This is How I Know

An Anishinaabe child and her grandmother explore the natural wonders of each season in this lyrical, bilingual story-poem.

Book Genre:

Picture Books

Audience:

ages 3 to 7 / grades P to 2

Written by

Brittany Luby

Illustrated by

Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley

Translated by

Alan Corbiere
Alvin Ted Corbiere

Book Description
In this lyrical story-poem, written in Anishinaabemowin and English, a child and grandmother explore their surroundings, taking pleasure in the familiar sights that each new season brings.

We accompany them through warm summer days full of wildflowers, bees and blueberries, then fall, when bears feast before hibernation and forest mushrooms are ripe for harvest. Winter mornings begin in darkness as deer, mice and other animals search for food, while spring brings green shoots poking through melting snow and the chirping of peepers.

Brittany Luby and Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley have created a book inspired by childhood memories of time spent with Knowledge Keepers, observing and living in relationship with the natural world in the place they call home — the northern reaches of Anishinaabewaking, around the Great Lakes.
Pre-Reading Activities/ Key Ideas & Details
Front Cover
Show the cover of the book to the class. Ask the students what they notice about the title. What languages do they think are in the story?
Pre-Reading Activities/ Key Ideas & Details
Sights Of Four Seasons
Ask the class what they notice during summer. Fall? Winter? Spring?
Post-Reading Activities/ Key Ideas & Details
Author’s Reason(s)
Why did the author make this book?
Post-Reading Activities/ Text Forms & Genres
Kind of Story
What kind of story is this? How can you tell?
Post-Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies
Activities
What kind of story is this? How can you tell?
Post-Reading Activities/ Key Ideas & Details
Where?
Where could this story take place?
Post-Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies
Which Season?
In This Is How I Know, the little girl looks for signs in nature to let her know what season they are in. What things in nature do she and her Grandmother see that let them know which season they are in?
Post-Reading Activities/ Integrated Learning
JK–1: World Map By Seasons
In the story, students read about what happens in nature during the four seasons. Students may live in parts of the world that may or may not have four seasons. For JK–1 classes, display a world map by seasons. Identify the areas of the world that have four or more seasons (Bangladesh has six seasons). On a world map handout, have students color the countries that have four seasons. What do they notice about the areas they colored?
Post-Reading Activities/ Integrated Learning
Grades 2–4: World Map By Seasons
To extend the map activity, students can work independently or in partners to research which countries have four or more seasons. The end product could be in the form of a colored map.
Post-Reading Activities/ Integrated Learning
JK–1: Holidays and Traditions
We celebrate holidays and traditions throughout the year. On a chart paper, have students share different holidays/traditions and which season they are celebrated in.
Post-Reading Activities/ Developing & Creating Texts
Grades 2–4: Holidays and Traditions
To extend the traditions activity, students can work independently or in partners to complete a research project about a favorite tradition or one they celebrate with their family. Have the students find facts about the tradition and share on a slide deck or poster.
Post-Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies
Seasons For The Anishinaabe Peoples
Historically, seasons had a different connotation for the Anishinaabe people. Using this site as a reference, http://anishinaabemodaa.com/lessons?lesson_id=50, students can learn more about what each season meant for the Anishinaabe people.
Post-Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies
Favourite Season
In the story, the narrator knows fall is here “when orange mushrooms emerge one by one” and she knows that winter is here when she can “watch brown Deer strip cedar.” Things in nature happen in each season. As a group or in partners, ask students to share their favorite season or scene in the story, and to draw it. What colors could be used? What animals will be included?
Post-Reading Activities/ Integrated Learning
Compare and Contrast Seasons
Each season has special features. There are things that are alike and different about each season. On a chart paper or projection board, have students compare and contrast two seasons using the graphic organizer, a Venn diagram. Note items that are the same between the two seasons in the middle of the organizer.
Post-Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies
Oral Storytelling
A rich tradition of Anishinaabe culture is oral storytelling. Nature is central to a plethora of Anishinaabe stories. These stories are even passed on through generations. What is being shared in this story? Students can brainstorm a big event that involved their family and nature like the little girl and her grandmother. Ask students to share what their family stories would be about.