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Complete

Chapter One

The System of Things

Lesson Media
  • Watch video (overview of concepts in this chapter)
  • Learn why we use nature as our metaphor
  • Reflect (simple activities and discussions)
Activities
  • Break down concepts and definitions
  • Test your comprehension
  • Apply your knowledge
Inquiry Media
  • Watch video that relates concepts to the real world
  • Reflect and discuss

Part One

Why does building a career of meaning matter? It should include watching the story below!

Why Nature?

We use nature as a metaphor to help explain your class lesson. Why?

Read Story Instead

Prefer reading instead? Here's the text version of your lesson.

Questions & Activities

Reflect on your lesson with short activities, or by exploring referenced articles, featured podcasts, term definitions, and more!

Featured Hot Take

Are the big, complex systems in our society important? Can they evolve? Absolutely! Just ask Rt. Hon. Kim Campbell, Canada’s first – and so far only – female prime minister. 

We’re featuring this podcast across all five Nature Labs subjects. You might not like every course you take in school, but they are all related. By listening to this podcast, hopefully you’ll better understand why.

Reflection

  • Do you agree that our democracy is fragile? And, if it is, how can we contribute to its health?
  • Should more of us consider running for office, or is it fair to say that politics isn’t for everyone?
  • Is voting during an election all that's required to be a good citizen, or is more required of us?
  • How can we each help advance good policy?
  • How does politics impact work?
  • How can we use our careers to enhance our democracy?

Part Two

THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES WILL HELP YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPTS YOU NEED TO LEARN IN THIS CLASS. YOUR TEACHER WILL SELECT WHICH ACTIVITIES YOU NEED TO COMPLETE BELOW.

Truth vs Lie

What do you know? Try to trick your classmates in a friendly game of two truths and a lie.

Know the Terms

What terms and concepts will you discover in this unit? Learn and practice, and practice again!

Jeopardy!

The classic game, with an educational twist. Apply what you have learned so far and compete to win!

Pinteresting

Create a Pinterest Board where you can post ideas and questions that come up during the course. It's like note-taking, but fun!

Discuss

Have a conversation with your classmates to help each other better understand what you'll be learning in this class. *Recommended

Part Three

HOW DOES THIS CLASS RELATE TO REAL-WORLD ISSUES?

Inquiry Media

Save the economy to save nature?

Canada at a Crossroads

NEW: Inquiry Media Series

This five-part story will be featured across each of the first five chapters of Nature Labs and will ask students to explore the question of how Canada can protect our economy and sovereignty while still addressing the other challenges of our time, including biodiversity, the climate, and reconciliation. (Chapter Two coming Nov. 1st)

Further Exploration

Latest News

Remembrance Day

https://www.tiktok.com/@naturelabs/video/7571479710115319060?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7146707029787248133

Understanding COP30 and Canada’s Role in Global Climate Action (Lesson)

COP30 is the 30th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (Conference of the Parties), taking place in November 2025 in Belém, Brazil, in the...

The Budget

You’ve probably heard: The government just released its new budget – the first in a while – and it’s the talk of the nation....

What is Systems Change

Systems change is a process that seeks to reconstruct or evolve an entire system, impacting everyone and everything connected to it. Systems change often...

What is Design Thinking

Design thinking is a problem-solving methodology that focuses on needs and experiences to generate creative solutions. It is a human-centred approach to innovation that...

Terms

It’s important to build a base of knowledge for this class. First, let’s start with a few questions: What's your passion? What are your skills?...

Resources From the Curated Library

How many jobs do Canadians hold in a lifetime?

How many jobs do Canadians hold in a lifetime? Bias: Centre Sub-Category: Trends Source: Workopolis File Type: Article Overview: How many jobs will you...

90% Of Startups Fail: Here’s What You Need To Know About The 10%

90% Of Startups Fail: Here's What You Need To Know About The 10% Bias: Centre Right Sub-Category: Testing...

I hated writing—until I learned there’s a science to it

Bias: none Source: Science File Type: Essay Overview: I hated writing—until I learned there’s a science to it Web Link: https://www.science.org/content/article/i-hated-writing-until-i-learned-there-s-science-it

Resources on Biodiversity

Career Resources

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Unit completion

Chapters

Chapter One

The System of Things

Chapter Five

Here’s How

Chapter Nine

Own Your Hypocrisy

Chapter Two

The Context of It All

Chapter Six

Your Turn

Chapter Ten

Keep Going

Chapter Three

We Don’t Know What We Don’t Know

Chapter Seven

Dig Deeper

Chapter Eleven

One Last Thing

Chapter Four

Hard Stuff is Hard

Chapter Eight

Be Better

Chapter Twelve

The End (of the Beginning)