Cree Harvest Hide

Overview

This 30-minute lesson introduces Grade 1 students to Cree Indigenous culture through an engaging, hands-on activity where they will create a small hide art piece. This lesson aligns with the Saskatchewan curriculum outcome DR1.2, focusing on understanding kinship patterns and traditional teachings. It integrates artistic expression, cultural discussion, and tactile learning to help students connect with Cree traditions and symbols related to kinship and harvesting.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will:

• Describe how Cree families are connected through kinship using simple terms from Medicine Wheel teachings.
• Recognise and interpret traditional Cree symbols or animals associated with harvesting and kinship.
• Demonstrate fine motor skills by painting/drawing and assembling a hide canvas on wood.
• Appreciate the cultural significance of hides in Cree life for clothing and shelter.

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Curriculum Connections

Saskatchewan Ministry of Education – Social Studies 1 (DR1.2)

• Describe kinship patterns of the past and present according to traditional teachings (Medicine Wheel).
• Understand how Indigenous peoples' ways of life, such as harvesting, are connected to family and community.

Canadian Social Studies Focus

• Early understanding of Indigenous peoples' cultures and relationships with the environment.
• Artistic expression as a means of cultural storytelling.

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Materials

Item	Quantity	Notes
10cm x 10cm square wood pieces	14 (1 per student)	Pre-sanded for safe handling.
Canvas cutouts (same size)	14	Pre-cut for painting and pinning.
Non-toxic acrylic paint or crayons	Shared set	Earth tones + bright colours.
Paintbrushes	Shared set	Soft bristles suitable for small hands.
Drawing pencils and markers	Shared set	For finer details.
Push pins or small tacks	Shared set	To pin canvas to wood safely.
Picture cards of Cree symbols/animals	Enough for sharing	Visual aid during discussion.
Protective aprons or smocks	14	To protect clothing during painting.
Wet wipes or paper towels	Ample	For cleaning hands and spills.

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Lesson Procedure

Introduction and Discussion (8 minutes)

1. Gather students in a circle – Show them picture cards of traditional Cree symbols (e.g., thunderbird, beaver) and animals connected to harvesting (e.g., deer, rabbit).

2. Talk briefly about kinship:

   • "In Cree culture, families are very important and connected through something called kinship."
   • Introduce the Medicine Wheel as a way Cree people understand relationships — including family and the natural world. Explain simply that the wheel teaches about life cycles and how everything is connected.

3. Connect symbols to kinship and harvesting:

   • Explain that hides from animals like deer were used for clothes and shelter and are important to Cree families in the past and today.
   • Students guess what hides were used for and why they were valuable.

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Artistic Creation (15 minutes)

1. Distribute canvas cutouts and art supplies:

   • Students paint or draw their own Cree symbol or animal from the discussion on the canvas. Encourage simple, bold shapes familiar to their level.
   • Teachers circulate to guide and support creativity and cultural respect.

2. Assembly:

   • Once art is complete, help each student pin their canvas onto the square wood piece, creating their own small hide art “hide.”
   • Reinforce the idea this represents what hides meant in Cree culture—a precious, useful part of family life.

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Reflection and Closing (7 minutes)

1. Show and tell:

   • Invite each student to briefly share what symbol or animal they created and what it means to them or the Cree people.
   • Summarise how kinship and the Medicine Wheel teach us about the importance of family and nature.

2. Clean up:

   • Students carefully clean brushes, put away supplies, and store their hide art creations safely.

3. Extension Idea:

   • Suggest displaying the artworks in the classroom as part of an “Our Kinship and Harvest” cultural corner to revisit throughout October during harvest time.

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Teaching Tips and Adaptations

• Use simple language and repeat key terms like “family,” “kinship,” and “Medicine Wheel.”
• Offer stencils or outlines for students who struggle with drawing to ensure all feel successful.
• Integrate a brief Cree greeting or word of the day related to harvest or family (with proper cultural consultation or resources).
• If technology is available, show a short, age-appropriate video or storybook excerpt about Cree harvest traditions before beginning art.

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Assessment and Evaluation

• Informal observation: Monitor participation in discussion and hands-on activity.
• Student sharing: Assess understanding of kinship and symbols through their explanation.
• Engagement: Note creativity and connection during art creation and assembly.

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Cross-Curricular Connections

• Art: Exploring Indigenous symbolism through painting and drawing.
• Language Arts: Using new vocabulary words and storytelling during share time.
• Science: Understanding animals’ role in ecosystems and human culture.

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Final Notes

This lesson encourages empathy and meaningful cultural appreciation through tactile art-making and storytelling, tailored for young learners. It respects Indigenous protocols by focusing on understanding, not appropriation, and invites further exploration of Cree teachings and kinship in culturally sensitive ways.