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Provided by: People of the First Light |Published on: August 5, 2025
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Synopsis
In this interactive resource from People of the First Light, students will explore interactive story maps to learn about the geography, history, and culture of Wabanaki people.
Students will learn about the Abenaki, Penobscot, Passamaquoddy-Maliseet, and Mi'kmaq names for places that we call Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Canada, look closer into the Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Mi'kmaq, Maliseet, Abenaki Nations, and read stories passed down from previous Wabanaki generations.
Students will love interacting with the map, reading stories, and learning more about the Wabanaki communities.
The interactive story maps are easy to use, with simple directions that help users navigate.
Prerequisites
Students may need additional guidance for distinguishing between the different categories of tribally-owned land.
Differentiation & Implementation
After reading the Introduction section of the Wabanaki Today map, teachers can break students into five groups, with each group reading about one of the communities listed. Students can then create presentations to share with the class what they discovered.
Teachers who want to extend their class's exploration into Wabanaki studies can check out this resource, which includes guides for teachers based on their grade level and subject area.
Students may want to research and explore the places and events mentioned in the sections for each community.
To make connections to climate change, teachers and students can research and discuss how the Wabanaki care for the land and the traditional ecological knowledge they hold. Students can explain the importance that Wabanaki lands be cared for by the Wabanaki to ensure effective ecological care.
Teachers can invite students to select one or two Stories of the Dawnland to read and describe. Teachers should note that Kəloskαpe and the First Moose Hunt, A Penobscot Story is much longer than some of the others and has many points on the map.
Scientist Notes
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All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.
