Innovative Lesson Plan Review

Lesson By: Gary Simmons, Ontario

http://www.canadashistory.ca/Education/Lesson-Plans/Lesson-Plans/High/Survivor,-Canada-Style-Overcoming-our-Environment

Grade Level/ Strand: Grade 7, History, New France and British North America, 1713-1800

Topic: Life as an indigenous Canadian before the settlers, Challenges, Strategies and Technology

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Overall Expectation: Grade 7, A1. Application: analyse aspects of the lives of various groups in Canada between 1713 and 1800, and compare them to the lives of people in present-day Canada (Specific Expectation: A1.1 analyse key similarities and differences in social values and aspects of life between present-day Canadians and some different groups and/or communities in Canada between 1713 and 1800)

 Lesson Explanation: 

This lesson Is meant to take place over four classes

The students are separated into groups and are giving instructions- they must survive for a month in the wilderness with the clothes on their backs and one plastic lighter. Everything else must be done using past indigenous technology. Students will be tasked with recording information such as shelter plans, plans for food, protection, important tasks etc- all solutions must be viable. During the 4^th class a winning team will be announced based on their answers to the questions provided, as well as bonus points awarded for extra questions and performance tasks.

Class 1- Explain the background to the problem and begin the simulation. Have the students read the explanatory hand-out: What situation are the students in, what resources are available for them, what are the challenges they face? Set the class up into teams of three to five and explain the competition. Go over the "rules of the simulation and show slides of their new home (slides of local wilderness or forest). Students should begin thinking about their answers to the group questions provided on Appendix A sheet.

Class 2- Add the enrichments, e.g., rock sample for tool making, wood for fire-making, other local resources. Do out-of-class activities to enhance the students' awareness of the challenges. Some activities might include having the students try and start a friction fire, create an axe out of rocks and sticks, create a wooden spear and throw it at a target, create a lean-to/tepee, weave a basket etc.

Class 3- View the students' results. Answers should be written on large sheets of newsprint so the entire class can see their ideas. Students view each other’s answers. Lead a discussion with the class, some prompts include: What are some challenges you faced? How did indigenous peoples of the past overcome these challenges? The class should also discuss who they thought provided the best/most innovative/most detailed/practical answers and solutions to the presented problems.

Class 4- Announce which team won based on the criteria and bonus questions. Possible prizes could include certificates, pizza, no homework for a day etc. Enhance learning with a good video on First Peoples.

Homework Consolidation- Students do an individual assignment. They answer a series of questions on the survival stimulation, including an appreciation of what they learned about the abilities of our First Peoples.

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Why Should This Lesson Be Considered Innovative

             I think that this lesson/activity should be considered innovative for a number of reasons. 

Firstly, I think that the idea itself is very innovative. Survivor is a show that is, and has been popular for quite some time now and I think that having the student’s pretend/think about what it would be like to experience Survivor in their local community is something that they would find interesting and entertaining. Also, having the students learning outside of the classroom is essential to the lessons innovation. The students are learning about survival and their local/Canadian ecosystem by actually being outside in nature. This lesson is also innovative because it appeals to many different learning styles. Students who do not benefit from being inside and reading textbooks all day are now engaged because they are outside, moving around, picking things up, building things etc. Artistic students are given the opportunity to create tools, baskets, shelters etc. Students who prefer to write are given the opportunity to write up their answers. In every group there are enough differing tasks that every member could have a preferred learning style and have an aspect of the activity that they can be excited about. This activity also allows for a number of different ways to be evaluated as you can see above. 

            This activity is also innovative because it allows for so many cross-curricular integrated learning opportunities as discussed above; time permitting you can literally integrate every subject in the Ontario curriculum into this activity.  This activity is also innovative because it forces the students to look at an issue, or idea in a different light. For example, in this activity students will gain a new appreciation for how hard life and survival for the past indigenous peoples must have been and how ingenious and adaptable they were. In addition, they will also learn how much they rely on technology and the modern comforts of our society. They will also learn the importance of humans working with nature to survive. By having the students play a game like this, they are learning every step of the way, across all subjects, while still having fun.

If you would like more information on this lesson feel free to contact me!

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