Investigator Activity: Campfire Circle Story

Age groups: 12 and up

Keywords: Outdoors; Indoors; In-school activity; Group-based activity; No materials needed; Communication, critical thinking, values, perspectives, conservation.

One-sentence summary of activity:

Recalling experiences or stories learned from others about personal experiences of encounters with Snow Leopards (these could range from myths to real-life encounters),  local knowledge, perspectives, and community-awareness. 

Diagram of activity:

Learning Goals for activity:

  • Skill: Engaging storytelling, identifying how perspectives shape your values and gaining community-awareness. Confidence building and critical thinking. 
  • Value: Instrumental and relational values would be learning information about Snow Leopards by listening to people’s stories 
  • Information: Knowledge of local environment and conservation efforts 
  • Action: Recalling experiences or stories learned from others about personal experiences of encounters with Snow Leopards. These could range from myths to real-life encounters.

Step-by-step instructions for activity:

  1. Arrange students in a circle to facilitate conversation and active listening.
  2. The instructor shares a story about a Snow Leopard to inspire students and set an example of how to participate in the activity.
  3. Encourage students to share stories of personal experiences, second-hand interactions, and myths. This can be performed by going around the circle or having students speak up randomly. Students who are not sharing a story should ask questions about the experience that clarify emotional responses and sensory awareness. If no one has any stories of personal experiences students discuss their understanding of Snow Leopard-Human interactions. For example, herd insurance and netting over livestock.
  4. Lead the students in a reflection of key values or points that were brought up in stories that were shared.
  5. Connect those values to the conservation efforts.

Ecological concepts involved

  • Ecological concept 1: Knowledge of local environment and conservation efforts 
  • Ecological concept 2: Human and wildlife interactions.
  • Ecological concept 3: Discussion of myths in order to learn traditional knowledge

Additional content needed:

Discussion Questions:

  • What have been your interactions with snow leopards? This includes sightings, family discussions.
  • How have your experiences with snow leopards, direct or indirect, shaped your opinions and feelings towards them?

 

Educational Activities developed by the University of Vermont’s Environmental Education course, Fall 2020

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