A Wolf in a Backpack - Gods or Demons? Stories, Myths, and Folklore
cave painting
Recipients
- Primary school
- Lower secondary school
- Upper secondary school
Objectives
- Explore the relationship between man and wolf throughout history
- Encourage students to reflect on how the concept of the wolf has changed over time
- Analyze the relationship between humans and the wilderness
- Investigate the origins of judgments and prejudices by reflecting on an anthropocentric view
Recipients
- Primary school
- Lower secondary school
- Upper secondary school
Objectives
- Explore the relationship between man and wolf throughout history
- Encourage students to reflect on how the concept of the wolf has changed over time
- Analyze the relationship between humans and the wilderness
- Investigate the origins of judgments and prejudices by reflecting on an anthropocentric view
Wear the Wolf in a Back Pack and come with us to discover stories, myths, and folklore about the wolf
The educational proposal is related to the Life WolfAlps EU project, whose objective is to improve the coexistence between wolves and human activities and ensure the long-term conservation of wolves in the Alps.
Description
What is the first adjective that comes to mind when you think of the wolf? Bad, good, smart, hungry, aggressive, mysterious…? The presence of the wolf, real or imaginary, has always been with human beings. Whether it's the bad wolf of Little Red Riding Hood ready to devour an innocent child, the caring and motherly she-wolf through which Rome was founded, or the giant wolf Fenrir who, in Norse mythology, swallows the whole sky and earth, there has always been a deep, ancestral, and mystical relationship between humans and wolves. After all, the wolf was the first wild animal to be domesticated and integrated into human social structure: perhaps for this reason it possesses many different, often conflicting identities, created through myths, legends, and popular beliefs that bind it indissolubly - at least in our perception - to our lives.
But then who is this wolf?
Methodology
The course will explore the relationship between humans and wolves throughout time and history, drawing on literary materials (classical literature, fiction, myths, and popular local and non-local legends) that will be provided to the class as a stimulus and starting point for a broader reflection. We will seek to analyze what our projections, judgments, and human feelings towards the wolf are, and more generally, in the relationship between humans and the wild world. Through group reasoning, multimedia supports, and playful/creative activities, we will delve into the origin of our judgments toward wolves and how they are fueled, also reflecting on the anthropocentric view with which we look at the wild world and the quality of the relationship between humans and nature.
Recommended period
Depending on the chosen protected area, it is possible to carry out the activity in all seasons.
Duration
- Class meeting for 2 consecutive hours + full-day field trip (recommended)
- Only class meeting for 2 consecutive hours
- Only full-day field trip
Trasporti
- Gran Bosco di Salbertrand Natural Park: accessible by train and/or bus
- Val Troncea Natural Park: accessible by bus
- Orsiera Rocciavré Natural Park: accessible by bus
- Lakes of Avigliana Natural Park: accessible by train and/or bus
School expense
Recommended equipment
- Long pants
- Mountain boots or shoes with non-slip sole
- Backpack with packed lunch and water bottle
- Tick and mosquito repellent
- K-way
For booking methods, rates, and information, please refer to the dedicated page
Wear the Wolf in a Back Pack and come with us to discover stories, myths, and folklore about the wolf
The educational proposal is related to the Life WolfAlps EU project, whose objective is to improve the coexistence between wolves and human activities and ensure the long-term conservation of wolves in the Alps.
Description
What is the first adjective that comes to mind when you think of the wolf? Bad, good, smart, hungry, aggressive, mysterious…? The presence of the wolf, real or imaginary, has always been with human beings. Whether it's the bad wolf of Little Red Riding Hood ready to devour an innocent child, the caring and motherly she-wolf through which Rome was founded, or the giant wolf Fenrir who, in Norse mythology, swallows the whole sky and earth, there has always been a deep, ancestral, and mystical relationship between humans and wolves. After all, the wolf was the first wild animal to be domesticated and integrated into human social structure: perhaps for this reason it possesses many different, often conflicting identities, created through myths, legends, and popular beliefs that bind it indissolubly - at least in our perception - to our lives.
But then who is this wolf?
Methodology
The course will explore the relationship between humans and wolves throughout time and history, drawing on literary materials (classical literature, fiction, myths, and popular local and non-local legends) that will be provided to the class as a stimulus and starting point for a broader reflection. We will seek to analyze what our projections, judgments, and human feelings towards the wolf are, and more generally, in the relationship between humans and the wild world. Through group reasoning, multimedia supports, and playful/creative activities, we will delve into the origin of our judgments toward wolves and how they are fueled, also reflecting on the anthropocentric view with which we look at the wild world and the quality of the relationship between humans and nature.
Recommended period
Depending on the chosen protected area, it is possible to carry out the activity in all seasons.
Duration
- Class meeting for 2 consecutive hours + full-day field trip (recommended)
- Only class meeting for 2 consecutive hours
- Only full-day field trip
Trasporti
- Gran Bosco di Salbertrand Natural Park: accessible by train and/or bus
- Val Troncea Natural Park: accessible by bus
- Orsiera Rocciavré Natural Park: accessible by bus
- Lakes of Avigliana Natural Park: accessible by train and/or bus
School expense
Recommended equipment
- Long pants
- Mountain boots or shoes with non-slip sole
- Backpack with packed lunch and water bottle
- Tick and mosquito repellent
- K-way
For booking methods, rates, and information, please refer to the dedicated page
