LESSON PLAN

Subject: Social Studies

Grade: 4
Date: March 9
Critical Inquiry Question: Who were the First Peoples of Alberta?
Lesson: Introduction What is Anthropology
Time: 30 minutes
SLOs: From the Program of Studies
4.2.1.1 Recognize how stories of peoples and events provide multiple
perspectives on past and present events
4.2.1.3 recognize the presence and influence of diverse Aboriginal peoples as
inherent to Albertas culture and identity
4.2.2.3 What do the stories of Aboriginal peoples tell us about their beliefs
regarding the relationship between people and the land
4.3.1.1 value and respect their own and other cultural identities
4.3.1.2 demonstrate respect for their rights, opinions and perspectives of the
others
4.3.1.1 demonstrate respect for the cultural and linguistic diversity in Alberta
4.S.5.3 consider the needs and points of view of others
Instructional Objectives: (Not outcomes, but lesson objectives. Not a description of
lesson procedure, but an indication of what students will know or be able to do by the
end of the lesson).
Knowledge:
Students will recognize that there are multiple perspectives on past events
Students will recognize that the presence and influence of First Nations on Alberta
was inherent
Students will recognize the importance of First Nations relations with the land
Skill:
Students will consider the needs and points of view of others
Key Questions:
What is the focus question for this lesson? What are some related questions?
-What is an anthropologist
-What are some ways we can gather information about groups of people
-What can we learn about Miss. Pastink by reading the 5 objects/artifacts
- What does First Peoples of Alberta mean?
- Who were the first people in Alberta?
- What are some attributes of First Nations identity?
- What can Brother Eagle, Sister Sky tell us about the things that First Nations people
belief in?
- What can Brother Eagle, Sister Sky tell us about the way that First Nations people live
and interact with nature?

Materials:
Smart board presentation Lesson 1
Brother Eagle, Sister Sky book
Exit slips
Overalls/work gloves
Mixing bowl/ wooden spoon
Wooden shoe
Running shirt (moonlight run shirt/race bib)
Beach towel
Preparation:
- get smart board presentation loaded and ready
- photocopy 25 copies of My Anthropology Notepad student journals
- display 5 objects/artifacts
Adaptations:
- add an energizer half way through if students start to get restless
- have students who need a movement break to help hand out the student journals and the
sticky notes

Lesson Procedure:
(Use numbered or bulleted steps. Indicate lesson introduction, development and
conclusion if that helps clarify the flow of the lesson. Write it with enough detail that a
substitute teacher could teach the lesson.)
1. Ask students if they know what the word anthropology means? Or if
they know what an anthropologist does?
2. Explain to students what an anthropologist does and how they study
groups of people (using explanations on the smart board lesson)
3. Ask students if they think the only way we can gather information
about the past or about certain ideas is through the use of books
like our textbook?
4. Have a classroom discussion about the different ways that
anthropologists collect information and how we can read objects
and artifacts just like we can read words in a textbook
5. Tell students that they are going to have a chance to practice being
anthropologists. Tell them you have brought 5 artifacts/objects
about yourself and they will have to get into groups and make
predictions on what they think the artifacts mean and how they
describe Miss Pastink

6. Students groups are already made by using a random generator and

the groups are listed up on the smart board. Have students meet in
their groups and have them sit together.
7. Show students their Student Anthropologist Journals. Explain that
this is the notebook they will be using throughout this unit plan. Ask
students to fill in page 2 together as a group as they look at each
object. Explain that each group will get one of the objects to
examine for 2 minutes and then we will rotate each object around.
Ask students to talk about what the object could mean and what it
describes about Miss. Pastink
8. Come back together as a whole class and have a discussion on what
the students thought each object represented. Explain to them what
each object brought and why you brought it in and what you wanted
them to get from reading the object.
9. Have a discussion with students about if they could have figured
those 5 facts out about me by reading about me? How else could
they know those facts? Explain to them that there are many ways
we can gather information about groups and people
10. Explain to students that we will be starting a new unit and
together as a class they will be answering a question Who were the
First People of Alberta?
11. Ask the class what they think the word first people means?
12. Ask the students if anyone knows who the first people to live in
Alberta was?
13. Explain that the First Nations people were first people to live in
Alberta. Explain that they were the very first people to live here, but
that does not mean they do not exist anymore. Point out to students
the importance of understanding that First Nations are still a very
important part of our communities/Alberta today.
14. Explain that First Nations people is a title that does not just
mean they are one group of people. Explain that there are many
different tribes and language groups that have some similar cultures
and traditions but also each group has their own differences.
15. Explain a brief introduction about First Nations peoples by
reading a few pages of Brother Eagle, Sister Sky. Explain to students
the importance First Nations connections to the land, spirituality and
the importance of elders and grandparents.
16. Give students an exit slip at the end of class it requires
students to think of and draw an object that they think could be
used to describe something about them and then provide a short
description about how it could.
Assessment:
How will you know if students met your lesson objectives? What are you looking for in
this formative assessment?

Worksheet page 2 formative assessment do students understand what an

anthropologist does
Exit slip

Lesson Reflection:
This is a space for notes after youve taught the lesson.