Giving Thanks to the Water

Students practice reciprocity by releasing their good intentions and thoughts into a local water source.

Program Details

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Giving Thanks to the Water

Materials:

•Large receptacle •Water •Ladle •Tobacco (asemaa) •Access to local water body

We recommend inviting an Indigenous community member into the learning environment to help facilitate this holistic closing activity.

Instructions:

Learning Bundle closed through a holistic relationship building activity.

  1. Students collectively (one at a time) transfer water from one vessel to another (ie: large bowl). Each time students transfer water ie: spoon it over, student puts their good thoughts/intentions into the water. 
  2. Class identifies a local body of water that they are connected to and care about.
  3. Class goes to local body of water to release water along with all of their good thoughts and intentions.
  4. If accompanied by an Elder or Knowledge Keeper class can put down tobacco (asemaa). To learn more about tobacco teachings and tobacco protocols, please check out the Teacher’s Guide.
Optional Extension: 

Students find a quiet spot near water and reflect on the experience of releasing water in their Outdoor Learning Journals (introduced in the Teacher’s Guide).