Respect for Nature
Respect for Nature
Grades 4, 5 and 6
Selected Stories Showing Aboriginal Respect for Nature:
Auger, Dale. (AA). Mwakwa alks to the !oon: A "ree Stor# for "hildren. 2006, 978-
1894974042. Te stor! sares a" e#per$e"ce of a !ou"g %a" &o 'eco%es (er! prou) a")
'oastful of $s e#celle"t u"t$"g s*$lls, as e gets caugt up $" te a)orat$o", atte"t$o" a") pr$)e
$s people so& $%. +" soa*$"g up all t$s atte"t$o" e loses $s great u"t$"g s*$lls a") %ust
u%'le $%self to te ,l)ers $" or)er to get 'ac* $s g$ft. -a!as (*-e!e-ass) as to tal* to %a*&a
(%a-.u) te /oo" to ga$" 'ac* $s po&ers. -a!as troug t$s e#per$e"ce lear"s &at $t %ea"s
to 'e u%'le, *$") a") respectful. +"clu)es so%e te#t $" 0ree.
1a!lor, 1!r). $%& in "harge of "elebrations. 1986, 0684182792. A )&eller $" te )esert
cele'rates a tr$ple ra$"'o&, a ca"ce e"cou"ter &$t a co!ote, a") oter &o")ers of te
&$l)er"ess.
1oucar), Da($). 'lders are (atching. 1990, 0-9693482-3-3. T$s $s a poe% a'out %a"4s
"egat$(e $"flue"ce o" "ature. Te po&erful &or)s are o" o"e page &$t te fac$"g page a
)ra%at$c $llustrat$o" '! a fa%ous "at$(e art$st. Te &or)s tell us o& %a" as 'ee" o(erl! self-
$")ulge"t for %uc too lo"g a") $t $s t$%e to ca"ge to sa(e te e"($ro"%e"t. +t4s a s$%ple a")
po&erful loo* $"to te A'or$g$"als4 relat$o"s$p &$t Nature.
1our)eau 5a'oose, 6a". (AA). -are" Rec7uc, +llustrator (A+). Morning on the !ake. 1997, 1-
22074-373-2. +" t$s p$cture 'oo*, te autor uses er 89$'&a! 'ac*grou") to tell a ser$es of
tree l$"*e) stor$es a'out a 'o! a") $s gra")fater &o spe") a )a! &$t "ature. Te autor
so&s te $%porta"ce of lear"$"g te &a!s of l$($"g $" ar%o"! &$t "ature a") te &$se, pat$e"t
a") lo($"g &a!s of :$so%$s (gra")fater). Re$"forces te A'or$g$"al ($e& of te l$"* 'et&ee"
"ature a") people.
1rucac, 6osep. (AA). "hildren of the !onghouse. 1996, 140382042. A" $"-)ept loo* at te
lo"g ago &a! of l$fe of te :oa&*s, tol) troug te e!es of a !ou"g 'o!. Te%es of 9ust$ce,
)e%ocrac!, respect a") a" u")erl!$"g sp$r$tual$t! are co"(e!e). Tells te stor! of te ;reat
/eague of <eace of te +ro.uo$s "at$o"s.
1rucac, 6osep = 1rucac, 6a%es. (AA), Girl (ho )elped hunder and other Nati*e
A&erican +olktales. 2008, 9781402732638. <rese"ts 24 stor$es fro% (ar$ous Nat$(e A%er$ca"
groups, $"clu)$"g 1lac*foot a") +"u$t. Te 1lac*foot stor!, ,ld Man and the Rolling Rock, $s
a'out 8l) :a", a fa(our$te tr$c*ster caracter $" te tales of te 1lac*foot. 8l) :a" so%et$%es
ca"ges te &orl) arou") $%, 'ut oter t$%es e gets $"to trou'le. +" stor$es l$*e t$s o"e, e $s a
perfect e#a%ple of o& "ot to 'ea(e. Te +"u$t stor! $s -lind -o# and the !oon. ,#celle"t
$llustrat$o"s. >or a (ar$at$o" o" te Roll$"g Roc* stor!, go to !egend of Napi and the Rock at
ttp?@@ca"a)$a"-f$rst-"at$o"s.su$te101.co%@art$cle.cf%@teAlege")AofA"ap$Aa")AteAroc* +" t$s
fu""! (ers$o", te roc* $s te 8*oto*s ,rrat$c a") $t4s after 8l) :a"B :a"! of te stor$es $" t$s
collect$o" so& respect for "ature for e#a%ple "o&ing of "orn a") -ear Man.
Respect for Nature
1rucac, 6osep. (AA). hirteen Moons on urtle.s -ack. 1997, 978-0698112842. Te 13
scales o" TurtleCs sell sta") for te 13 c!cles of te %oo", eac &$t $ts o&" "a%e a") a stor!
tat relates to te ca"g$"g seaso"s.
0a)uto, :$cael 6. a") 1rucac, 6osep. /eepers of the 'arth: Nati*e A&erican Stories and
'n*iron&ental Acti*ities for "hildren. 1991, 978-1222913824. T$s flags$p 'oo* $" te
-eepers of te ,art ser$es $s a" e"($ro"%e"tal class$c for teac$"g c$l)re" to respect te ,art.
0a)uto, :$cael 6. /eepers of !ife: 0isco*ering 1lants through Nati*e A&erican Stories
and 'arth Acti*ities for "hildren. 1998, 2007, 9781897222192. /eepers of !ife uses stor$es
a") %!ts fro% )$(erse Nat$(e Nort A%er$ca" cultural groups to $"tro)uce a (ar$et! of top$cs
relat$"g $"teract$o"s &$t te "atural &orl). +t $"clu)es $"for%at$o" o" pla"t groups, e#pla"at$o"s
of '$olog$cal processes, a") )$scuss$o"s of e"($ro"%e"tal co"cer"s. T$s $"for%at$o"-pac*e)
resource $s $%'ue) &$t te sp$r$t of DRespo"s$'le Ete&ar)s$p,D a p$losop! of e%pat! for all
l$($"g t$"gs, a") co"s$)erat$o" of te effects of our act$o"s o" future ge"erat$o"s.
0a)uto, :$cael 6. /eepers of the Night: Nati*e A&erican Stories and Nocturnal Acti*ities
for "hildren, 1994, 978-1222911772. 0a)uto a") 1rucac use stor$es fro% (ar$ous A%er$ca"
+")$a" tr$'es as te 'as$s for act$($t$es a") lesso"s a'out te "$gtt$%e &orl). 5r$tte" as a gu$)e
for teacers a") out)oor e)ucat$o" lea)ers &or*$"g &$t c$l)re" $" a "ature sett$"g, te gu$)e
g$(es )eta$le) $"struct$o"s for prepar$"g, co")uct$"g, a") e(aluat$"g a (ar$et! of act$($t$es tat
focus o" te "octur"al a'$ts of a"$%als, o" astro"o%! a") "$gtt$%e &eater, a") o" ca%pf$re
act$($t$es, suc as stor!tell$"g, )a"ces, a") ga%es. Aspects of %a"! A%er$ca" +")$a" tr$'al
pract$ces are &o(e" trougout te te#t.
0a%ero", A""e. Spider (o&an. 1988, 0920080731. 5e" te &orl) 'eg$"s to sl$p fro% $ts
place, $t ta*es Ep$)er 5o%a", &$t elp fro% te tallest tree to sa(e te &orl).
0arr$ere, -e". -ulrush )elps the 1ond. ;a'r$el Du%o"t +"st$tute, 2007, 0-920912-62-2. Eo&s
pra$r$e &etla") ecolog! as see" '! te E&a%p! 0ree people, loo*$"g at te seaso"al c!cle of
"ature o" a po"). 5ell $llustrate), eac poto so&s a" a"$%al, &ater '$r), or pla"t tat )epe")s
upo" a %arsla") ecos!ste%. Te focus $s te ca"g$"g seaso"s? fall, )uc*sF &$"ter %a"!
a"$%als a") '$r)s a(e left or are $'er"at$"gF spr$"g, 0a"a)a geese, 'ulruses, %os.u$toes,
&ater '$r)s a") frogsF su%%er, )uc*s, 'ugs, falco"s, fo#es, 'ulrus $s tall a") elps te po") '!
pre(e"t$"g all te &ater fro% e(aporat$"gF fall aga$", '$r)s, 'ulrus )rops $ts see)s. Te c!cle of
"ature $s co%plete a") te rea)er ga$"s u")ersta")$"g of te frag$le pra$r$e &etla") ecos!ste%.
5r$tte" $" E&a%p! 0ree a") ,"gl$s.
0err!, /!""e. A Ri*er Ran (ild. 1992, 0122163727. Te stor! of a r$(er, fro% te f$rst people
tousa")s of !ears ago, o& people ca%e to )epe") o" $t, use) $t, a'use) $t, pollute) $t, a")
f$"all! clea"e) $t. 1eaut$full! $llustrate), a") po&erfull! prese"te), $s 'oo* $s a class$c
e"($ro"%e"tal stor!.
0err!, /!"". Sha&an.s Apprentice. 2001, 0122024867. >or tousa")s of !ears, $" te 9u"gles
of te A%a7o", sa%a"s a(e passe) te$r &$s)o% of te %e)$c$"al (alues of ra$" forest pla"ts
fro% o"e ge"erat$o" to te "e#t. Te Ea%a"Cs Appre"t$ce tells te stor! of a T$r$o +")$a" 'o!
Respect for Nature
&o )rea%s of o"e )a! 'e$"g te tr$'al sa%a", a") o& e a") $s people lear" te $%porta"ce
of te$r o&" *"o&le)ge a'out te eal$"g propert$es of te ra$" forest.
,!($")so", <eter. 2en and the Great ,ne. 1990, 0921827199. A" e"($ro"%e"tal stor! tat
prese"ts a real$st$c )ep$ct$o" of co"te%porar! >$rst <eoples. 6e" ears te tree a") 'r$"gs er
fr$e")s to elp pla"t te tree4s see)s.
6a%eso", 0ater$"e. 3oe and the +awn. 2006, 9781894778432. Goe a") er fater e"cou"ter
%a"! &oo)la") a"$%als a") lear" te$r Nat$(e "a%es alo"g te &a!. A )el$gtful tale.
-al%a", 1o''$e a"), 5al*er, N$*$. Nati*e North A&erican (isdo& and Gifts. (Nat$(e
Nat$o"s of Nort A%er$ca) 2006, 0-7787-0384-3. >a$rl! eas! rea)$"g %a*es t$s ser$es a goo)
co$ce. Tere are lots of potos a") )ra&$"gs, a") %a"! s$)e'ars to 'rea* up $"for%at$o". +")e#,
glossar!, ta'le of co"te"ts, fre.ue"t su'ea)s a") ter%s $" 'ol) all co"tr$'ute to ease of rea)$"g.
+" a))$t$o" to $"for%at$o" o" te +ro.uo$s 0o"fe)erac!, t$s resource puts $t $"to te co"te#t of
A'or$g$"al culture, (alues, a") &$s)o%.
/ope7, 1arr!. "row and (easel. 1998, 978-0374416133. /o"g ago, &e" people a") a"$%als
spo*e te sa%e la"guage, t&o !ou"g %e" left te$r tr$'e to %a*e a" a)(e"turous tre* troug te
&$l)er"ess, $"to te u"*"o&" "ortla"). Eet $" te %!t$c past a") $"sp$re) '! te tra)$t$o"s of
te Nort A%er$ca" <la$"s people, t$s fa'le of self-)$sco(er! follo&s 0ro& a") 5easel as te!
face u"fa%$l$ar per$ls o" a .uest for *"o&le)ge a") &$s)o%. 0o".uer$"g te$r $""er%ost fears,
te t&o eroes co%e of age a") lear" %ore ta" te! e(er coul) a(e $%ag$"e)--a'out
u%a"$t!Cs relat$o"s$p to te la"), te $%porta"ce of respect$"g oter peoples a") g$($"g ta"*s,
a") e(e" te (er! "ature of fr$e")s$p $tself.
:ars)e", 6o". he Rabbits. 2003. 0-9688768-8-9. T$s s$%ple 'ut po&erful allegor! )escr$'es
te results of %ost of te colo"$7at$o"4s $" te $stor! of our pla"et. Te spare te#t a") st!l$7e)
$llustrat$o"s tell te c$ll$"g stor! of $"(as$o", e"($ro"%e"tal )estruct$o" a") cultural su'9ugat$o"
$" s$%ple c$l)-l$*e ter%s. T$s $s a" e#celle"t ope"er for )$scuss$o" at %a"! le(els.
:c/ella", 6oe, (0AA), Nanabosho 0ances. 1991, 0921827148. T$s $s te lege") of o& te
oop )a"ce starte). +t tells a'out te s$g"$f$ca"ce of te c$rcle, te s!%'ols te oop portra!s $"
te )a"ce, a") te co""ect$o"s 'et&ee" te 0reator a") te "atural &orl).
:c0ur)!, :$cael. An Algon4uian 5ear: A 5ear According to the +ull Moon, 2000,
0618007029. As te %oo" ca"ges, so )o te seaso"s a") te patter" of l$fe for te Norter"
Algo".u$a"s $" pre-colo"$al Nort A%er$ca. 5$t te#t a") 'lac* a") &$te scratc'oar)
$llustrat$o"s, &e see te 'us! c!cle of &or*, pla! a") sur($(al, a") te )$g"$t! of people &o l$(e
$" ar%o"! &$t "ature.
:c/ella", 6osep, (0AA), -irth of Nanabosho, 1989, 9780921827009. ,#pla$"s &e" a") &!
stor$es of creat$o" "ee) to 'e tol) at a certa$" t$%e of !ear. T$s stor! tells of te or$g$" of
Na"a'oso a") o& e &as a sp$r$t &o coul) ca"ge $s sape to su$t $s purposes. >ro% t$s
co%es te lesso" to Dtreat e(er!o"e a") e(er!t$"g &$t respect. Hou "e(er *"o& &e"
Na"a'oso as ca"ge) $%self $"to so%et$"g arou") !ou, a") !ou certa$"l! )o"Ct &a"t to 'e
)$srespectful to $% or to a"!t$"g $" 0reat$o".I
Respect for Nature
:c/eo), ,la$"e. (A+). !essons fro& Mother 'arth. 2010, 9780888998323. Tess as ($s$te) er
gra")%oter %a"! t$%es &$tout reall! 'e$"g a&are of te gar)e". 1ut to)a! te! step outs$)e
te )oor a") Tess lear"s tat all of "ature ca" 'e a gar)e". A") $f !ou ta*e care of te pla"ts tat
are gro&$"g, $f !ou lear" a'out te% J u")ersta")$"g &e" te! flo&er, &e" te! g$(e fru$t,
a") &e" to lea(e te% alo"e J !ou &$ll al&a!s f$") so%et$"g to "our$s !ou.
<ate"t, Dorot!, he -uffalo and the $ndians: A Shared 0estin#. 2006, 9780618482703.
0ou"tless 'uffalo o"ce roa%e) te pla$"s of Nort A%er$ca a") for at least 10,000 !ears, >$rst
Nat$o"s people )epe")e) upo" te% for sur($(al. To te%, te 'uffalo &as sacre), a") $t &as
treate) &$t great respect. Te" ,uropea"s slaugtere) te 'uffalo al%ost to e#t$"ct$o" a") 'ro*e
te >$rst Nat$o"s culture. To)a!, 'ot >$rst Nat$o"s cultures a") te 'uffalo er)s are 'e$"g
re($(e).
Stor# of the -lackfoot 1eople. 2001, 1222633632. >or te f$rst t$%e $" $stor!, te 1lac*foot
people sare te$r culture, 'el$efs a") tra)$t$o"s &$t te rest of te &orl). +"clu)es &a! of l$fe,
1lac*foot 5orl), o& te! l$(e) togeter, te la"), oter people, 'uffalo )a!s. /ots of potos,
%aps, $stor$c $"for%at$o". Do"e $" colla'orat$o" &$t te ;le"'o& :useu%.
Ta!lor, 0.6. (AA). !ittle (ater and the Gift of the Ani&als: A Seneca !egend. 1992,
0887762829. Te lege") of /$ttle 5ater $llustrates te $g regar) el) '! Nat$(e A%er$ca"s for
te "atural &orl) arou") te%. Not o"l! )$) te! rel! o" certa$" a"$%als for foo), clot$"g, a")
selter, 'ut for te$r %e)$c$"es as &ell.
Hagula"aas, :$cael. !ittle )u&&ingbird. 2010, 978-1223622336. T$s 'oo* $s 'ase) o" a
Eout A%er$ca" $")$ge"ous stor! a'out a courageous u%%$"g'$r) &o )ef$es fear a")
e#pectat$o"s $" er atte%pt to sa(e te forest fro% f$re. Te $llustrate) stor! $s supple%e"te) '! a
"atural a") cultural $stor! of u%%$"g'$r)s. Te art&or* '! $"ter"at$o"all! re"o&"e) Ka$)a
art$st a") autor co%ple%e"ts te opt$%$st$c tale tat e"courages e(er!o"e to ta*e respo"s$'$l$t!
for te$r o%e a") te pla"et.
Acti*ities:
:a"!, %a"! stor$es $llustrate te respect tat A'or$g$"al cultures ol) for "ature. D$scuss te
A'or$g$"als4 relat$o"s$p &$t Nature.
Descr$'e act$o"s ta*e" '! !our scool or fa%$l! tat so& co"cer" a") care for te e"($ro"%e"t.
Docu%e"t te ca"ges to te r$(er $" Ri*er Ran (ild o(er t$%e. :a*e a flo& cart or t$%el$"e.
0o%pare ,uropea" (alues = att$tu)es &$t tose of te A'or$g$"al people. Lse a Me"" )$agra%.
/$st so%e relate) $ssues. De'ate so%e of te $ssues.
Descr$'e so%e of te &a!s tat A'or$g$"al people l$(e) $" ar%o"! &$t "ature a") a) a
%$"$%al $%pact o" te e"($ro"%e"t.
Descr$'e so%e of te &a!s tat A'or$g$"al people so& co"cer" a") care for te e"($ro"%e"t.
5at are so%e of te ($e&s of "ature el) '! >$rst Nat$o"s peopleN
Retell a" A'or$g$"al fol*tale tat so&s co"cer" a") care for te e"($ro"%e"t.
5at are so%e of te reaso"s for te stro"g respect tat A'or$g$"al people so& for "atureN
5! $s $t $%porta"t to co"ser(e treesN
Respect for Nature
+)e"t$f! so%e A'or$g$"al $)eas relat$"g to "ature a") te tra)$t$o"al %eto)s of ut$l$7$"g
resources &$tout )$srupt$"g ecos!ste%s.
Eearc for e#a%ples $" te %e)$a of $"$t$at$(es tat $"corporate te A'or$g$"al approac &$t
respect to %a$"ta$"$"g ecos!ste%s.
Descr$'e so%e A'or$g$"al pract$ces tat offer solut$o"s to co"te%porar! e"($ro"%e"tal
pro'le%s.
he Months 6Moons7:
A'or$g$"al cultures ofte" %easure) te$r !ear $" ter%s of te seaso"s a") te$r seaso"al
act$($t$es. 0o%pare te :o"ts (:oo"s) of te 0ree people &$t tose of te Algo".u$a" people
$" An Algon4uian 5ear: A 5ear According to the +ull Moon a") &$t tose of te A'e"a*$
people $" hirteen Moons on urtle.s -ack8 Te 0ree %oo"s are g$(e" 'elo&. Descr$'e
act$($t$es tat !ou t$"* &oul) 'e appropr$ate a") t!p$cal for 0ree people )ur$"g eac %oo".
/isep9si& 2anuar# "old Moon (hen the Se*ere "old Sets $n
Mikisowip9si& +ebruar# 'agle Moon (hen the 0a#s Grow !onger
Niskip9si& March Goose Moon (hen the Gre# Geese Appear
A#ikip9si& April +rog Moon (hen the +rogs "roak
S:kipak:wip9si& Ma# -udding Moon (hen rees -ud
,p:sk:wehowip9si& 2une 'gg;hatching Moon (hen the -irds Set
,paskowip9si& 2ul# Molting Moon (hen -irds Molt heir +eather
,hpahowip9si& August +l#ing Moon (hen the 5oung -irds +l#
,n<cihitowip9si& Septe&ber Mating Moon (hen the )orses are Mating
/askatinowip9si& ,ctober +ree=ing Moon (hen +ree=ing Starts
$#ikopiwip9si& No*e&ber +rost Moon (hen the Ri*er +ree=es ,*er
1awahcakinas9s 0ece&ber 0rift;clearing Moon (hen 0rifts are "leared
