Seminar: Engaging Ways of Knowing with Forests and Global Change
Program: DINÉ
Subject Area: Science
Grade Level: 6th
Year of Publication: 2025
Abstract
The curriculum unit includes lessons that introduce scientific vocabulary, data collection, research, and the scientific method. The lessons are essential for students to begin their journey into understanding why a scientific perspective and skill set is needed to be successful in this
world.
This paper outlines the first six weeks of the curriculum unit and focuses primarily on the
research project where each and every student will investigate their culture and cultural ancestral research. The purpose of this research project is twofold:
1. Each student will release that every culture in the world contributes to the
development of science. Their culture, therefore, will be required as necessary and
respected.
2. The research project will create a repository of knowledge to be used throughout the
school year. This knowledge will be part of every unit taught: Unit 1: Welcome to
Science!, Unit 2: Physical Science, Unit 3: Earth/Space Science, and Unit 4: Life
Science”