Learning goals
We are learning to…
- explore the concepts of identity, self, and sense of belonging in texts and demonstrate an understanding of the contributions, lived experiences, and perspectives of many different people, including those in Canada
- use strategies such as rereading, visualizing, and asking questions as tools to understand simple texts
- identify connections between ideas expressed in simple texts and our learning, our experiences, ideas in other texts and in the world around us
- make simple inferences using stated and implied information and ideas to understand simple texts
- identify thinking skills that help us analyze and understand simple texts
- create specific types of texts using different tools and strategies and use descriptive words to express ourselves
Success criteria
I am able to…
- explore the different places that Inuk author Aviaq Johnston shares, in the main character Nalvana’s community, in What’s My Superpower?
- make simple inferences using the text and illustrations to understand more about Nalvana’s community
- identify how different strategies such as rereading and asking questions helped me to understand the story
- reflect on the places in Nalvana’s community and think about special places in my own community or communities
- create my own special place description and explain the reason why I chose that place using words, phrases and/or drawings
Notice and wonder
Explore the following images.
What do you notice? What do you wonder?
Pause and Reflect
Pause and reflect
The images show a few of the places and buildings we can find in a community.
What kinds of places do you notice in your own community?
Places in a community
A community is a group of people that live, play, and work together.
A community includes different places. This might be:
- homes
- schools
- parks
- swimming pools
- outdoor sports areas
- cultural centres
- art centres
- sports centres
- community gardens
- libraries
- firehalls
- hospitals
What are some of the places in your community?
Share your thoughts with a partner, if possible.
What’s My Superpower?
Let’s read the story What’s My Superpower?
You might have noticed that there are two names on the cover. One of these is the author.
The author is the person who writes the words for a storybook or other forms of text.
The author of What’s My Superpower? is Aviaq Johnston. Let’s learn a bit more about the Aviaq!
About the author
What’s My Superpower? was written by Aviaq Johnston.
Aviaq is an Inuk author from Igloolik, Nunavut. She loves reading, writing, and studying.
Aviaq also won two awards for a short story she wrote called ‘Tarnikuluk’ in 2014. She enjoys traveling and spends her time living between Iqaluit and Ottawa.
The person who created the pictures in the book is an illustrator.
The illustrator of What’s My Superpower? is Tim Mack.
Let’s learn a bit more about Tim!
About the illustrator
What’s My Superpower? was illustrated by Tim Mack.
Tim is an illustrator from Vancouver, British Columbia. He has illustrated several books including What’s My Superpower?
He enjoys drawing and using colours and shapes in his artwork.
Student Tips
Student tips
As you read and/or listen to the story, think about:
- the different clues the author gives us using words and phrases
- the different clues the illustrator gives us using pictures and symbols
- what kinds of questions you have for the author and the illustrator
What’s My Superpower: Pg.2 and 3 (English)
What’s My Superpower: Pg.2 and 3 (Inuktitut)
Test Your Skills!
Test your skills!
As we continue to read, think about how the author describes different spaces and places in Nalvana’s town.
What’s My Superpower: Pg.4 and 5 (English)
What’s My Superpower: Pg.4 and 5 (Inuktitut)
What’s My Superpower: Pg.6 and 7 (English)
What’s My Superpower: Pg.6 and 7 (Inuktitut)
Test Your Skills!
Test your skills!
Where is Nalvana at this part of the story?
Press Reveal to check your answer.
Nalvana is in the school gym.
What clues does the picture share that helps us understand what is in this place in Nalvana’s community?
Press Reveal to check your answer.
There is a basketball court, basketball nets and a basketball on the floor of the court.
What’s My Superpower: Pg.8 and 9 (English)
What’s My Superpower: Pg.8 and 9 (Inuktitut)
Test Your Skills!
Test your skills!
Where is Nalvana at this part of the story?
Press Reveal to check your answer.
Nalvana is at home. She is eating with her mother.
What clues does the picture share that help us understand where this place is in Nalvana’s community?
Press Reveal to check your answer.
Nalvana and her mother are sitting at a table with a carpet underneath.
What’s My Superpower: Pg.10 and 11 (English)
What’s My Superpower: Pg.10 and 11 (Inuktitut)
Test Your Skills!
Test your skills!
Where is Nalvana at this part of the story?
Press Reveal to check your answer.
Nalvana is at the playground.
What clues does the picture share that helps us understand what is in this place in Nalvana’s community?
Press Reveal to check your answer.
There is a slide, a treehouse and a swing set and her friend Maata swinging so high she looks like she is flying.
Social Emotional Learning
What’s your superpower?
Take a moment to think about what makes you special. What’s your superpower? How do you show your superpower?
Act it out, draw it, tell a story, or use another method of your choice.
What’s My Superpower: Pg.12 and 13 (English)
What’s My Superpower: Pg.12 and 13 (Inuktitut)
Test Your Skills!
Test your skills!
Where is Nalvana at this part of the story?
Press Reveal to check your answer.
Nalvana in a different room at her home.
What clues does the picture share that helps us understand what is in this place in Nalvana’s community?
Press Reveal to check your answer.
Nalvana’s mother is sitting on a couch, there is a rug on the floor, a table with a lamp and pictures on the wall.
Nalvana and her friends at the bottom of a snowy hill. They are holding a sled and wearing jackets, hats, and boots. Joanasie is surrounded by snow sculptures at the top of the hill building an inuksuk
What’s My Superpower: Pg.14 and 15 (English)
What’s My Superpower: Pg.14 and 15 (Inuktitut)
Test Your Skills!
Test your skills!
Where is Nalvana at this part of the story?
Press Reveal to check your answer.
Nalvana is with her friends at a big hill for sledding.
What clues does the picture share that helps us understand what is in this place in Nalvana’s community?
Press Reveal to check your answer.
Nalvana and her friends are wearing jackets, hats and boots which makes me think that it is cold, and they are outside. They are holding their sleds and waving to Joanasie at the top of the hill.
Nalvana is building something with blocks on a table. Her mother stands behind her watching. In the background there is a bookshelf and a bed. On the floor there are clothes, books, toys, crayons and paper.
What’s My Superpower: Pg.16 and 17 (English)
What’s My Superpower: Pg.16 and 17 (Inuktitut)
Test Your Skills!
Test your skills!
Where is Nalvana at this part of the story?
Press Reveal to check your answer.
Nalvana is at home.
What clues does the picture share that helps us understand what is in this place in Nalvana’s community?
Press Reveal to check your answer.
Nalvana is with her mother, and it looks like they are in her bedroom because there are toys, a bed, books and different things on the floor like clothes, books, toys, crayons and paper.
Nalvana and some other kids are in the water in their bathing suits. One person is using a floating device, and a beach ball is floating nearby. Nalvana is talking to a friend and picturing a fish in her mind.
What’s My Superpower: Pg.18 and 19 (English)
What’s My Superpower: Pg.18 and 19 (Inuktitut)
Test Your Skills!
Test your skills!
Where is Nalvana at this part of the story?
Press Reveal to check your answer.
Nalvana is swimming. She might be in a pool, lake, or another body of water.
What clues does the picture share that helps us understand what is in this place in Nalvana’s community?
Press Reveal to check your answer.
Nalvana and the other characters are in water. One character is using a floating device, a ball is floating, and it looks like the characters are in bathing suits.
What’s My Superpower: Pg.20 and 21 (English)
What’s My Superpower: Pg.20 and 21 (Inuktitut)
Test Your Skills!
Test your skills!
Where is Nalvana at this part of the story?
Press Reveal to check your answer.
Nalvana is sitting on a porch. This may be at her home in her neighborhood.
What clues does the picture share that helps us understand what is in this place in Nalvana’s community?
Press Reveal to check your answer.
Nalvana is sitting with her dog on a porch, and there are other houses next to it.
Social Emotional Learning
Let’s take a break!
Think about what superpower you would have if you could choose one.
Would you have super strength? The ability to fly, or maybe the power to turn invisible?
How would you use your superpower? Act it out and show off your imagination!
Act Out Your Superpower!
What’s My Superpower: Pg.22 and 23 (English)
What’s My Superpower: Pg.22 and 23 (Inuktitut)
What’s My Superpower: Pg.24 and 25 (English)
What’s My Superpower: Pg.24 and 25 (Inuktitut)
Test Your Skills!
Test your skills!
Where is Nalvana at this part of the story?
Press Reveal to check your answer.
Nalvana is back at home with her mother.
What clues does the picture share that helps us understand what place this is in Nalvana’s community?
Press Reveal to check your answer.
Nalvana is sitting on the couch with her mother. They seem safe and happy.
Learning check!
What were some of the places in Nalvana’s community?
Select the correct answer, then press Check Answer to see how you did.
Nalvana meets her friends and family in different places in her community. She does activities, and shares ideas and positive messages with friends.
Where do you think Nalvana’s favourite places are in the story? Why?
What were some of the strategies that you used to understand different parts of the story?
Share your thoughts with a partner, if possible.
Putting it all together
Mehar says "I love visiting the community garden in my neighbourhood where I grow peppers!" She is holding a puzzle piece that reads "Places in my Community".
What places can you find in your own community?
Do you have a place or places in your community that is important to you?
Why are they important to you?
Hint: Think about how you would describe your important place.
Student Tips
Student tips
Sometimes, when we are writing we might create only half a thought.
For example,
When we use the word ‘because’ to join the two sentences, we can create a complete thought.
The word ‘because’ is a subordinating conjunction. It helps create a whole thought and explains why.
Explain your thoughts using the word ‘because’ to add why the place in your community is important to you.
Press Hint to reveal an example of a sentence with the word ‘because’.
I love my local community garden, because I can try so many different kinds of fruits and vegetables.
Complete the fillable and printable Subordinating Conjunctions Activity in your notebook or using the following document. If you would like, you can use speech-to-text or audio recording tools to record your thoughts.
Press the Activity button to access the Subordinating Conjunctions Activity.
Activity(Opens in a new tab)
Marcel says "You can belong to multiple communities. Some might be close to your home, school or in another area where you participate in activities. Some might be farther away, or not tied to one specific place at all."
Reflection
How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity? Which of the next four sentences best matches how you are feeling about your learning? Press the button that is beside this sentence.
I feel...
Now, record your ideas about your feelings using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.