ELA Lesson: Symbolism of Hawai‘i’s Native Plants
Lesson Plan
1 hour 50 minutesGrades9, 10, 11, 12English Language Arts, Visual and Performing Arts
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Written by Emily Pepitone
About this lesson
Students explore the cultural significance of native plants and investigate how Lahaina's wildlife has transformed over time. Students design a sidewalk art display to highlight the importance of native plants in Hawai‘i.
Inquire: Students explore the meanings associated with specific plants.
Investigate: Students investigate how and why Lahaina’s wildlife has changed over time.
Inspire: Students design a sidewalk art display utilizing native and culturally significant plants.
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Suggestions
- This lesson aligns with Hawai’i’s Nā Hopena A‘o HĀ-BREATH Framework.
- This lesson can be taught during a unit on the history of Lahaina.
- This lesson highlights the importance of native species in an environment and could be taught in April, during Native Hawaiian Plant Month.
- For shorter class periods, the Inquire and Investigate sections of the lesson could be done in one class period, with the Inspire section in the next lesson.
- This lesson can be taught in conjunction with an art class to focus on specific techniques or styles in art.
Prerequisites
- This is lesson 2 of 5 in our 9th-12th grade ELA Unit: Climate Change Impacts in Lahaina.
- Students should have a basic understanding of the impacts of native and invasive species on the environment.
- Students could come to the lesson with a photo of a plant growing near their home that they want to share with the class in the Inquire section.
- To create the sidewalk artwork, students will need chalk and/or paints.
- Teacher should get permission in advance to decorate the sidewalk, especially if the display will be in town and not on campus.
Differentiation
- Allow students to express the significance of the plants creatively through drawings or short stories, written or presented orally, for the sidewalk project.
- Students can create their sidewalk artwork individually or in groups.
- Students can expand their research about native plants by interviewing family members or community members who are knowledgeable about the significance of native plants.
From the scientist review
Students study the traditional value of local plants and how Hawai‘i’s wildfires have become more frequent due to climate change. Additionally, they advocate for social change and the prevention of wildfires, particularly those caused by human activity, through their artwork. This lesson passed our science credibility test after we evaluated it.
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About the teacher writer
Emily Pepitone
AP Language, 11th Grade English Teacher
Emily Pepitone holds a Master's in education from Moreland University. They have 6 years of experience teaching AP Language, Humanities, Creative Writing, English across grades 7-8-9-10-11-12.
