Shifting Perspectives: Creating a Story of Illinois Natural History from Multiple Angles

This presentation, accompanied by a discussion, will focus on promoting diverse perspectives while exploring Illinois' natural history, natural resources, and land management. Particularly in youth education, both history and science discuss our natural resources from a colonialist perspective. However, our current Illinois landscape was shaped not only by glaciers, prairie, and the plow, but by the people who stewarded the land. This session will focus on story-based teaching from the perspectives of the different cultures that shaped Illinois into what it is today. The discussion will focus on brainstorming ideas for making these stories interactive and engaging.