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.

Total Time: 3 hours (2 1/2 hours outdoors)
Audience: 6-20 students, 4th grade through adult
Activity level: Moderate
Travel: 1/2 mile
Total Uphill Travel: 50 ft.

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

The Ojibwe Snowshoe class will provide students with guided practice, in an authentic setting, to support the following Graduations Standards. We have chosen one to three “major focus” standards per grade level. Due to the holistic nature of environmental education, several other standards, not listed here, are addressed as well.

• H.S. Inquiry: History Through Culture (A, B)
• H.S. People and Cultures: Human Geography (A, C, E)
• H.S. Decision Making: Physical Education and Fitness (B)

• 6-8th People and Cultures: Geography and Culture (1-5)
• 6-8th People and Cultures: History and Citizenship (1, 2)
• 6-8th Decision Making: Physical Education and Fitness (1, 6)

• 4-5th People and Cultures: Historical Events (3)
• 4-5th People and Cultures: Geography and Citizenship (3c)
• 4-5th Decision Making: Physical Education and Fitness (1, 4)

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.

Classroom Connections*

• Journal page download
• Pre-visit activities
• Post-visit activities
• Links to Ojibwe Snowshoe information and activities on the web

*requires Wolf Ridge password