Book Study: Braiding Sweetgrass_KBS K-12 Partnership BEGINS

The W.K. Kellogg Biological Station K-12 Partnership has an exciting book study this summer to read and reflect on the essays of Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants. The book study is open to K-12 Michigan-based science teachers with an interest in being in relationship with Kimmerer’s words, fellow educators and the outdoors. Together we’ll explore how the themes in the book impact our thinking and teaching. 

Apply here by the 21st of May 2021

Who: Michigan K-12 teachers and informal educators

When: Synchronous Discussion Sessions: Wednesdays June 16, 23 (part of Summer Institute), 30, July 7, 14, 2021

Time: 9-10:30 AM Eastern (except for June 23rd when it will be at 10 – 11 AM Eastern, incorporated as part of Summer Institute)

Where: Online via Zoom!

Compensation: Each participant will get the following:

1. A copy of Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
2. A minimum stipend of $100 
3. 7 State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECHs).

The Book Study will bring (virtually) together a group of Michigan-based K-12 teachers and informal educators over the summer of 2021. We will center our discussions on Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Participants will engage in five, synchronous whole group and grade level small group discussions. Between each meeting participants will (asynchronously) read a section of the book and participate in an outdoor observation and journaling exercises. The observations, journaling and group discussions will allow us to unpack and think intently about the themes in Kimmerer’s book, particularly plant biology, ecology, Kimmerer’s Indigenous perspective on science and her connection to the land. Together we’ll reflect on our identities and develop connections to science pedagogy and content in the K-12 classroom.

The Book Study is also a research study, Kara Haas, Dr. Gail Richmond and Dr. Joelyn de Lima along with the team of facilitators will be studying how the program’s format, focus and discussions support participants’ connections with each other and the natural world. Participation is voluntary and consent can be revoked at any time. If you have questions, please reach out to karahaas (at) msu.edu 

Send questions to the KBS K-12 Partnership team! k12partnership (at) kbs.msu.edu

New to the Partnership? We offer professional development in science teaching! Join our mailing list and learn more here.

This program is part of the KBS K-12 Partnership and is funded by the KBS Long-term Ecological Research (LTER), supported by the National Science Foundation.