Lesson Structure
Do Now Activity (10 minutes)
Cultural Values Reflection
Students individually reflect on their own cultural values and worldview:
- What values were you taught growing up about how people should treat each other?
- What values were you taught about humanity's relationship with nature?
- How does your culture view individual success vs. community wellbeing?
- What stories or teachings shaped your understanding of the world?
Purpose: Activate students' understanding of their own cultural lens before exploring others.
Activity 1: Indigenous Values Jigsaw (20 minutes)
Jigsaw Groups:
- Group A: Māori worldview (Te Ao Māori)
- Group B: First Nations perspectives (North America)
- Group C: Aboriginal Australian Dreamtime and Country
- Group D: Sámi seasonal knowledge and land relationships
Research Focus:
- Core values and principles
- Relationship with land/nature
- Community and family structures
- Knowledge transmission methods
- Spiritual/sacred dimensions
Activity 2: Shared Values Web (15 minutes)
Creating Connections:
Students form new mixed groups (one from each jigsaw group) to create a visual web showing shared Indigenous values.
Relationality
All life is interconnected and interdependent
Reciprocity
Mutual obligations and responsibilities
Circularity
Cyclical time and sustainable practices
Holism
Integration of spiritual, physical, emotional, mental
Activity 3: Worldview Comparison Chart (10 minutes)
Indigenous Worldviews
- Interconnected relationships
- Circular time and cycles
- Land as ancestor/relative
- Community-centered decisions
- Holistic knowledge systems
- Oral tradition and storytelling
Western Worldviews
- Individual autonomy
- Linear time and progress
- Land as resource/property
- Individual/market decisions
- Compartmentalized knowledge
- Written records and data
Note: These are generalizations for comparison - both worldviews have diversity and nuance.
Wrap-up & Reflection (5 minutes)
Exit Ticket Questions:
- Name one shared value across Indigenous cultures that resonated with you
- How might Indigenous worldviews help address a global challenge today?
- What's one way your own worldview has been shaped by your culture?
- What questions do you have about Indigenous knowledge systems?
Next Lesson Preview:
We'll examine how colonialism operated as a global system with similar patterns of oppression across different Indigenous territories.
Assessment & Differentiation
Formative Assessment
- Cultural reflection: Self-awareness of own worldview
- Jigsaw research: Understanding of specific Indigenous cultures
- Values web: Identification of shared themes
- Comparison chart: Analytical thinking about different worldviews
- Exit tickets: Personal connections and critical thinking
Differentiation Strategies
- Visual learners: Web diagrams and comparison charts
- Collaborative learners: Jigsaw method and group work
- Advanced students: Research extension on specific cultures
- Struggling readers: Video resources and peer support
- Cultural sensitivity: Respectful framing and multiple perspectives
Resources & Cultural Protocols
Required Resources:
- Cultural research materials (books, videos, websites)
- Chart paper and markers for values web
- Comparison chart templates
- Exit ticket slips
Cultural Protocols:
- Approach all cultures with respect and humility
- Avoid stereotyping or oversimplification
- Acknowledge limitations of outside perspectives
- Center Indigenous voices and sources when possible
Important Note:
This lesson aims to build understanding and respect for Indigenous worldviews while avoiding cultural appropriation. Students should understand they are learning about these cultures, not attempting to adopt or practice them.