Linn M. Bayne
To understand the Indian way, the class will study the concept of the Medicine Wheel. The Wheel represents the world, the tribe, the people. By understanding the Wheel, we learn about ourselves. The Wheel teaches us about levels of perception, and how to understand our relationship with all things from stars to a grain of sand.
OBJECTIVES
-
1. To learn about the Medicine Wheel.
-
2. To understand relationships within the Wheel.
MATERIALS
-
1. Any earth object such as a stone, a flower, a feather, etc.
STRATEGIES
-
1. Class forms a circle.
-
2. Teacher informs class that each student will be called on to contribute.
PREPARATION
1. Brief introduction to the concept of the Medicine Wheel (Storm 4-5).
2. Brief discussion of circles: family friends, community, tribe, nation, etc.
3. Define goals (see objectives above).
DISCUSSION TOPIC
-
1. The object that has been placed in the center of the circle is studied quietly for a few moments.
-
2. Teacher may remind students of the symbolic, scientific, informational, personal and/or collective perceptions possible regarding the object.
-
3. Students are instructed to write a phrase or a sentence about their relationship to the object.
-
4. Each student is called on to read phrase or sentence aloud.
CLOSING
-
1. Teacher explains the Four Great Powers (Storm 6).
-
2. Students discuss objectives:
-
____
a. what they have learned about the Medicine Wheel.
-
____
b. what they have learned about levels of perception.
-
____
c. what they have learned about relationship to things.