SUBJECT: Social Studies / Science / English Language Arts
GRADE LEVEL: 3-6
THEME Inuit Culture, Community, Arctic Ecosystems, Indigenous Knowledge
Emma joins her friend Aputik at a community feast in Nunavik, where Inuit families share traditional “country foods” like fish, ptarmigan, whale, and caribou. She learns about Inuit traditions of sharing, respect, and using every part of what nature provides. With help from hunter Allen, Emma discovers how the caribou connects people, land, and survival, and how hunting supports community and culture.
Before Listening
- Activate Prior Knowledge
Ask students:
- What do you know about caribou or other Arctic animals?
- How do you think people in the far north get their food?
- What do you think ‘country food’ means?
- Why might sharing food be an important part of community life?
Explain to students that they’ll hear how Inuit people celebrate together, eat traditional foods, and care for one another and the land through respect and sharing. Ask students to think about how people work together to share food and resources in their own communities.
- Key Vocabulary Words
Preview the vocabulary by reading aloud the terms and their definitions.
Focus on the word “community.” Ask: What makes a community strong? Have students share examples of how people help one another at school, in their neighborhood, or in their family.
- Community (noun) – All the people, animals, and plants that share a place and help each other live and grow.
- Inuit (noun) – Indigenous people who live in the Arctic
- Caribou (noun) – A large animal related to deer that lives in Arctic and northern regions
- Tradition (noun) – A custom or belief passed down through generations
- Country food (noun) – Traditional foods gathered or hunted from the land, such as fish, geese, or caribou
- Preserve (verb) – To keep something safe so it lasts longer, like food or traditions
- Cycle (noun) – A repeating pattern of change or events over time
- Feast (noun) – A large meal shared by many people to celebrate or give thanks
- Introduction to the Story
Explain to the students that in this episode, Emma attends a community feast in the Arctic with her Inuit friend, Aputik. She learns about the foods people eat, how hunters share what they catch, and why traditions like hunting and feasting are so important for Inuit communities. Listen to find out what Emma learns about respect, culture, and the caribou.
- Active listening support:
Introduce the Listening Organizer to the students and explain how to use it as they are listening.
During Listening
Remind students as they listen to write down facts about Inuit food, traditions, and animals on the left side of their chart, and questions or curiosities on the right side.
After Listening
Reflect on the Story
Ask students to respond to the listening comprehension questions and share their responses with a partner, small group, or the whole class.
Listening Comprehension Questions
- What kinds of foods are served at the Inuit community feast?
People ate country foods like fish, whale skin (mattaq), caribou, bannock bread, and dried meat. - How do Inuit use tools like the ulu?
Traditionally, Inuit women use the ulu, a curved knife, to cut meat, scrape skins, and prepare food. - What did Allen explain about the caribou population and how it changes?
Allen said that caribou numbers rise and fall in long cycles because lichen, their main food, takes many years to grow back. - Why is hunting and sharing food important for Inuit culture and survival?
It helps people have enough to eat, keeps traditions alive, and brings the community together.
Classroom Discussion Questions
Take time for student reflection on the audio story. Use the discussion questions to focus students on how sharing, community, and traditional knowledge help Inuit people stay connected to nature and to one another.
- How do Inuit show respect for the land and animals during hunting and feasting?
For example, they use traditional knowledge, share what they catch, and never waste any part of an animal. - What lessons can we learn from Inuit traditions about community and sustainability?
For example, we can learn to help one another, share what we have, and take care of nature so it can provide for everyone. - Why do you think sharing food can bring people closer together?
For example, sharing food shows kindness and care, helps everyone feel included, and reminds people they are part of the same community.
Next Step: Our Local Harvest
Students can further connect what they have learned about Inuit food traditions to their local environment by exploring how Indigenous communities in their own region gather, grow, and harvest food from the land and seasons.
After listening to this episode, students can research and compare traditional foods from their local Indigenous Nation(s). They will identify plants and animals that are important sources of food and explain why these are meaningful, such as for nutrition, cultural tradition, sustainability, or community connection.
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