Condor Returns
This interdisciplinary lesson explores the near extinction and ongoing recovery of the California Condor, highlighting the critical role played by the Yurok Tribe Wildlife Program in northwestern California. Through an integration of ecological science, cultural history, and visual art, students examine the sacred connection between the California Condor and the Indigenous peoples of the region—particularly the Yurok, Hupa, and Karuk Tribes. The lesson emphasizes environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, and artistic expression. Students will analyze the work of Karuk artist Lyn Risling, whose paintings incorporate traditional basket designs and Indigenous symbolism to express cultural resilience and the deep ties between land, animals, and people. Using a modified Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) approach, students will engage in critical observation and discussion of Risling’s artwork and then apply similar visual elements to create their own symbolic art pieces that reflect the condor's significance. Throughout the lesson, students will: Learn key ecological vocabulary (e.g., habitat, extinction, reintroduction). Discuss the cultural and ecological importance of the condor's return to ancestral lands. Participate in interactive mapping and note-taking activities. View educational videos and live cams to support science learning. Analyze and replicate traditional design patterns. Produce a layered, symbolic art piece "in the style of" Lyn Risling. Reflect on their learning through ART Talk discussions and writing activities. The lesson concludes with a reading of a student-written poem that captures the condor's cultural significance, reinforcing both personal expression and collective heritage. This approach fosters not only environmental awareness but also respect for Indigenous knowledge systems and artistic traditions.
