This delightful story about family traditions portrays young Inuujaq who sees nothing exciting about accompanying her grandmother on a walk into the tundra. Lagging behind the old woman and grumbling about being hungry, Inuujaq is surprised when Grandma offers her some "Arctic Candy". The astonishing flavour transforms Inuujaq's indifference into a new understanding of the value of the native plants her grandmother gathers. With the ecological content complemented by Inuktitut words and phrases, this book offers young readers a unique cultural experience while fostering respect for the special connections that link generations.
This book supports social studies outcomes that explore diversity, cultural groups and traditions. The story also complements learning units focused on Arctic ecosystems. A class could learn more about Arctic habitat types, plants and wildlife by examining the relationship between the natural world and the Inuit. Plant adaptations could be explored with an investigation of the unique strategies that allow Arctic species to flourish under extreme growing conditions.
The Inuktitut content provides an opportunity to integrate aboriginal studies and English language arts objectives. Students could use the book's glossary and syllabic charts to write their own traditional story in English with some names or phrases translated into Inuktitut.
The information about the human use of native plants could also support lessons about healthy eating. Students could compare how they meet their own fruit and vegetable needs in relation to the Inuit. An elder member of a local aboriginal community could take a class on a field trip to further investigate gathering methods for wild foods.
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