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Description
This activity offers students a hands-on experience in gathering local traditional medicines from the Stó:lo people in a respectful manner. Students will be introduced to each plant through images, and the educator will explain the benefits of each medicine and its traditional uses. For each plant, students will complete a traditional medicine information sheet.
During the outdoor activity, students will explore the school grounds or local park to discover their proximity to natural and traditional medicines. They may learn about the differences between the medicinal plants that grow in the mowed grass and those that thrive near the edge of the forest. Additionally, they will gain insights into the importance of caring for the natural flora and fauna.
Students will:
- begin to understand how natural materials can be altered through physical and chemical processes
- acknowledge that local actions have global consequences, and vice versa; recognize that human activities impact the land and all of us
- identify three traditional medicines, gather them, and prepare them for use
Educators should have a foundational understanding of Stó:lo teachings or should involve an Elder, Knowledge Keeper, or a respected community member for clarification when discussing these teachings. Prior to the lesson, educators must familiarize themselves with the local plants and where to find them outside the school.
General Assessment
Recommendation of how and where to use it
This lesson plan aims to help students establish a connection to the land and recognize our relationship with all living things, including plants and animals. The activity can also incorporate locally native plants in your area. Students should conduct research to identify which medicinal plants grow nearby. As a class, you can attempt to make tea from the prepared plants.
To extend the learning experience, discuss different ways to utilize these plants. This can include using them as medicinal remedies for healing wounds, making teas from the leaves and roots of various plants, and exploring food sources like berries, as well as utilizing leaves and stalks. Additionally, consider how these plants can be used to create materials such as rope, utensils, and baskets.
Relevant Curriculum Units
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- Science 2: Living things have life cycles adapted to their environment
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- Science
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- Science 3: Living things are diverse, can be grouped, and interact in their ecosystems
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Themes Addressed
Ecosystems (2)
- Appreciating the Natural World
- Biodiversity
Indigenous Knowledge (2)
- Etuaptmumk/Two-Eyed Seeing
- TEK -- Traditional Ecological Knowledge
Land Use & Natural Resources (1)
- Planting Native Species
