Poetry Unit - focused on First Nations, Métis & Inuit topics - Indigenous NBE3U

Full poetry unit that focuses on First Nations, Métis and Inuit topics - students will learn to properly read, annotate and analyze poems, artwork and music, and make connections to other art forms.

Every lesson includes a Learning Goal and a Task (either a reflective/discussion-based activity or assignment with rubric)

Lesson 1: Introduction to Poetry

• Why do we study poetry? (text and videos)
• Poetic devices (list with definitions)
• How to read a poem (videos)
• Class activity to read a poem of student choice and find poetic devices - individual/group/reflection/discussion

Lesson 2: Poetry Annotation

• Review on how to read a poem
• Step-by-step video and instructions on how to annotate a poem
• Individual assignment to annotate the poem "I Lost My Talk" by Rita Joe - link to Google Doc with full poem included
• Rubric included

Lesson 3: Poetry and Art - examining trauma

• 3 poems and 3 pieces of artwork by First Nations, Métis and Inuit creators
• Topics including missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls; feeling stuck between two worlds within Canada; and land, pipelines and the environment
• Poets: Marilyn Dumont, Alootook Ipellie and Helen Knott
• Artists: Terry McCue, Alootook Ipellie and Kent Monkman
• Background information on each piece in relation to colonialism and Canadian society (included in lesson and links for further research)
• Lesson on how to examine/analyze artwork
• Links to videos with more information on concepts and art analysis
• Class activity - individual/group/reflection/discussion

Lesson 4: Poetry and Music - examining healing

• Poem about healing from residential school trauma with class activity - individual/group/reflection/discussion
• Connections back to Rita Joe's poem "I Lost My Talk" with video on more background information about her
• Links to watch music videos/examine song lyrics of 5 different Indigenous school communities across Canada who participated in the Rita Joe Song Project - students sing about healing and the message of Joe's work
• Lesson on how to examine/analyze music
• Assignment for students to analyze a song and design a presentation/screencast on their analysis and reflection
• Rubric included

Lesson 5: Summative Assessment on Poems, Music and Art

• Assignment for students to annotate and analyze a poem included in the unit, and design a creative piece that includes connections to other songs and their own album artwork - they must also write a reflection to explain their choices and their connections
• List of full requirements included
• Example annotation included
• Examples of album artwork included
• Rubric included

This unit would work quite well with NBE3U - Grade 11 University Preparation English: Contemporary First Nations, Métis and Inuit Voices in the Ontario curriculum

SELLER NOTE: In my over 12 years of teaching, my main subject focus has been Indigenous Studies and integrating Indigenous history, culture and perspectives into all subjects of the curriculum. While I am not an Indigenous person, I have endeavoured as a settler ally to make connections to nearby Indigenous communities and Knowledge Keepers, and have taken numerous courses to learn as much as I can to pass on to students. I have also worked with and supported First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth through alternative education programs connected with Friendship Centres and as a Student Success Teacher/Grad Coach. I am also currently pursuing my Master of Education with a focus on Indigenous Education. While I think this is a great resource, I would also encourage you to connect with your Indigenous Education department in your school board to ensure teaching and learning experiences are authentic. Thank you, miigwech.