Robin Wall Kimmerer: Plants and Indigenous Knowledge
Podcasts
Grades9, 10, 11, 12, APSocial Studies, Biology
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by Jane Goodall Institute
What it is
- This podcast interviews an Indigenous botanist and discusses the love of plants and nature, botany, traditional knowledge about nature, regenerative agriculture, and the importance of complementing science with holistic and Indigenous knowledge.
- Students will learn about the role of plants in ecosystems, new research about plant cognition, and the evolution of scientific understanding and Indigenous knowledge.
Teaching tips
Positives
- This podcast highlights the importance of storytelling in conveying important information.
- The conversation between Jane and Robin is easy to follow and is engaging to listen to.
Additional Prerequisites
- The actual podcast ends at 23:34, with credits at the end.
- The link to the transcript is not active but there are links to access the podcast from other sites as well.
Differentiation
- This podcast could lead to a discussion on plant cognition, which could be discussed in a civics or ethics class when discussing the rights of nature or other species.
- The section starting at 12:12 would be useful in a biology class when discussing mutually beneficial relationships between plants, regenerative agriculture, nutrient cycles, limiting nutrients, and organic farming.
- The podcast could be used to evoke a deeper appreciation for plants and teach students to be more attentive to plant systems and natural ecosystems.
- It could be used to encourage students to take action, doing something they are passionate about.
From the scientist review
The resource discusses the relationship between humans and nature. Humans have altered and degraded the natural world to a large extent. Using scientific methods to evaluate this relationship is important but also using storytelling techiques allows diverse people to learn, share their indigenous knowledge, and be a part of the solution to the living world. Hence, this resource is recommended for teaching.
Ready to use it?
Hosted on news.janegoodall.org
Want this to fit your class?
Add your location for local examples, questions, and action ideas.
