Biodiversity and Indigenous Agriculture - Ancient Wisdom for Sustainable Farming - Middle School Lesson

This life science lesson looks at the connection between biodiversity and indigenous agriculture. It utilizes multiple case studies to showcase the effectiveness of indigenous agriculture and how it with the land to encourage biodiversity. It looks at what indigenous agriculture is, how it encourages biodiversity, and how this benefits local society and ecosystems. It utilizes three case studies to demonstrate how indigenous agriculture works with the land instead of against it - The Three Sisters Planting Method, Aztec Chinampas, and Rice Terraces. The lesson concludes by looking at the challenges to, and protection of, indigenous agriculture.

This lesson is intended for students in grades 6-8.

Specifically, it covers the Ontario Biodiversity Unit B2.8
'Describe the importance of biodiversity in supporting agriculture, including Indigenous agriculture around the world.'

You can find this lesson inside my Middle School Biodiversity Unit which includes activities as well as the following lessons

Lesson 1 - Biodiversity Exploration

Lesson 2 - Biodiversity Understanding

Lesson 3 - Biodiversity and Species Resilience

Lesson 4 - Biodiversity and Interrelationships

Lesson 5 - Biodiversity and Invasive Species

Lesson 6 - Biodiversity and Climate Change

Lesson 7 - Biodiversity and Indigenous Agriculture

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Explain what Indigenous agriculture means.
2. Explain how biodiversity helps Indigenous farming.
3. Provide examples of Indigenous farming practices that use biodiversity.
4. Describe why protecting biodiversity is important for Indigenous agriculture.

This package includes the lesson (student and teacher versions of the presentation), FOUR embedded videos, a 4-Question Exit Ticket on Google Forms, and a student lesson handout as a document. The presentation is fun and applicable with many opportunities for inquiry-based learning and discussion.

In order, the lesson covers:

• What Indigenous Agriculture is
• Biodiversity in Indigenous Farming
• Why Biodiversity is Important for Indigenous Agriculture
• Case Studies – The Three Sisters Planting Method, Aztec Chinampas, and Rice Terraces
• Biodiversity and Food Security
• Adapting to Change
• Supporting Cultural Practices
• Challenges to, and Protection of, Indigenous Agriculture

Included in the lesson package is:

• The teacher version of the presentation
• The student version of the presentation
• FOUR embedded videos
• 4-Question Exit Ticket
• Student lesson handout

Google and Distance Learning Ready

• This lesson includes both Office and Google formats for ALL resources. The presentation is in PowerPoint and Google Slides while all documents contain Word and Google Doc versions.
• Your resource is perfect for distance learning and integrates seamlessly with Google Classroom as I've included a link that will automatically create a copy of the resources and put them directly into your Google Drive with one click.
• Purchase --> Open --> Click --> Assign to your students

Having both options allows you to use either without worrying about formatting issues as all the work has already been done for you. It safeguards you in case your department or school decides to go Google 100% and allows you as well as your students to access everything no matter where you are or what kind of equipment is being used.

The student version of the presentation contains multiple blanks that need to be filled in throughout the lesson. These blanks are conveniently underlined and bolded on the teacher copy. I have found this to be the most effective means of keeping my students engaged and active without having them write everything out. This also leaves more time for discussion and activities.

I also have a range of assignments and lessons/units from other grade levels at my store. Please CLICK HERE to have a look around and don’t forget to follow if you like what you see.

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