View From a Canoe: Exploring the World's Largest Coastal Temperate Rainforest

• This lesson examines the Emerald Edge rainforest, the animals that live in there, and the environmental stewardship of Indigenous people who live in this forest.
• Students will watch a video that features a First Nation member, fill out worksheets that gauge comprehension and prior knowledge, and engage in a game that allows students to identify animals from the Emerald Edge.

Positives

• This lesson examines logging and how it can impact a landscape.
• This lesson explores the life cycle of a canoe.
  

Additional Prerequisites

• This is the link to the Virtual Emerald Edge Field Trip video, just scroll down to the video.
• There's a video link in the Related Resources section, but clicking it won't take you to a new tab.
• Students should have a basic understanding of Indigenous peoples and their culture.
• Students should understand the concepts of ecosystems and biodiversity, as well as the effects of using and overusing natural resources, such as trees.

Differentiation

• To assess prior knowledge, the teacher could ask the class questions about conservation and environmental stewardship before continuing the lesson.
• This lesson could accompany a brainstorming session where students consider different methods of conservation and environmental activism.
• Teachers could use this lesson as a conceptual introduction to carbon sinks and their importance.
• This lesson could enhance a classroom discussion on the differences between Native American culture and mainstream American culture.
• Students can discuss the differences between industrial logging and fishing and the use of fishing and woodworking in the Tla-O-Qui-Aht First Nations culture.