The Huntergatherer's story
Source:
Second Nature - Environmental Studies Pack (5-14), SNH & RSPB - available from the RSPB.Inspired by an outdoor programme 'Woodland Ways' developed by English Nature at Lathkill Dale NNR.
OBJECTIVE
- To use storytelling to describe the changes that woodland has undergone in the last few thousand years and to appreciate that woodlands were once essential for survival.
- To develope a sense of stewardship for local woodlands.
Time
15 minutes
You will need
- Blindfolds - one for each child
- The Huntergatherer's story - see downloads below.
- A costume or accessories for the Huntergatherer to wear (optional)
Did you know?
The Huntergatherer's story tells us that some 5,000 years ago, most
of Scotland was covered in dense woodland. It was during this period
that the first people are thought to have settled in caves and rock
shelters near the coast. The gatherer describes the extent of the
forest and explains that she is entirely dependent on the woodland to
survive. This story can be told in any area of woodland.
Before the Activity
The Time machine stories were originally written to be told as a sequence of six stories. See Introducing the Time machine for further explanation of how to sequence and use the stories. Prepare blind folds and Huntergatherer costume if required. If possible learn the basic content of the story so that you avoid reading from a script and thus can use gestures and eye contact to make the story come alive.The activity
Explain to the children that you want them to imagine that they are going to travel back in time to when the wildwoods covered most of Scotland and that they are going to meet an inhabitant of the wildwood. Explain that they will need to travel back 5,000 years. Use blindfolds or ask the children to cover their eyes, then all count back to 5,000 years ago, 100 years at a time. On an agreed signal they uncover their eyes and meet the inhabitant who reads the Huntergatherer's Story. They then re-cover their eyes and count forwards 5,000 years to the present day. Once they have returned to the present, use the discussion points below to reinforce what has been said in the story.Discussion Points
- What was the person doing in the wood?
- Can the children think of a name to remember the huntergatherer by that begins with H?
- How did she/he feel about the woodland? Why?
- What did the wood look like?
- What lived there?
- How did 'H' and her / his family use the woodland?
- How much did 'H' depend on the wood to survive?
Suggested Follow up
This story can be followed by other Timeliine stories, either taking place in the same spot or by moving to other relevant spots in the reserve or local area. The activity Useful Plants, this section, is also a good follow up activity to this story.
Back in class you could enact a Timeline drama. Create props and costumes and count back in time, visiting stages of the timeline, with the children playing the role of the various characters.
Downloads
Additional Information
The resource pack 'Telling Stories' is available from the Scottish Storytelling Centre
Curriculum Links
- Language - main
- Social studies - main
- Technologies - associated
- Expressive Arts - associated
Age Range
- 2. Primary
- 3. Lower Secondary