Diverse perspectives of water

What you'll need

• "Perspectives about water" handout, at least one per group
• "Applying perspectives and knowledge" handout, at least one per group
• "Assessing my ability to apply perspectives and knowledge" rubric, one per student

1. Organize your students into small groups and provide each group with a copy of the "Perspectives about water" handout. 
2. Begin the activity by inviting groups to read each source and invite your students to make a decision about the perspective in each source. Which is the most likely perspective in each source? Groups might suggest that source 1 represents a western scientific perspective, and source 2 represents an Indigenous perspective. As students share their suggestions, take a moment to emphasize that there can be diversity of views within perspectives. For example, while most Indigenous Peoples view water as a living being, specific beliefs and traditions may vary according to the peoples’ relationship with water.
3. Now provide each group with a copy of the "Applying perspectives and knowledge" handout. Briefly explain that this activity will focus on identifying and using additional perspectives and knowledge. Guide groups in labelling a box with each perspective (the additional boxes could be used to examine other perspectives on water). 
4. Invite groups to suggest what important ideas or beliefs each source reveals about that perspective’s views on water. Some of these ideas might be clearly stated, while others may need to be inferred. Prompt groups to note these ideas in the appropriate perspective. For example, students could suggest that Indigenous Peoples may view water as a living being, while western science tends to view water as abiotic. 
5. As groups share their thinking, remind them to focus on identifying important ideas rather than identifying strengths or weaknesses of any perspective or way of knowing. An important idea:

• Reveals more detail or insight about the topic
• Can shape or influence how we think about the topic or how we act

6. Next, guide your students’ attention to the house-shaped section at the top of the handout. Ask groups to think of how these important ideas might guide how we think about and interact with water. For example, students might suggest that viewing water as a living being might encourage people to treat water with more respect.
7. To conclude the activity, discuss why it might be important to find and use additional perspectives and ways of knowing. Play the "Honouring water" video as an example of how the Leq'a:mel Nation in British Columbia honours water.
8. Encourage your students to suggest perspectives and knowledges that have been privileged or given priority in science and other subjects, and which have been left out of or ignored.  
9. Encourage your students to use the blank version of the handout whenever they need to think about and use additional perspectives and knowledge. Students could practice using this competency when learning about any science concept, phenomenon, or content.