Drum from the Heart Teacher Lesson Plan

A teacher lesson plan to further explore the book. May include comprehension questions, group activities, conversation starters, quizzes, language arts activities, and colouring pages. When he is gifted a handmade drum by his mother, Ren learns the teachings of the drum that she also passes down to him. Ren discovers that through this special drum, he is able to connect to his culture and find a confidence in his voice to joyfully share in singing the traditional songs of his Nuu-chah-nulth Nation.


About the Author
Louie, Ren: -

Ren Louie is Nuu-chah-nulth from Ahousaht, he also comes from mixed African American and Ukrainian heritage. Ren is passionate about his language and culture and enjoys learning new songs and traditional teachings from Elders and Knowledge Keepers in the Indigenous community. Born and raised on Lekwungen and WASNEC Territory in Victoria, B.C., Ren continues to live there today.

Harvey, Karlene: -

Karlene Harvey is Tsilhqot'in and Syilx and grew up on territories of the Semiahmoo and Kwantlen Nations. She studied at Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, earning a BFA in Visual Arts. Representation is important to her, she likes to consider how she can include varying forms of representation within the work that she does. Karlene currently lives on the unceded and ancestral home territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tseil-Waututh people.