Search for Resources

The Dancing Trees

Elementary

Description

Thomas obviously disregards what his Elders have taught him as he tosses litter and brags about his expertise on the land.  Annoyed by his tales, Thomas is challenged by his friends to spend a night alone in the forest.  He heads into the woods tearing bark, breaking branches and dropping food wrappers to mark his path, not knowing that overnight the angry trees will sway and move so that when he wakes, he is lost.  As he forages for berries Thomas realizes that the Elders were wise and he cleans up his mess, only to discover the next morning that the trees have allowed him to return home with a changed attitude.  This beautifully illustrated story written by an Inuit/Dene author provides an important lesson about respecting Mother Earth and taking care of our planet so it can take care of us.

General Assessment

Recommendation of how and where to use it

This book supports Grade K-4 Indigenous Studies and Social Studies lessons that are exploring the concept of Mother Earth from the perspective of living lightly on the land and environmental stewardship.  The story also explores themes of family traditions and the cultural signifcance of nature to First Nations communities in Canada.  Students will learn how litter can harm our environment and why we must treat our planet respectfully.

This story would make an excellent introduction to an Earth Day clean up activity in which students pick up garbage around the school grounds or a local natural area.  A class could use this activity to also promote respectful interactions with our environment by creating an art piece from the litter to create a school display about the “leave no trace” principle for spending time outdoors.

Relevant Curriculum Units

The following tool will allow you to explore the relevant curriculum matches for this resource. To start, select a province listed below.

  • Step 1Select a province
  • Alberta
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Kindergarten
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Comprehension: Text comprehension is supported through applying varied strategies and processes, and considering both particular contexts and universal themes
        • Vocabulary: Communication and comprehension are improved by understanding word meaning and structures
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Time and Place: Exploring the dynamic relationships between people, place, and time supports understanding of perspectives and events to make meaning of the world
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Comprehension: Text comprehension is supported through applying varied strategies and processes, and considering both particular contexts and universal themes.
      • Indigenous Languages and Cultures
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Blackfoot Language and Culture: Community Membership
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Citizenship: Understanding local, national, and global issues empowers individual and collective action toward an inclusive society
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Comprehension: Text comprehension is supported through applying varied strategies and processes, and considering both particular contexts and universal themes
      • Indigenous Languages and Cultures
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Blackfoot Language and Culture: Community Membership
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Systems: Evaluating processes and structures of organizations builds understanding of decision making in the world.
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Comprehension: Text comprehension is supported through applying varied strategies and processes, and considering both particular contexts and universal themes
      • Indigenous Languages and Cultures
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Blackfoot Language and Culture: Community Membership
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Comprehension: Text comprehension is supported by applying varied strategies and processes and by considering both particular contexts and universal themes.
      • Indigenous Languages and Cultures
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Blackfoot Language and Culture: Community Membership
        • Cree Language and Culture: Community Membership
  • British Columbia
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Kindergarten
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Everyone has a unique story to share
        • Stories and other texts can be shared through pictures and words
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Our communities are diverse and made of individuals who have a lot in common
        • Identity and Families
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Everyone has a unique story to share.
        • Stories and other texts can be shared through pictures and words
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Local Communities: Healthy communities recognize and respect the diversity of individuals and care for the local environment
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Everyone has a unique story to share.
        • Language and story can be a source of creativity and joy
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Regional and Global Communities: Canada is made up of many diverse regions and communities
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Stories and other texts help us learn about ourselves, our families, and our communities
        • Stories can be understood from different perspectives
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Global Indigenous Peoples:Indigenous societies throughout the world value the well-being of the self, the land, spirits, and ancestors
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Exploring stories and other texts helps us understand ourselves and make connections to others and to the world
  • Manitoba
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland & Labrador
  • Northwest Territories
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Kindergarten
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Comprehend and Respond
        • Everyone has a unique story to share
        • Stories and other texts can be shared through pictures and words
      • Indigenous Languages and Cultures
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Dene Kede: The Land
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Our communities are diverse and made of individuals who have a lot in common
        • Identity and Families
        • The World and Me
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Comprehend and Respond
        • Everyone has a unique story to share.
        • Stories and other texts can be shared through pictures and words
      • Indigenous Languages and Cultures
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Dene Kede: The Land
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Connecting and Belonging: My Environment
        • Local Communities: Healthy communities recognize and respect the diversity of individuals and care for the local environment
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Comprehend & Respond
        • Everyone has a unique story to share.
        • Language and story can be a source of creativity and joy
      • Indigenous Languages and Cultures
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Dene Kede: The Land
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Communities in Canada: Communities in Canada
        • Regional and Global Communities: Canada is made up of many diverse regions and communities
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Comprehend and Respond
        • Stories and other texts help us learn about ourselves, our families, and our communities
        • Stories can be understood from different perspectives
      • Indigenous Languages and Cultures
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Dene Kede: The Land
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Communities of the World: Communities of the World
        • Global Indigenous Peoples: Indigenous nations throughout the world value the well-being of the self, the land, spirits, and ancestors
    • Grade 4
  • Nova Scotia
  • Nunavut
  • Ontario
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Kindergarten
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Literacy Behaviours: Overall Expectations
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Language: Comprehension: Understanding and Responding to Texts
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • People and Environments: The Elements of the Local Community
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Language: Comprehension: Understanding and Responding to Texts
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Language: Comprehension: Understanding and Responding to Texts
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Language: Comprehension: Understanding and Responding to Texts
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Quebec
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • To read and Listen to Literary, Popular and Information -based texts
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • To read and Listen to Literary, Popular and Information -based texts
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • To read and Listen to Literary, Popular and Information -based texts
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • To read and Listen to Literary, Popular and Information -based texts
  • Saskatchewan
  • Yukon Territory
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Kindergarten
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Everyone has a unique story to share
        • Stories and other texts can be shared through pictures and words
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Our communities are diverse and made of individuals who have a lot in common
        • Identity and Families
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Everyone has a unique story to share.
        • Stories and other texts can be shared through pictures and words
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Local Communities: Healthy communities recognize and respect the diversity of individuals and care for the local environment
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Everyone has a unique story to share.
        • Stories and other texts connect us to ourselves, our families, and our communities
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Regional and Global Communities: Canada is made up of many diverse regions and communities
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Stories and other texts help us learn about ourselves, our families, and our communities
        • Stories can be understood from different perspectives
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Global Indigenous Peoples: Indigenous knowledge is passed down through oral history, traditions, and collective memory.
        • Global Indigenous Peoples:Indigenous societies throughout the world value the well-being of the self, the land, spirits, and ancestors
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Exploring stories and other texts helps us understand ourselves and make connections to others and to the world

Themes Addressed

Ecosystems (1)

  • Appreciating the Natural World

Indigenous Knowledge (2)

  • Rituals, Spirituality and Worldviews
  • TEK -- Traditional Ecological Knowledge

A project of LSF Newsletter Sign-up