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Moss and Community

“Mosses and other small beings issue an invitation to dwell for a time right at the limits of ordinary perception. All it requires of us is attentiveness. Look in a certain way and a whole new world can be revealed.”

                                      Robin Wall Kimmerer

Context

Why is moss found everywhere on trees and rocks in the Pacific Northwest? How does it relate to other things in the environment, including humans? In Gathering Moss, Robin Wall Kimmerer describes how different members of the forest benefit from the work of moss. Through an investigation of what mosses are and why they are necessary for life, I hope that students will learn to notice, describe, and value relationships, even the ones that might feel small, invisible, yet are still mighty and important in our community.

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to...

  • Identify characteristics and relationships of moss and how moss connects to more-than-human others in a forest community

  • Reflect on their roles within their family and friends and name ways that they can give back to their community

  • Define what community means and how it can include humans, more-than-human beings, and other elements

Resources

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