Knud Rasmussen - "Across Arctic America"

KNUD RASMUSSEN - "ACROSS ARCTIC AMERICA"

Grade Level

This lesson plan is designed to be used with students ages 12-15.

Objective

Students will read excerpts from "Across Arctic America," by Knud
Rasmussen. In groups, students will be assigned a topic to research in
the readings and will choose a method by which to share the information
they learn with their fellow students.

Estimated Time Needed

2 class periods.

Material

Copies of "Across Arctic America," by Knud Rasmussen, pages 100-108
and pages 114-121. Isuma Inuit Studies Reader, Isuma Publishing,
Montreal 2004.

Optional: Notes on shamanism

Optional: The Journals of Knud Rasmussen, Igloolik Isuma Productions: http://www.sila.nu/journal/en/

Activity

1. Ask students if they remember the name Knud Rasmussen from an
   earlier lesson. Have them share anything they remember and write on the
   board.
2. Remind them that Knud Rasmussen was a Danish Explorer who traveled
   approximately 46,000 km (29,000 miles) by dog sled from Greenland to
   Siberia between 1921 and 1924.
3. Tell students that in 1922 Knud Rasmussen stayed in Igloolik
   visiting the shaman Aua ("a shaman is a mediator between the human
   world and the spirit world, between the living and the dead, and
   between animals and human society." Atanarjuat The Fast Runner, page
   39). For more information on shamanism, review accompanying notes with
   students.
4. Explain that students will be reading excerpts from "Across Arctic
   America", Knud Rasmussen's account of his stay with Aua and his family.
5. Break students into 5 groups. Explain that each group will be
   assigned a topic, which they will research in the provided reading. The
   topics are:
   • Traditional ceremonies
   • Duties of women
   • Design of snow huts
   • Fears of Inuit
   • Most difficult time of year
6. Have students choose a topic or randomly assign. Groups researching
   the first three topics will receive copies of pages 100-108. Groups
   researching the second two topics will receive copies of pages 114-121.
7. Explain that groups can share the information they learn about
   their topic any way they choose (i.e. poster, chart, drawing, written
   essay, etc.) Brainstorm possible methods and list on the board.
8. Allow students time to read excerpt, either aloud in groups or
   independently, and begin working on their topic. Students may need
   additional time to complete their assignment during the next class
   period.

Evaluation

Once groups have completed their projects, allow time for sharing
and questions. Evaluation of each project should be based on inclusion
of key facts of each topic. Information for each topic can be found on
the following pages:

• Traditional customs, pgs. 104-105 (initiation of infant setting out on
  first journey), pgs. 106-107 (walrus hunting)
• Duties of women, pgs. 107-109
• Design of snow huts, pgs. 102-103, pg. 107
• Fears, pg. 117
• Difficult time of year, pgs. 120-121

References

Angilirq, Paul Apak; Cohn, Norman; Saladin d'Anglure, Bernard, "Atanarjuat
The Fast Runner". Toronto: Coach House Books and Isuma Publishing, 2002.

Robinson, Gillian, "Isuma Inuit Studies Reader". Montreal: Isuma
Publishing, 2004.

Isuma Publishing/A Division of Igloolik Isuma Productions:
www.isuma.ca