Unit Plan

Week 1
Central Theme: Climate Change
Guiding Question: What is Climate Change? How is it caused?
Discipline Student Tasks
Introduction to unit
Describe/define what weather is with examples
Identify instruments for measuring weather and how they are used
Define climate. Compare and contrast between weather and climate
Define climate change.
Identify the causes and effect of climate change
Analyze the effect of greenhouse gases
Investigate the problems climate changes pose to the environment
Give reasons why we should be concerned
Guest speaker: Meteorologist
Science

Watch Climate Change 101 with Bill Nye as hook (video)

Learn how to read weather charts/forecast
Log in daily weather forecast in logbook, e.g. temperature, humidity,
precipitation, wind direction, e.t.c

Math

Begin graphing temperature trends

Week 2
Central Theme: What they wore then and what we wear now
Guiding Question: What did they wear then? How have we changed in how we dress?
Discipline

Student Tasks

Discuss and give examples of how Canadas FNMI population dressed

for the weather before Europeanization.
Identify types of materials they used.
Analyse why they used these materials.
Compare and contrast what they used then and what we use now, and
attribute reasons for similarities and differences.
Begin to create a rough sketch of their clothing
Guest speakers include a fashion designer (so students can begin
thinking of their design) and an Elder to educate the students on the
subject of FNMI clothing

Science

Social
Studies

Art

Log in weather forecast from https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/ab52_metric_e.html

Log in individual/group readings
Use a thermometer to read temperatures inside am outside the
classroom
Begin brainstorming about article of clothing (problem solving through
technology)
Begin thinking about method/mode of presentation (eg. computergenerated, hand-drawn etc.)
Students in groups will choose one of the Indigenous groups (First
Nations, Metis or Inuit)
Student in groups will research a particular article of clothing that was
worn by the group, and examine the socio cultural motifs of the article of
clothing.
Groups will present their findings to the class and with the guidance of
the Elder answer questions from their peers.
Students will begin investigation into different types of materials based
on FNMI investigation.

Week 3
Central Theme: Weather Phenomenon and Projected Weather Trends
Guiding Questions: What is weather Phenomenon? How can we predict temperature?
Discipline

Student Tasks

Define weather phenomenon.

Discuss how climate change affects weather phenomenon.
Question the predictability of future weather.
Evaluate the reliability of resources on climate change.

Continue work on reading weather charts

Log in weather forecast from https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/ab52_metric_e.html
Log in individual/group readings
They will learn how precipitation is measured and calculated.
They will learn about the a variety of different cloud formations and how
they contribute to different weather patterns and phenomenon
The students will learn how the relationship between carbon dioxide and
how it impacts the greenhouse effect, which then impacts global
temperature.

Science

Social
Studies

A First Nations Elder will come into the class to discuss the importance
of indigenous clothing, the materials used and function of specific
clothing items.

Art

Students will be encouraged to ask any relevant questions that will help
guide their design process.

Students will begin a rough draft of their design

Students will begin to consider what materials they will use and the
rationale for their choice.

Week 4
Central Theme: The design component and cost analysis
Guiding Question: How can we design our clothes to be better in the future?
Discipline

Student Tasks

Science

Guest Speaker: Designer comes back for final stages in the design
process
Students will complete design process during work periods
Students will present their designs and rationale to the class
Record weather forecast from https://weather.gc.ca/city/pages/ab52_metric_e.html
Record individual/group readings
What are some new materials that are used in clothing to vent body
heat, wick moisture, insulate and provide water proofing?
Weekly check-in with teacher

Social
Studies

Talk about the implications of cultural appropriation (ie. cultural majority

wearing minorities clothing)

Art

Collaborative creation of final clothing item including a rationale

explaining the design and what materials will be used.

Math

Calculating the costs of materials, cost per unit, and profit margins.