On behalf of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, you are invited to attend the virtual film screening of Spirit Bear and Children Make History!
Information about the screening:
When: The film will be available online for you and your students to engage with at your own pace from November 16 to November 27.
Who: Elementary educators and students across Canada! The film is suitable for all elementary grade levels, although K-2 learners may need additional help from teachers and older peers to make meaning of the story.
What’s included:
· 2-week access to the film to screen in your classroom: November 16-27.
· Lesson plans and supplementary resources to support learner engagement with the book, film and issues addressed
· An invitation to attend a live webinar with Cindy Blackstock, the author of the book on which the film is based. Webinar dates: Nov. 26, 1:00-2:00 EST, Nov. 27, 12:00-1:00 EST.
How to register:
Sign up here: https://fncaringsociety.com/films
Where to get more info:
Once you’re registered, we will email you updates, including links to the film and live virtual discussion as they become available. Read more about the film and watch the trailer here: https://fncaringsociety.com/films
About the lesson plans:
The lesson plans aim to support learners in engaging with the book and short film. As the diverse learners across Canada are participating in the screening, the lesson plans do not explicitly take up the learning targets of any particular subject area or grade level. That said, they draw on English Language Arts targets and strategies for supporting students in making meaning of texts, talking and writing, and comparing different kinds of texts that are often developed in mid to late elementary (Grades 2-6). Other learning intentions guiding these lessons lend themselves to multiple subject areas, including building understandings of foundational concepts like fairness, making ethical judgments, and identifying and taking actions in response to learning.
You can download the lesson plans here: https://fncaringsociety.com/films
Other free elementary learning resources from the Caring Society:
· Shannen’s Dream: Safe and Comfy Schools is a child-friendly information sheet about young Shannen Koostachin’s fight for equitable education for all First Nations kids (Grades 4 and up).
· The First Peoples Child & Family Review is publishing a special children and youth edition in honour of Shannen’s Dream. It’s extending its submission deadline and accepting work from kids and youth on Shannen’s Dream now. Check out the submission guidelines.
· Spirit Bear’s second book, Fishing for Knowledge, Catching Dreams addresses residential schools and ongoing discrimination against First Nations kids. It is available as a free PDF on our website along with its accompanying learning guide (Grades 3 and up).
· Spirit Bear’s Guide to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action breaks down the calls into language students can engage with (Grades 5 and up).
· Reconciliation is on all of us! Check out this informative poster about the Caring Society’s various reconciliation-based campaigns and how you and your students can get involved.
· Spirit Bear’s 2020 Guide to Reconciliation Activity Book and Calendar support kids in engaging with reconciliation while having fun (Kinder to Grade 3-4).
We hope you and your learning community will consider joining this free event. Should you have any questions, concerns or feedback, don’t hesitate to contact Emily Williams (ewilliams@fncaringsociety.com).
