Classroom Activities
Students will develop a better understanding of how drugs work in the human body and acquire Diné language and culture via various activities, strategies, and methods such as graphic organizers, cooperative learning strategies, investigations, research, and interviews
Activity #1
The performance objectives for this activity include: (1) Students will identify types of plants found on Diné Nation. (2) Students will identify how each plant is used by Diné.
Arrange the students into groups of two. Hand out a list of plants found on Diné Nation. Tell students to read the lists of plants written in Diné and English. Hand out a graphic organizer that identifies: the Diné name for the plant, the elevation of the plant, how the plant is used, and the English name. Tell students to select ten plants and write the Diné and English name on the graphic organizer. Tell students to use the Internet to find the elevation the plants grow. Tell students to write how each plant is used by Diné. It could be as medicine, food, dye, or other purposes. Tell students to take their list home and have their family members assist them to identify the uses of the plant. Each group will share their information using Diné language.
Activity #2
The performance objectives for this activity include: (1) Students will identify the physical characteristics of pinon tree, juniper, and sage brush. (2) Students will draw each plant and label with Diné, English, and scientific names. (3) Students will write a description of the plant.
Have students work in groups of two. Provide small sample of each plant for students to examine and identify the physical characteristics using the five senses. Hand out graphic organizer labeled Nanise'Baa hane' for students to draw the plant using the sample. Have students write the plant's name in Diné, English, and the scientific name. Have students research the scientific name of the plant via the Internet or other resources available for students. Have students write a description of the plant on the graphic organizer labeled description.
Activity #3
The performance objectives for this activity include: (1) Students will actively listen and ask questions about traditional Diné plants used for medicine. (2) Students will write notes and a summary about the topic.
Invite a traditional Diné herbalist to the classroom to share traditional information on plants and herbs used for medicine. Have the herbalist discuss the plants: What are the names of the plants (specifically pinon tree, sage brush, and juniper)? Where would one find the plant? How to collect the plant? What part of the plant to collect and use for medicine, and how the plant is used for medicine? Have students write notes during the presentation. Arrange students into small groups based on the number of plants presented by the herbalist. Have students write summaries about the plants and share with class.
Activity #4
The performance objectives for this activity include: (1) Students will actively listen and ask questions about plants native to Diné Nation. (2) Students will write notes and a summary about the topic. (3) Student will identify the scientific information about plants found on Dine Nation (specially pinon tree, sage brush, and juniper).
Invite a botanist to the classroom to share scientific information on the type of plants that grow native on Diné Nation. Have the botanist discuss: the common and scientific names of the plants (specifically pinon tree, sage brush, and juniper); the altitude, climate, weather, and soil the plant grows in. Have students write notes during the presentation. Arrange students into small groups based on the number of plants presented by the botanist. Have students write summaries about the plants, and share with class.
Activity #5
The performance objectives for this activity include: The performance objectives for this activity include: (1) Students will actively listen and ask questions about traditional Diné plants used for medicine in ceremonies. (2) Students will write notes and a summary about the topic.
Invite a traditional Diné medicine person to the classroom to share traditional information on plants and herbs used for medicine in ceremonies. Have the medicine person discuss information on plants: What are the names of the plants (specifically pinon tree, sage brush, and juniper)? Where to find the plant? How to collect the plant? What part of the plant to collect and use for medicine? How is the plant used for medicine in ceremonies? Have students write notes during the presentation. Arrange students into small groups based on the number of plants presented by the medicine person. Have students write summaries about the plants used in ceremonies, and share with class.
Activity #6
The performance objectives for this activity include: The performance objectives for this activity include: (1) Students will actively listen and ask questions about Western medicines for patients. (2) Students will write notes and a summary about the topic.
Invite a pharmacist to the classroom to share information on the various types of drugs used for pain and diseases. Have the pharmacist discuss information on different forms of drugs available such as oral liquid, oral pills, injection, inhalant, creams and ointments, patches, and others. Have students write notes during the presentation. Arrange students into small groups based on the number of drugs described by the pharmacist. Have students write summaries about the plants used in ceremonies, and share with class.
Activity #7
The performance objectives for this activity include: (1) Students will plan and create videos on traditional Diné plants. (2) Students will evaluate and prepare videos for presentation. (3) Students will present videos to an audience.
Arrange students into groups of four. Have students work in groups to plan on the type of information the video will contain. The video can include: how to collect plants for medicinal purpose; how to prepare the plant for medicinal purposes; how to apply the medicinal plant for healing; where the plant is found; Describe the plant providing information including Diné, English, and scientific names; or the various uses for a plant. Have students plan for a five to eight minute video to include step by step information on how the group will show the information.
Activity #8
The performance objectives for this activity include: (1) Students will write step by step instructions for how to use a traditional medicine plant in Diné language. (2) Students will create a book of how to use traditional medicine from plants.
Arrange students into groups of two. Have students use information gathered and researched from Diné traditional herbalist visit or other sources such as parents or family members to write their directions to use a traditional medicine. Have students include drawings or photos with their written instructions.
Activity #9
The performance objectives for this activity include: (1) Students will identify and collect plants on field trip. (2) Students will record information on various plants.
Take students on a field trip to the areas where plants can be found. Have students work in pairs to identify the most common plants such as sage brush, pinon trees, juniper, yucca, and grease wood. Have students record information on environment of the plant and its physical characteristics, and surroundings. Have students collect small samples of the plant in a bag to take back to class.
Activity #10
The performance objectives for this activity include: (1) Students will identify a plant cell and
animal cell using prepared plant–leaf cell and animal–blood cell (2) Students will locate organelles of animal cell and plant cell, and identify its functions. (3) Students will create a cell using various materials.
Arrange students into groups of two. Hand out diagrams of plant and animal cells for students to examine to identify the cell organelles. Have students research and write the function of the cell organelles. Students can see and discuss the similarities and differences between a plant cell and animal cell. Distribute materials to simulate a cell: s sealable freezer bags for membrane, hair gel for cytoplasm, ball for nucleus, various colored foam to cut out for mitochondria, vacuole. Have students discuss and share the information of their cell.
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