MEDICINE WHEEL LEARNING ACTIVITIES
|
Wheel |
Stephen Augustine |
|
Nation |
Mi’maq |
|
Lesson Plan Grade Level |
Senior (Grades 10-12) |
|
Time Required |
2 - 3 hours |
|
Key Concepts |
|
|
Student Summary |
The origin of life has perplexed man for centuries. “Where did we come from?” is a question that continues to be debated by scientists and theologists alike. Scientific views of creation support the view of gradual evolution of life forms originating from the first organism over a long period of time whereas theologists contend that life began with the first act of life creation by God whereas many non-Christians believe that a supernatural being, or creator, is responsible for creation of earth and human life. The transfer of energy to create life from a scientific view refers to cellular processes and metabolic changes. Of all the organisms in the natural world, green plants are the only ones that manufacture their own food. This process is called photosynthesis and begins when light strikes the plant's leaves. Cells in the plant's leaves contain a green pigment which interacts with sunlight to split the water in the plant into its basic components. Carbon dioxide enters the leaf through holes and combines with the stored energy in the cells through a chemical reaction to produce a simple sugar. The sugar is then transported through tubes in the leaf to the roots, stems and fruits of the plants. Some of the sugar is used immediately by the plant for energy; some is stored as starch; and some is built into a more complex substance, like plant tissue or cellulose. Fortunately for us, plants often produce more food than they need, which they store in stems, roots, seeds or fruit. We can obtain this energy directly by eating the plant itself or its products, like carrots, rice or potatoes. Photosynthesis is the first step in the food chain which connects all living things. Every creature on earth depends to some degree on green plants. The oxygen that is released by the process of photosynthesis is an essential exchange for all living things which is why forests, for instance, have been called the "lungs of the earth" because animals inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide in the process of breathing, and plants take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen in the process of photosynthesis (KTCA Twin Cities Public Television). This give and take is what creates a symbiotic relationship between plants and animals and/or humans. Cellular respiration is an almost universal process by which organisms utilize the sugars in their food to produce enough energy to perform all the necessary actions of living creatures. Cellular respiration is carried out by every cell in both plants and animals and is essential for daily living. It does not occur at any set time, and, at the same point in time. Neighboring cells may be involved in different stages of cellular respiration. Creationism or creation theology is a different view on the origin of life. Creationism is the belief that humans, life, the Earth, and the universe were created by a supreme being or deity's supernatural intervention. (Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia). Advocates of creationism argue for the existence of a “designer” and most believe the “Intelligent Design” of life on earth to be attributable to God. Many believe in the creation of earth and Man as told in the Book of Genesis in the bible - a process of creation that took six days. This view is widely recognized as a Christian view of creation. Non-Christian creation theologies exist in various cultures worldwide as well, including Aboriginal cultures such as the Mi’kmaq. The Mi’kmaq Creation Story includes seven levels of Creation originated by the Creator. This story describes how life began for humans, animals and plants as a process of seven stages, or levels, of creation. The sky represents the Giver of Life which created the earth (Level 1). The Spirit of Essence represented by the Sun, together with the Earth, created life in the second level as the Giver of Shadows. The shadows reflected the identities, characteristics and spirits of ancestors. The Shadows were the joining of earth, matter and the blood of human life (Level 2). Level 2 connected the spirit world to the physical world as human life became the centre. Level 3 of creation was seen in the surface of the area of what they call Mother Earth. The beat of a drum is the heartbeat of Mother Earth. In Level 4 the first man was created, Glooskap, from a bolt of lightning that hit the earth with him lying in the direction of the rising sun with his feet facing the setting sun and arms outstretched to the north and south. With the bolt of lighting, the life force met with the leaves and plants and feathers, bones, stones and wood so that when lightning hit a second time Glooskap developed fingers and toes, and seven sacred parts to his head (eyes, ears, nose and mouth). At the third bolt of lightning Glooskap was freed to walk and move about, giving thanks to Mother Earth and Grandfather Sun and the South, the West, the North and the East for his creation. Once returning to the east where he was created, Glooskap was visited by an eagle that told him that he would soon be joined by his family to help him understand his place in this world. The eagle dropped a feather which Glooskap caught, giving him strength and serving as a symbol of the link between his people and the Giver of Life, Grandfather Sun and Mother Earth. In Level 5 Glooskap met his Grandmother who sat on a rock and taught him to respect her wisdom and knowledge about the stars, the wind, the seasons and the tides, the characteristics and the behaviour of the plants and animals and how to make food and clothing and shelter. For their sustenance, Glooskap took the life of a marten, asking permission of the animal first, and giving thanks to the Giver of Life, Grandfather Sun and Mother Earth afterwards. Then using the seven sparks from the bolts of lightning that created Glooskap and seven pieces of dry wood, cousin Whirwind was invited to create the Great Spirit Fire. Grandmother and Glooskap feasted to celebrate Grandmother’s arrival into the world. In Level 6 Glooskap met a young man who said he was Glooskap’s sister’s son, a creation of Whirlwind who passed through the ocean in the direction of the rising sun, causing foam to form and blow ashore. This foam rolled in sand and picked up rocks and wood and feathers, eventually resting on sweet grass. With the help of the Giver of Life, Grandfather Sun and Mother Earth the nephew was created. The nephew offered vision to the future and came as a gift of the ancestors and a responsibility to Glooskap to guide, as the young turn to the old for direction in life. And just as Glooskap took the life of the marten for survival, the nephew called upon the fish to give up their lives. Glooskap gave thanks, apologizing for taking the shadow of the fish and for taking elements of Mother Earth for their own survival. Again they feasted and continued to learn from Grandmother. In the final level, 7, Glooskap’s mother appeared, coming first as a leaf on a tree that fell to the ground and collected dew. The Giver of Life, Grandfather Sun and Mother Earth made Glooskap’s mother from this dew to bring gifts to her children: the colours of the world, understanding and love, so that her children would know how to share and care for one another. Glooskap had his nephew gather food for a feast to celebrate the creation of Glooskap’s mother. Glooskap was leader, respecting the teachings of the elders, the vision and strength of the young people and the gifts of the ancestors, and the teachings on how to rely on each other and to respect and care for one another. In this way, they lived a good life. |
|
Learner Objectives |
Knowledge/Understanding:
Inquiry/Values:
Skills/Applications :
|
|
Subject Strand Links |
|
|
Strategy |
Discussion Topics:
Optional Exercises:
|
|
Vocabulary |
|
|
Materials Required |
|
|
Evaluation |
|
|
Additional Resources |
|