created by Helen Stewart 

Grade: 2/3/4

Critical Task: Students will establish their own positions on whether bears should be hunted in Canada.

Overview: Bear-hunting is a genuine issue in BC, where hunters and environmentalists live in the same communities and bear stories are published in local newspapers several times each year. Ensure students have background knowledge about bears, their lifecycles and their habitats. Students should have an understanding of the impact of people on bears and vice versa.

• The life cycle, habitats, and interactions of bears.
• Knowledge common to rural communities of Vancouver Island, where hunters and environmentalists live in the same communities and bear stories get into the local newspapers several times each year.
• Clippings from local newspapers, focussing on bears and people, to be available in the classroom. 

• Students will be able to discuss both sides of the issue. They will be able to describe reasons for and against bear hunting.
• Students will describe clearly their positions about bear hunting, and provide supporting evidence for their positions. 

• T-chart (e.g. Pros | Cons)
• Defending one's position verbally or in writing. 

• Students will exhibit respect for the value of research.
• Students will exhibit respect for differing positions.
• Students will learn to evaluate information, in order to establish their own opinions.

• Students will discuss bear population problems (e.g. too many bears, bears too close to human habitation, not enough bear habitats available, ....).
• Students will brainstorm the pros and cons of hunting bears.
• Students will use research to supplement and support the brainstorm carried out above.
• Students will begin to establish their own personal positions on whether bears should be hunted in Canada.
• Students will prepare written statements, stating reasons for both sides of the issue, declaring their personal positions clearly, and providing supporting evidence in defence of their positions.

• Students will compare traditional First Nation bear hunting with modern hunting methods.
• Students will discuss mixed or hidden motives. (e.g. hunting for sport, for fun, for money versus hunting for necessities such as food or safety)

Evaluation: The students will be familiar with the criteria for this assignment.

• The written statements will clearly describe students' positions about bear hunting, and provide supporting evidence for their positions. 
• Supporting evidence used in the written statements is both valid and relevant.
• Students will be able to discuss both sides of the issue. They will be able to describe reasons both for and against bear hunting.

Grade 2/3, Grade 4

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