January 2015

Doodemag - Clans
Animals, verbs, & teachings

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: 

Animal: 
Mkwa - bear
Giigoonh - fish
Ginoozhe - pike
Maang - loon
Jijaak - crane
Waabzheshiinh - marten
Waawaashkesh - deer
Adik - caribou 
Mgizi - eagle 

Verbs:
Nmadbi - he/she is sitting 
Bgizo - he/she is swimming
"                                     " 
Boonii - he/she is landing
Noondaagzi - he/she is calling out
Naaniibwi - he/she is standing
Mbigwaashkini - he/she is jumping
Bmose - he/she is walking 
Bmibzo - he/she is flying

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: 

Nishke maaba mkwa nemdabid. 
Gegwa daangnaake mkwa. 
Gdoo-waabmaa na mkwa? 
Wiikaa na ggii-noondwaa mkwa? 
Niizaanzi mkwa. 
Mdida. 

Look at this bear who is sitting
Don't touch the bear
Do you see the bear?
Did you ever hear a bear?
The bear is dangerous.
He is large.

More examples: 

Nishke maaba giigoonh e-bgizod.
Daangin giigoonh. 
Gdoo-waabmaa na giigoonh? 
Wiikaa na ggii-gjipwaa giigoonh? 
Naghay.
Zhooshkzi. 

Look at this fish who is swimming.
Touch the fish.
Do you see the fish? 
Did you ever taste a fish?
Scales / Skin (Zhaghay)
He's slippery.

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:  

2015gamenight_vocabulary.pdf
File Size:	49 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

---