Thank you for sharing two of your lesson plans on your website. I was wondering, for your “Inquiry Project Plan”, you have turned it into a single lesson plan (Hand Drum) which I believe is the second lesson of your unit? Will you be uploading an overview of the whole unit as well?
STAR: I love your topic, and think it is so important. You have done an excellent job at incorporating the ideas of multiculturalism with Indigenous teachings and the First People’s Principles of learning. You have focused on place-based learning and involving the community by inviting elders, or other community members to authentically teach activities like weaving and drumming.
WISH: Your unit appears to be short (4 lessons) from what I understand. I am wondering if you could continue to incorporate the ideas of multiculturalism and social identity after the completion of these lessons, or even beforehand. I think it fits nicely with community building in the classroom. Students will be able to learn tolerance as well as explore their own social identity and how it relates to multiculturalism as well. Possibly an overarching question for inquiry could be: “How can I create an environment that encourages self-exploration of identity, and tolerance/understanding of the diversity of others?
INSPIRATION: I really am inspired by your emphasis on place-based learning and having the lessons in different locations as they branch out into the community. You begin with classroom learning, and move to learning outdoors in the grass, to I believe a separate location in the community. This is such a lovely idea, and hope you have the chance to implement it, either with this unit or another.
Thank you again for sharing Melody, I enjoyed learning alongside you this semester! All the best!
Hi Ali,
Thanks for your comments. Yes, you are right. My project design is about 4 lessons in total and I just post two of them on the website cuz I have not finished other two yet. I will post the complete project design later.
Hello Ali
Trust you are doing well.
Star: I appreciate the idea of facilitating a conducive environment in the class to build good relationships amongst varied racial and ethnic groups. The focus on multiculturalism in the Canadian context is of prime importance as it is a land of immigrants and the emphasis on respecting the First Nations culture to understand and exhibit inclusivity and diversity is exceptionally good. The focus on incorporating activities like drumming and weaving and also learning about traditional plants to be taught by community members is indicative of inclusivity and respect, which gives the bigger message of not leaving anyone behind and; celebrating diversity and multiculturalism is an act of kindness.
Wish: I wish this project was taken up as a year-long project. The workshop can be conducted once a week and perhaps we can invite Elders and also have artists and family members come to these workshops to teach different skills. This would foster an ongoing dialogue and learning, emphasizing on a harmonious social environment. We can also visit local communities and learn about their lifestyle.
Question: Can we ask children to plan a multi-multiculturalism policy for the citizens in Canada? I feel this would give way to a debate and we can achieve creative and meaningful solutions to help everyone live without fear and accept people from different cultures.
It was a pleasure to read this project as it is very close to the theme of my project- “Storytelling across Cultures” truly appreciate the concept of taking this Unit in the form of a workshop as it fosters creativity and promotes respectful relationships by accepting diversity and multiculturalism. My project is also about sharing traditions, customs, and beliefs from one’s background.
Thanks for sharing this project.
Take care and enjoy the Summers!
Deepanjali
Hi Deepanjali,
This is Melody’s website. Thanks for your comments. Multiculturalism involves many aspects. I agree with you that a year-long project is very suitable to multiculturalism learning. Certainly, my project design just presents the initial ideas of learning multiculturalism mainly through indigenous traditions. I appreciate the “storytelling across cultures” in your project design. Yes, our topics both include diversity and multiculturalism!
4 replies on “Welcome”
Hello Melody!
Thank you for sharing two of your lesson plans on your website. I was wondering, for your “Inquiry Project Plan”, you have turned it into a single lesson plan (Hand Drum) which I believe is the second lesson of your unit? Will you be uploading an overview of the whole unit as well?
STAR: I love your topic, and think it is so important. You have done an excellent job at incorporating the ideas of multiculturalism with Indigenous teachings and the First People’s Principles of learning. You have focused on place-based learning and involving the community by inviting elders, or other community members to authentically teach activities like weaving and drumming.
WISH: Your unit appears to be short (4 lessons) from what I understand. I am wondering if you could continue to incorporate the ideas of multiculturalism and social identity after the completion of these lessons, or even beforehand. I think it fits nicely with community building in the classroom. Students will be able to learn tolerance as well as explore their own social identity and how it relates to multiculturalism as well. Possibly an overarching question for inquiry could be: “How can I create an environment that encourages self-exploration of identity, and tolerance/understanding of the diversity of others?
INSPIRATION: I really am inspired by your emphasis on place-based learning and having the lessons in different locations as they branch out into the community. You begin with classroom learning, and move to learning outdoors in the grass, to I believe a separate location in the community. This is such a lovely idea, and hope you have the chance to implement it, either with this unit or another.
Thank you again for sharing Melody, I enjoyed learning alongside you this semester! All the best!
Hi Ali,
Thanks for your comments. Yes, you are right. My project design is about 4 lessons in total and I just post two of them on the website cuz I have not finished other two yet. I will post the complete project design later.
Hello Ali
Trust you are doing well.
Star: I appreciate the idea of facilitating a conducive environment in the class to build good relationships amongst varied racial and ethnic groups. The focus on multiculturalism in the Canadian context is of prime importance as it is a land of immigrants and the emphasis on respecting the First Nations culture to understand and exhibit inclusivity and diversity is exceptionally good. The focus on incorporating activities like drumming and weaving and also learning about traditional plants to be taught by community members is indicative of inclusivity and respect, which gives the bigger message of not leaving anyone behind and; celebrating diversity and multiculturalism is an act of kindness.
Wish: I wish this project was taken up as a year-long project. The workshop can be conducted once a week and perhaps we can invite Elders and also have artists and family members come to these workshops to teach different skills. This would foster an ongoing dialogue and learning, emphasizing on a harmonious social environment. We can also visit local communities and learn about their lifestyle.
Question: Can we ask children to plan a multi-multiculturalism policy for the citizens in Canada? I feel this would give way to a debate and we can achieve creative and meaningful solutions to help everyone live without fear and accept people from different cultures.
It was a pleasure to read this project as it is very close to the theme of my project- “Storytelling across Cultures” truly appreciate the concept of taking this Unit in the form of a workshop as it fosters creativity and promotes respectful relationships by accepting diversity and multiculturalism. My project is also about sharing traditions, customs, and beliefs from one’s background.
Thanks for sharing this project.
Take care and enjoy the Summers!
Deepanjali
Hi Deepanjali,
This is Melody’s website. Thanks for your comments. Multiculturalism involves many aspects. I agree with you that a year-long project is very suitable to multiculturalism learning. Certainly, my project design just presents the initial ideas of learning multiculturalism mainly through indigenous traditions. I appreciate the “storytelling across cultures” in your project design. Yes, our topics both include diversity and multiculturalism!