Lesson

Title/Focus

People and the Land importance of the buffalo

Date

March 19 2015

Subject/Grade
Level

Social Grade 4

Time
Duration

1 hour

Unit

First Nations history

Teacher

Roosmarijn Pastink

OUTCOMES FROM ALBERTA PROGRAM OF STUDIES

General
Learning
Outcomes:
Specific
Learning
Outcomes:

4.2 The Stories, Histories and Peoples of Alberta: students will demonstrate an understanding and
appreciation of the role of stories, history and culture in
strengthening communities and contributing to identity and a sense of belonging.
4.2.1.3 recognize the presence and influence of diverse Aboriginal peoples as inherent to Albertas
culture and identity
4.2.2.3 What do stories of Aboriginal peoples tell us about their beliefs regarding the relationship
between people and the land
4.3.1.1 value and respect their own and other cultural identities
4.3.1.2 demonstrate respect for the cultural and linguistic diversity in Alberta
4.3.1.5 appreciate the influence of the natural environment and resources on the growth and
development of Alberta
4.3.3.5 How do buildings, historic sites and institutions reflect the establishment and cultural diversity
of communities in Alberta (head smashed in buffalo jump)

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Students will:
1. students will recognize that the presence and influence of First Nations is inherent to Albertas culture and identity
2. students will recognize the relationship First Nations have between people and the land
3. students will recognize that the natural environment and resource had an impact on the growth and development of
Alberta
4. Students will understand that Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump a historic site reflects the cultural diversity of the
community

ASSESSMENTS
Observations:

Key Questions:

Products/Performances:

Observation
Question and answer
Discussion
What is quality of life?
What did quality of life mean for the First Nations people
Why is it important that Albertas First Nations have a place that is recognized as a
World Heritage Site?
How does the buffalo relate to quality of life?
Buffalo Scavenger Hunt centers
Center worksheets

LEARNING RESOURCES CONSULTED

Learn Alberta
Book 2 Our Alberta textbook

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

Stations #1-11 signs

Buffalo parts & bones
Pictures of Buffalo tools & uses
Smart notebook presentation
Book 2 textbooks
Student red duo tangs

PROCEDURE
Attention Grabber
Assessment of Prior
Knowledge
Expectations for Learning
and Behavior

Introduction
Students will see stations set up
Ask them to remember what they learned when the buffalo kit was at
their school some of what we learn will be review for them
Centers move to the next center quietly
Stay at your center until I say go to the next center

Adapted from a template created by Dr. K. Roscoe

Time

Advance
Organizer/Agenda
Transition to Body
Learning Activity #1

Assessments/ Differentiation:

Learning Activity #2

We will be looking at how the buffalo jumps work and then we are going
to do some exciting work at the centers
Has anyone heard of the words quality of life
Body
Quality of Life
What does quality of life mean
Describe what the quality of life meant for the First Nations people
Explain that the buffalo played a huge role in the quality of life of the
First Nations people because they used the buffalo for a lot of things that
they used
Observation of answers
Buffalo Jump
Explain that because they used the buffalo for a lot of their things they
needed quite a bit of buffalo
Relied on the buffalo
First Nations peoples were excellent hunters
They came up with an amazing technique called the buffalo jump
Used the buffalo jump to hunt a large number of buffalo at one time

1 minute
Time

5 minutes

N/A

Assessments/ Differentiation

Learning Activity #3

Ask if anyone has ever been to or heard of Head Smashed in Buffalo

Jump
Play the informational video to give students who are unfamiliar a chance
to see what is at Head Smashed In
Map to show students where Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump is
Explain that it is a WORLD HERITAGE SITE and explain what that
means
Ask student why they think that it is important and exciting for First
Nations that a place of importance and history of First Nations is being
called a World Heritage Site
Mention that in the video the man speaking said that they get visitors
from all over spread the news of the importance of the First Nations
culture and history in Alberta. People can recognize that they were the
first people in Alberta and an important part of our heritage and history.
Show students pictures of Head Smashed In
Explain that they drove buffalo over the cliff
Show students the live webcam they can see the cliff that they used to
drive the buffalo over
Explain exactly how the buffalo jump worked tell students they can turn
to page 177 in their textbook
Observation of their answers
Buffalo Use Centers
Explain to students that they will be doing a station scavenger hunt to
discover what each part of the buffalo was used for
Students need to get into groups of 2 (pre planned groups on smartboard)
They will have 2 minutes at each station they need to fill in worksheets
7-10 and write down what each part of the buffalo was used for
Tell students that they are NOT just simply writing down the answer and
moving on to the next station
They are to look at the buffalo parts and what they were used for and
think about how those objects would have helped the First Nations people
and how it may relate to their quality of life
They can also look at how they think each item would have been made
They are to stay at their station until Miss Pastink says switch they will
have a chance at all the stations so they cannot wander off to another
station

Adapted from a template created by Dr. K. Roscoe

20 minutes

N/A

30 minutes

Assessments/ Differentiation

Assessment of Learning:
Transition To Next Lesson

Observation
Discussions between partners
Worksheets
Closure
Worksheets
Discussion with students
Next class we will be learning more about how the First Nations had a
relationship with the land

N/A
Time

N/A

Reflections from the

lesson

Adapted from a template created by Dr. K. Roscoe