When it comes to language acquisition, hearing the language in its natural form is beneficial, so storytelling is one way to achieve this in the classroom. The A.R.P. team has selected a number of different stories and legends from our area to read to the students. These stories contain some of the words that the students have already learned. Some vocabulary might be unfamiliar, so these words are introduced at the beginning of the lesson. The new words are also incorporated into center-based activities to help with retention. 


For example: In the stories, the animals experience different emotions/states of being/actions: 

Gchinendam - s/he is happy
Maanaadendam - s/he is sad
Nshkaadzi - s/he is angry
Bkade - s/he is hungry
Biingeji - s/he is cold 
Baapi - s/he is laughing
Nokii - s/he is working
Nbaa - s/he is sleeping 
Damno - s/he is playing
Biziigwii - s/he is getting up
Debnaa - s/he is catching fish
Ndamtaa - s/he is busy
Yekzi - s/he is tired
Gtimi - s/he is lazy
Zgaknige - s/he is putting away...


While sharing our Anishinaabek Aansookaanan, the focus is also on:
• helping students develop active listening skills during storytelling
• giving students an opportunity to practice their storytelling skills in Anishinaabemowin
• helping students develop an understanding of transitive verbs, third person, and fourth person
• encouraging students to use Anishinaabemowin vocabulary and concepts orally 

Aanii,

As mentioned in the previous post, the students spent the month of January learning about clan animals and some of the actions that they do. (Flying, howling, etc.). During story-telling, the students heard about the teachings/gifts, attributes of the animals (large, has feathers, etc.) 

The students learned 16 clan animals and here are the remaining 8 (see previous post for first 8 clan animals): 

Once again, students are also being taught different variations of the verbs, such as:

Ngig zhooshkjiwe / Kwezenhs zhooshkjiwe / Zhooshkjiwen
(The otter is sliding) / (The girl is sliding / (Sliding command)
Mii go genii zshooshkiweyaanh. 
(I too am sliding) 

Teacher states: "Child's Name, zhooshkiwen dbishkoo ngig." ("Child's Name, slide like the otter) 
The child then does the action / pretends to do the action.

Another example: 
"Child's Name, waawoonan dbishkoo mahiingan" (Child's Name, howl like the wolf)

Aanii, welcome back.
Winter is a great time for storytelling! In the classroom this month and into February, we are focussing on legends. The students will be learning vocabulary for clan animals, their attributes, and their actions, and some gifts/teachings. This content will be delivered through storytelling and group activities. Students will continue to learn and practice what they're learning during centre based activities and games. 

During the first part of the unit, the students will be focussing on these 8 animals: 

Students are also being taught different variations of the verbs, such as:

Waabzheshiinh naaniibwi / Kwezenhs naaniibwi / Naaniibwin 
(The deer is standing) / (The girl is standing) / (Stand up)
Mii go genii naaniibwiyaanh. 
(I too am standing) 

Teacher states: "Child's Name, nmadbin dbishkoo mkwa." ("Child's Name, sit down like the bear) 
The child then does the action. 

Another example: 
"Child's Name, bmosen dbishkoo adik" (Child's Name, walk like the caribou)

In addition to learning animals and their actions, we are also introducing some of their attributes during storytelling. We are also incorporating previously introduced vocabulary from past units (The 5 senses) Some examples: 

More examples: 

The vocabulary for the 7 grandfather teachings are also included during the story in Anishinaabemowin. 

Next, students will be following the same format with 8 new animals and new actions. 

The students were sent home the following list of vocabulary:  

The 5 Senses - Week 4
Touch

Aanii! During the week we taught the sense "touch", we decided to introduce winter clothing items. Students had to learn how to say sentences such as:

"I am touching a coat." - Ndoo-daangnaan biiskowaagan. (inanimate)
 "I am touching mittens." - Ndoo-daangnaag mjikaawnag. (animate) 

Would you like to hear these sentences and more? If so, Click Here. You will be directed to a post on our Parent to Child page. 

Below you will see flashcards for the winter clothing items. They contain audio files, too, if you'd like to hear the pronunciation. Want to test your knowledge? Select "Choose a study mode" and try a game! 

Just like the previous weeks, the students are learning to talk about what they see. They are learning "I see.."  and "I use my mouth to see..." using previously learned food items. 

Ndoo-waabndaan ezaawmingaanh. - I see an orange.
Ndoo-waabndaan waagweyaanh. -I see a banana.
Ndoo-waabndaan e-diksing. - I see yogurt.
Ndoo-waabndaan nenaabgaanh. - I see porridge.
Ndoo-waabndaanan dehminan. - I see strawberries.
Ndoo-waabndaanan miinan. - I see blueberries.

Just like last week, the students are learning to talk about what they taste. They are learning "I taste..."  and "I use my mouth to taste..." using previously learned food items. 

Ndoo-biijmaandaan ezaawmingaanh. – I smell an orange.
Ndoo-biijmaandaan waagweyaanh. – I smell a banana.
Ndoo-biijmaandaan e-diksing. – I smell yogurt.
Ndoo-biijmaandaan nenaabgaanh. – I smell porridge.
Ndoo-biijmaandaanan dehminan. – I smell strawberries.
Ndoo-biijmaandaanan miinan. – I smell blueberries. 

This week, the students are learning to talk about what they smell. They are learning "I smell..." using previously learned food items. 

Body Parts and the Five Senses
This month, the students are learning about body parts. They are also being taught the 5 senses in Anishinaabemowin. Below you will find some of the flash cards that the student are using in the classroom. 

"Niin Maaba Eta" (All About Me)
During August & September, students in the primary grades completed a unit called "Niin Maaba Eta" or "All About Me". The culminating task was book creation. Here are the pages that the students worked on, and below that, there are audio files if you'd like to hear the pronunciation.