Page 35 - The Ogemawahj Tribal Council

Physical (Reveal) Action, Hands On MATERIALS
1. BLM B5.1 Turtle
1. Procedure: Use the physical layout of the classroom and compare
Island Template
it to Turtle Island.
2. computer
Demonstrate, through the following activity, how the land
3. projector
historically belonged to Indigenous peoples (prior to European
arrival) and was slowly claimed by explorers throughout the years.
Make a specific reference to Samuel de Champlain, who claimed
the land for France that is now known as Huronia.
2. Activity: The classroom is symbolic of Turtle Island. The teacher
should focus on land being taken away by displacing/redistributing
desks, and everyday classroom items. This activity should
slowly result in changing the rules to favour the teacher (who is
representing the Europeans), and eventually leaving the students
(who represent the Anishinaabeg, specifically Beausoleil First
Nation) with one desk and one pencil.

Without using any verbal communication (teacher included),
engage in the following:
– Slowly remove students’ personal belongings (pencil case,
book, water bottle, etc.).
– Using body language (hand gestures), relocate students, have
them join a friend, and remove their desk.
– Eventually, throughout this activity, the teacher should have a
collection of desks and student belongings, leaving students with
one desk and a pencil. This will provide students with a visual of
how land and resources were taken away by Europeans.
3. Discussion: Involve students in a discussion based on the results of
the activity. Questions to ask: Do you think this was fair? How did
it make you feel? Who has the right to do this? Why do you think
this happened? Why did we not understand each other? Did you
feel an imbalance of power? Who was in control?
4. Record any ideas and any questions students could later use
for inquiry.

5. Task: Students will create their own Turtle Island. The back of the
turtle should be divided into sections and will provide a visual
representation of student learning. Students have the option of
using BLM B5.1: Turtle Island Template or creating their own.
Label the four quadrants on the turtle’s back: body, mind, emotion,
and spirit. Using pictures and words, students can demonstrate
their learning by representing their personal response to the
activity in each quadrant.
– Body: Physical Movement of the activity

Resource Books Leaders’ Guide 33