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Unit Arc	Instructional Time	Essential Question	Key Milestones
Spark Lessons 1–3	3 lessons 50 minutes each	What is our relationship with the natural world, and what can Indigenous knowledge teach us about reciprocity?	Lesson 3: Milestone—Intro to Braiding Sweetgrass & Indigenous Worldviews
Investigation 1 Lessons 4–25	22 lessons 50 minutes each	How does understanding reciprocity between humans and nature change the way we live?	Lesson 12: Academic Discussion Lesson 18: Academic Discussion Lesson 23: Academic Discussion Lesson 24: Investigation 1 Assessment Lesson 25: Flex Huddle
Investigation 2 Lessons 26–35	10 lessons 50 minutes each	How can research deepen our understanding of reciprocity and balance in human and natural systems?	Lesson 33: Responsive Flex Day (Research Huddles) Lesson 34: Investigation 2 Assessment Lesson 35: Flex Huddle

Unit Arc

Instructional Time

Essential Question

Key Milestones

Spark
Lessons 1–3

3 lessons
50 minutes each

What is our relationship with the natural world, and what can Indigenous knowledge teach us about reciprocity?

Lesson 3: Milestone—Intro to Braiding Sweetgrass & Indigenous Worldviews

Investigation 1
Lessons 4–25

22 lessons
50 minutes each

How does understanding reciprocity between humans and nature change the way we live?

Lesson 12: Academic Discussion
Lesson 18: Academic Discussion
Lesson 23: Academic Discussion
Lesson 24: Investigation 1 Assessment
Lesson 25: Flex Huddle

Investigation 2
Lessons 26–35

10 lessons
50 minutes each

How can research deepen our understanding of reciprocity and balance in human and natural systems?

Lesson 33: Responsive Flex Day (Research Huddles)
Lesson 34: Investigation 2 Assessment
Lesson 35: Flex Huddle

Unit Context

Knowledge Building Topic

Reciprocity and Restoration: How ecology, scientific observation, and cultural knowledge illuminate the connections between human beings and natural systems.

I'm Learning About

how ecosystems model balance and mutual benefit.
how science and Indigenous knowledge work together to reveal interdependence in the natural world.
how observation, reciprocity, and care for natural systems develop environmental stewardship.
how recovering and applying traditional knowledge can inform ecological restoration.

Knowledge Goals

Analyze how informational texts define and demonstrate reciprocity between human beings and natural systems.
Explain how human actions influence ecological balance, drawing on scientific evidence and narrative accounts.
Evaluate and synthesize multiple sources to compare different interpretations of the same ecological topic.
Conduct sustained research and present findings clearly using credible sources, supporting evidence, and a multimedia presentation.

Knowledge-Building Questions

How do living systems model reciprocity and balance—and what do science and Indigenous knowledge each reveal about these relationships?
How have historical changes affected the way communities understand and practice reciprocity with the natural world?
How do different disciplines and traditions understand the same ecological process, and what can we learn from understanding both?
How can research and evidence from multiple sources help us understand and explain a human-environment relationship?

Essential Questions

Investigation 1: What does it mean to live responsibly within natural systems?
Investigation 2: How do different disciplines and traditions, including scientific inquiry and cultural knowledge, help us understand our relationship to the natural world?

Unit Texts