The Great Cedar Tree
Julie Cajune, Naida Lefthand, and Regina Sievert
Flathead Indian Reservation, Pablo, Montana

Summary
Students are introduced to the concept of interdependence through production of the play, The Great Cedar Tree

Grade level
First

Time required
1 - 2 hours

Materials
The Great Cedar Tree play
Masks of all the animal characters in the play - eagle, bee, squirrel, mountain lion, frog, elk, deer, moose, rabbit, chickadee, flicker, nuthatch
Pictures of cedar trees
Large mural of cedar tree and forest scene for backdrop of play
Cardboard ax
Deforestation images in Brazil (see Resources section for web sites)

Goals
By completing this lesson, students will

1. learn about interdependence in a forest habitat,
2. be introduced to the significance of human impact on forest environments and
3. develop inquiry process skills.

• Systems, order and organization
• Organisms and environments
• Changes in environments
• Types of resources

American Indian Science Standards

• Local challenges in medicine and environmental protection and how traditional Indian knowledge, practices and philosophies have been and continue to be called upon for solutions

Teacher tips
Decide if you want to make the animal masks of the play's characters, or let students make them.   Photocopied pictures of the animals glued to tag board or cardboard, and attached to a Popsicle stick work well.   Find forest music if possible for background music during the play.   Cedar flute music would work well also.   Make enough copies of the story for each student to use as their script

Background information
Interdependence can be imagined as a web of relationships.   Each strand connects important pairs and all of the connected pairs make up the web.   The strength of the web lies in the strands connecting and maintaining relationships.   If a strand is removed and a pair disconnected, it affects the strength of the whole web.   All strands and connections depend on one another for their total well being and strength.

Some Salish words are used in the play.   The term "sqltmi" is the Salish word for man.   Phonetically it is pronounced "squl-tu-mee".   "Yaya" is the Salish word for grandmother.   It is pronounced as it is spelled.   The word "sile" means grandfather in Salish, it is phonetically pronounced "see-la".

Exploration
Assign roles for the play.   Let students use the script and rehearse the play.   Make masks for the characters.   Have students perform the play for another class.

Explanation
Have students list all of the characters in the play.   Discuss how they are interdependent with each other.   Do a word map of the term interdependent.   

Elaboration
Show students images of deforestation in Brazil.   Discuss the impacts of logging on the environment and the ways that people can responsibly harvest and use forest resources.  

Evaluation
Have students write a list of rules to guide tree harvesting throughout the world.

Follow up activities

• Visit a logging site on the reservation with a tribal forester.   Discuss logging practices.
• Visit a lumber mill.   Discuss the many uses of forest resources.