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Complete

Chapter ONE

The System of Things

Part One

Lesson Media
  • Watch video (overview of concepts in this chapter)
  • Learn why we use nature as our metaphor
  • Reflect (simple activities and discussions)

Part Two

Activities
  • Break down concepts and definitions
  • Test your comprehension
  • Apply your knowledge

Part Three

Inquiry Media
  • Watch video that relates concepts to the real world
  • Reflect and discuss

Part One

Why does visual storytelling matter? The story about storytelling (yes, the story about stories) below.

Why Nature?

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

Find out!

Read Story Instead

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

Go!

Questions & Activities

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

Go!

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.

More on Rt. Hn. Kim Campbell

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 – and party politics specifically – isn’t for everyone?
  • Is voting during an election all that's required to be a good citizen, or is more required of us?
  • Are too many of us giving up important decisions to a small group of political power brokers?
  • Is visual storytelling an effective tool to advance good policy?
  • How can we each help advance good policy?
  • If you could propose one new policy, what would it be and how would you use visual storytelling to make your case?
  • In what ways can visual storytelling be used to highlight underrepresented voices and issues in the political sphere?

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

FInd out!

Know the Terms

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

Start

Jeopardy

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

What is...

Pinteresting

Create a Pinterest board to post ideas and questions that have come up during this class. It's like note-taking, but visual and way more fun!

Pin it!

Discuss

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

Discuss

Part Three

HOW DOES THIS CLASS RELATE TO REAL-WORLD ISSUES?

Inquiry Media

Are we loving nature to death?

Go!

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)

Go!

Further Exploration

Latest News

Honouring the Life of Jane Goodall

News
https://youtu.be/SOYXokr9CPA
Read more

New Lesson Alert: ‘Canada at a Crossroads’

News
This five-part story will be featured across each of the first five chapters of Nature Labs and will ask students to explore, through the...
Read more

Podcasts for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

News
We must be willing to listen and learn from all peoples and all life. Indeed, listening, and acting, is what the National Day for...
Read more
Load more

Resources From the Curated Library

Should we move beyond compromise when trying to solve problems?

Should we move beyond compromise when trying to solve problems? Bias: Centre Sub-Category: Problem Solving Source: TED File Type: Video Overview: Should we move...

The problem with problems, and a better way to frame them visually

The problem with problems, and a better way to frame them visually Sub-Category: Problem Solving Source: Prototypor File Type: Graphic Overview: A...

Is the Process more important than the Product?

Is the Process more important than the Product? Bias: Centre Sub-Category: Advice Source: Future West File Type: Opinion Overview: Why process is more important...

The Critical Thinking Toolkit

The Critical Thinking Toolkit Sub-Category: Problem Solving Source: The Critical Thinking Tool Kit File Type: Book Overview: An academic look at critical...

How To Frame A Problem To Find The Right Solution

How To Frame A Problem To Find The Right Solution Bias: Centre Right Sub-Category: Problem Solving Source: Forbes File Type: Guide Overview: How to...
More From the Curated Library

Image (Story) Development Strategies

Nature Labs
Image development strategies refer to enhancing an image or story in the eyes of a specific audience. It refers to various techniques and approaches...
Read more

How to Research and Tell a Good Story

English Resources
What does good research look like? How do you become a good researcher? And how do you transform research into an impactful story? Great...
Read more

Additional Resources

8%
Unit completion

Chapters

Chapter One

The System of Things

You are here!

Chapter Five

Here’s How

Go

Chapter Nine

Own Your Hypocrisy

Go

Chapter Two

The Context of It All

Go

Chapter Six

Your Turn

Go

Chapter Ten

Keep Going

Go

Chapter Three

We Don’t Know What We Don’t Know

Go

Chapter Seven

Dig Deeper

Go

Chapter Eleven

One Last Thing

Go

Chapter Four

Hard Stuff is Hard

Go!

Chapter Eight

Be Better

Go

Chapter Twelve

The End (of the Beginning)

Go

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