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:
- Arrange students in a circle to facilitate conversation and active listening.
- The instructor shares a story about a Snow Leopard to inspire students and set an example of how to participate in the activity.
- 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.
- Lead the students in a reflection of key values or points that were brought up in stories that were shared.
- 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