illustrated journal or scrapbook 4. exhibit 5. illustrated realistic fiction story

Inside the circle inquiry project

February 07, 2013

Inside the Circle Inquiry Project What to do: Inquiry Project Timeline
Wk. of Oct. 29-Project introduced, students select Past, Present, or Future Topic to focus on -students begin inquiry process Wk. of Nov. 5 -students make selections about type of product (s) they will produce to showcase their learning Wk. of Nov. 12 -students continue to work through the research process Wk. of Nov. 19 -students continue to work through the research process and begin to draw conclusions and plan their product Wk. of Nov. 26 -students continue to use their research and writing to draw conclusions and begin to create their product Wk. of Dec. 3 -students are polishing their product and preparing for showcase day Dec. 7 -all student work is due today Wee of Dec 10 -showcase rehearsals this week Fri., Dec.14 -Inside the Circle showcase (SMLS community and parents invited) Students will draw conclusions about peer projects from eras they did not explore during Showcase rehearsal week.