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Diverse Perspectives of Water

Middle, Secondary

Description

Using this thought starter activity, students will practice identifying and applying different perspectives and knowledge. Using water as the theme, students review handouts and evaluate the various perspectives shared in the handouts, such as the Western and Indigenous perspectives. In groups, students will discuss and share their thinking and suggest perspectives and knowledge that have been privileged or given priority in science and other subjects and which have been left out of or ignored. Having students identify and use additional perspectives and knowledge can be an essential step in decolonizing perspectives and approaches in science and other subjects.                                                                                          
To conclude the activity, have students view the Honouring Water video as an example of how the Leq’a:mel Nation in British Columbia honours water. Have students discuss why finding and using additional perspectives and ways of knowing is necessary. 

General Assessment

Recommendation of how and where to use it

Though this activity uses perspectives on water as an example to nurture aspects of the processing and analyzing data and information curricular competency, it can be easily applied to the exploration of any science concept, phenomenon, or content. 

In addition to this activity, use the thinking strategy to introduce the concept of Etuaptmumk or Two-eyed seeing.

Relevant Curriculum Units

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Themes Addressed

Indigenous Knowledge (2)

  • Etuaptmumk/Two-Eyed Seeing
  • TEK -- Traditional Ecological Knowledge

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