Hannah Stonjeck
B.Ed / B.Sc
Alberta Educator
21/22 - Grade 6 Indigenous Education Grade Level Representative
TQS #5 - Applying Foundational Knowledge about First Nations, Métis and Inuit
In my first year of teaching at Wilson Middle School, I took on the responsibility of becoming the grade level FNMI education representative. This meant attending PD sessions with John Chief Calf, who taught us about building a teepee, the meaning of all the steps, and the stories intertwined with the act of erecting a teepee. I was able to even set up a real teepee with him during the learning process to later share with admin.
PSIII - Tipi Final Project - Science 7 Unit D
During the course of my internship I collaborated with FNMI Liaison Shawnee Bigbull in creating a final project for Unit D: Structures and Forces that would be representative of Indigenous worldview and meaningful for the students. The final product was a 3-day project in which students both learned about the importance of Tipis and also made their own.
Science 7 Unit D
SLO 3.2, 3.3, & 4.2
Students participated in discussions and stories that show the importance of the Tipi structure, shape, and materials. They then brainstormed important things in their lives and researched meaningful Tipi design. Finally, they crafted their own Tipis from paper and skewers, spending time meticulosly decorating in ways that represent the same values that First Nations placed in their Tipis.
Commitment to Expanding my Knowledge: Indigenous Canada Course
I designed an ELA lesson based on the book Shi Shi Etko by Nicola Campbell. The book is about a young First Nations girl spending her last few days at her home before going away to residential school. As a class we talked about what residential school was like, and we had a discussion about what we would miss if we had to leave our homes behind. For many of my students, this was the first time they had talked about First Nations. The students then were tasked to draw an image, write a few sentences, or both, depicting the thing/things they find valuable, beautiful, or important about their lives. We each shared our work in a sharing circle at the end, and closed by discussing how Shi Shi Etko must have felt when she had to leave her home.
The attached lesson plan shows that I used Indigenous perspectives from an authentic First Nations author to encourage students to reflect on their own values and experiences through a lens of empathy.
Grade 1&2 GLO's: 1 & 5
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Grade 1 SLO's: 1.1 & 5.1
Grade 2 SLO's: 1.2 & 5.1
PS1 - Shi Shi Etko E.L.A. Lesson - Grade 1/2
PS2 - Tipi Project
I did a similar project in my Grade 4 PSII class, but without the science outcomes. Instead, it was a Social Studies project that focused on building empathy and understanding regarding the indigenous experience.