Seasonal Round Lesson Plan The Pueblo Seasonal Round
Teacher Facilitation Guide
7th Grade • Tier 1
Time
30 Minutes
Audience
7th Grade Indigenous Youth (Tewa-speaking Pueblos)
Approach
Outdoor Interactive Game & Direct Observation
Why This Matters
Understanding the seasonal round connects students to their ancestral knowledge, promotes environmental awareness, and reinforces the importance of sustainable living practices rooted in Tewa culture through direct engagement with nature.
Teacher Preparation
•
Review the Seasonal Plant Journey Game and the Seasonal Round Worksheet.
•
Identify an appropriate outdoor learning space with some natural elements or plants if possible.
•
Print copies of the Seasonal Round Worksheet for all students.
•
Prepare the Game Cards (Plants and Activities) and Season Labels . Use small flags or markers for the outdoor season labels.
•
Gather clipboards and pencils for outdoor writing.
Learning Objective
Students will be able to identify key seasonal activities within the Tewa Pueblo traditional calendar, focusing on plant interactions and their cultural significance in an outdoor setting.
Required Materials
Small flags/markers for season labels
Seasonal Plant Journey Game Cards
Worksheets (1 per student)
Clipboards & pencils
1 Instructional Steps
Time 5m
Warm-Up: Connecting to Seasons Outdoors
Gather students in the outdoor space.
Ask: "What are some ways your family or community interacts with plants throughout the year? Think about different seasons you observe right now."Encourage students to share personal observations and family practices.
Time 8m
Introduction to Seasonal Rounds
Introduce the concept of the 'seasonal round' in Tewa culture as a traditional calendar guiding interactions with the land based on the changing seasons.
Point to natural elements in the surrounding environment as examples.
Discuss activities: planting (spring), harvesting (fall), gathering firewood (winter), collecting wild spinach (summer).
Highlight the concept of "Deep Listening" to the land's cycles.
Time 12m
Seasonal Plant Journey Game
Active group game where students match plant and activity cards to outdoor season markers.
Divide students into groups of 3–4.
Distribute mixed Plant and Activity cards.
Instruct groups to place cards at the designated Season Labels around the yard/space.
Circulate to listen to their reasoning: "Why do we harvest piñon in the fall?"
Bring the class together to review placements and share insights.
Time 5m
Wrap-Up & Reflection
Each group shares one plant interaction they discussed.
Distribute the Seasonal Round Worksheet .
Students find a quiet spot outdoors to complete the reflection using their clipboards.
Close by acknowledging the land and the wisdom of the seasons.
Seasonal Round Worksheet My Seasonal Plant Journey
Name: ___________________________ Date: ___________________________
Reflecting on the Tewa seasonal round and our connection to the land.
Instructions: Reflect on what you learned today about the seasonal cycles and the plants that sustain us. Answer the questions below thoughtfully based on your observations and what you've heard from your community.
1. Pick one season (Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter).
Describe a plant-related activity that is important to Tewa culture during that time. What is the plant, and how is it used?
2. Connection to Land
How does knowing about the seasonal round deepen your understanding of your own connection to the land around your Pueblo?
3. Personal or Family Connection
Think about a plant that is special to you or your family. In what season do you interact with this plant the most, and what do you do with it?
4. New Discoveries
What is one new thing you learned today about the relationship between Tewa people and plants that you found interesting or surprising?
5. Keeping Knowledge Alive
How can you help keep the knowledge of the seasonal round and traditional plant uses alive in your community?
Seasonal Plant Journey Game Resource Seasonal Plant Journey Game
Instructional Guide & Resource Kit
How to Play
Set Up: Place the four Season Labels in different areas of your outdoor space (corners, trees, or markers).Group Up: Divide the class into small groups (3–4 students).Distribute: Give each group a set of Plant Cards and Activity Cards .The Challenge: Groups work together to place each card at the correct Season Label.Discussion: As they place cards, they must explain why . For example: "We harvest corn in the fall because the stalks are dry and golden."Review: Walk to each season station as a class to discuss the placements.
Objective
To reinforce understanding of the Tewa seasonal round and the specific plants and activities associated with each cycle of the year.
Teacher Note:
Encourage students to look for signs of the current season in the environment while they play!
Outdoor Season Labels
SPRING
Place marker here
SUMMER
Place marker here
FALL
Place marker here
WINTER
Place marker here
Plant Cards
Cut along the dotted lines. These represent important plants in the Tewa seasonal round.
Corn Tewa: Ka’
Squash Tewa: Po-ye
Piñon Pine Tewa: T’o
Wild Spinach (Cleome)
Juniper Tewa: Hu
Cottonwood Tewa: Te’
Chili
Prickly Pear
Blank Card
Activity Cards
Cut along the dotted lines. These represent seasonal tasks and traditions.
Planting
Harvesting
Gathering Firewood
Making Adobe Bricks
Storytelling
Preparing Medicines
Scouting for Plants
Cleaning Ditches
Blank Card
