INUKSHUK ACTIVITY

National Indigenous Peoples Day was this past Sunday and we want you to help us celebrate by learning about and creating your own miniature inuksuk!

Materials

• Rocks
• Cardboard
• Glue (white glue or a hot glue gun)
• Paint
• Paintbrush

Directions:

• An inuksuk can be built in many different ways! Look online or in a book for examples of how an inuksuk can be built and discover how the different formations helped people in different ways!
• Choose the rocks you want to use to build your inuksuk. Rocks with one side that is relatively flat will be easier to glue down
• Bring your rocks inside and wash them if necessary
• Arrange your rocks on your piece of cardboard to create the image of an inuksuk
• Pick up one rock at a time and apply glue to the flat side. Press it down firmly onto your cardboard. Continue with the other rocks until all your rocks are glued down
  • Note: If your rocks are larger, you may need to use a hot glue gun to attach them to your cardboard. Please be sure to check with an adult before using a hot glue gun
• Allow your inuksuk time to dry!
• Once it’s dry, use paint to create a stunning background for your inuksuk!

How does this spark creative learning?

Kindergarten:
One of the many uses of the inuksuk is as a landmark. They can help people find their way, or can mark a certain spot. Identify familiar places and landmarks in your community. How could you use these landmarks to help you find your way home?

Grade 1:
An inuksuk is an important Indigenous landmark. What are some examples of other important Indigenous landmarks? Which ones might we find in Winnipeg?

Grade 2:  
Do ways of life stay the same, or do they change? Do you think an inuksuk is used the same way today as it was in the past? Research ways in which life in different Canadian communities has changed over time!

Grade 3:
The inuksuk is only one example of Indigenous technology. Research to discover what other technologies were used by the Inuit, and how these technologies helped them in their daily lives!

Grade 4:
How many different uses did an inuksuk have? Research to discover the varied purposes that this unique structure possesses!

Grade 5:
The Inuit are only one of the diverse Indigenous communities that are present in Canada. Choose one other Indigenous community and research to compare their daily life to those of the Inuit.

Stay tuned for more resources to help spark kids’ creative learning!

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