Get Outside!

Ojibwe Snowshoe

Class Description:

In this human culture and history class, students will be introduced to Ojibwe history, seasonal lifestyle and use of natural resources. After learning the basics of snowshoes, they will travel on snowshoes to a recreated Ojibwe site of 200 years ago, learning about the value and uses of five different kinds of trees along the way. They tour a summer home, then settle into a winter home to view tools, listen to legends and practice the simple skills of flint and steel use and twine making from basswood bark. Another snowshoe hike returns them to the classroom for a short conclusion. See also Superior Snowshoe and Ojibwe Heritage.

Outcomes

Upon completion of the Ojibwe Snowshoe class students will be able to:

  • Compare and contrast different materials and styles of snowshoes.
  • Show ability to maneuver across the snow on snowshoes.
  • Identify some of the natural resources used by the Ojibwe of 200 years ago.
  • Give examples of some techniques used by the Ojibwe to cope with winter.
  • Compare the seasonal lifestyle of the Ojibwe with the student's own.
  • Evaluate and choose aspects of traditional Ojibwe lifestyle to combine with our own, and incorporate into our daily lives.

Minnesota Graduation Standards

Wolf Ridge has aligned the Center's entire curriculum to Minnesota Department of Education Academic Standards. As the primary student audience at Wolf Ridge is from 4th-12th grade, the matrices address these grade levels. Teachers may request that their students focus upon a specific benchmark while attending Wolf Ridge. The Wolf Ridge Curriculum Standards Matrix addresses benchmarks in

  • Science
  • Math
  • History and Social Science
  • Language Arts
  • Arts

Wolf Ridge Curriculum Concepts

  • The natural environment has many obvious and subtle impacts upon human history and culture.
  • Different cultures hold varying beliefs on environmental issues.
  • Sustainable technology and development must be appropriate to resources.
  • Outdoor experiences and behaviors help develop an environmental ethic.
  • See entire Wolf Ridge Curriculum Framework

photo1

Time
3 hours total
2 1/2 hours outdoors

Audience
4th grade - adult

Activity level
moderate

Travel
1/2 mile

Total uphill travel
50 feet

150 px wide please