In school experience that weaves together Indigenous and Western/Global Sciences
Tuesdays & Thursdays, November-May
Customized to your school schedule
Grades 4-6
Grades 7-9 coming in March 2027
$400 for 2 classes
Additional classes: $100 each
Maximum: 4 classes per day
Look into the night sky - what do you see? Find the wolf’s eyes and learn from our animal relatives, exploring how Indigenous Science and Western/Global Science complement each other and how science and storytelling can walk hand in hand (or hand in paw)! Hear a telling of a gifted Blackfoot story, explore constellations and black holes in a portable planetarium, and investigate reciprocity and interconnectedness through the story of wolves as a keystone species.
Paws, Claws & Stars is a collaboration between the Indigenous and Education teams at TELUS Spark with guidance from the Indigenous Advisory Circle. It was piloted in Indigenous communities from 2023-2024.
Experience teachings of reciprocity, humility, and equality through Makoiyohsokoyi, a Blackfoot story of the Wolf Trail (also known as the Milky Way). Scientific teachings within this story will be highlithed in the activities throughout the program.
Time: 45-minutes interactive assembly
Equipment: a space large enough for all classes at once
Done assembly-style with all classes
Journey into Spark’s portable planetarium to immerse yourself diverse perspectives of the night sky, including constellations, planets, and black holes.
Time: 45 minutes
Equipment: room with at least 12-foot ceiling
Done with single class
Engaged in a unique ecosystem web activity, students will experience the interconnectedness of all (from trees to rocks to stars), including how they fit in themselves
Time: 45 minutes
Equipment: in classroom
Done with single class
In circle, students will reconnect with the knowledges from the wolves, stars, and land, and discuss their teachings of humility, interconnectedness, and reciprocity.
Time: 20 minutes
Equipment: chairs in a circle in classroom
Done with single class
Space for screen and projector assembly – needed for film.
Location with a minimum 12-foot ceiling – needed for Portable Planetarium
Room with seating for one class (i.e. own classroom)
This program explores themes of:
The experience enhances curricular outcomes in Grades 4-9
Please see the list below for some specifics. Your class may find other connections as well.
