Page 9 - The Ogemawahj Tribal Council

Emotional (Relate) Activating Prior Knowledge, Minds On
Opening Circle
Prompting Questions:
• What things in nature are in the shape of a circle? (e.g., Sun, Moon, Spiritual
Earth, bird nest, tree rings, orange, ripples in water, etc.)
• What things in our environment are in the shape of a circle? (e.g., Intellectual Self Physical
clock, compass, cup, plate, bowl, pencil end, can, drum, pizza, etc.)
• What things in nature are cyclical? (the day: morning, afternoon, Emotional
evening, night; the seasons: winter, spring, summer, fall; the life
cycle: infant, child, adolescent, adult)
The Medicine Wheel,
• What qualities does a circle have? (starts and ends at the same
four elements of self
point, can be intersected equally, all points are equidistant
from centre)
• How do these characteristics contribute to circles in nature?
Man-made circles?

Connections to the Land
1. Introduce the idea of a talking stone. Let students know
the following:
– A talking stone is used as a guide to help keep order when
ANISHINAABEMOWIN
people gather to discuss something in a circle.
LANGUAGE
– The stone is passed around the circle of people in the
CONNECTIONS:
direction that the Sun moves.
circle: ewaawyeyaag
– The person who is holding the talking stone is the only one
stone: asin (a-sin)
speaking at that time.
stick: mtigoons (mih-tih-
– Everyone is given the opportunity to hold the talking stone goons)
and to speak.
talk about
– As the stone is passed around the circle, it will get warm something: dbaagjman
to the touch, thus carrying something of each person who the good life: Bimaadziwin
contributes along the way.
– The stone is taken from nature and reminds us of our
MATERIALS
connection to the land.
1. one stone for each
2. Take students on a walk around the schoolyard, neighbourhood,
student
or local forest. Have them write down all the things they see in
2. acrylic paint, paint
nature that are in the shape of a circle. Have students choose a flat
brushes, or markers
stone no bigger than their palm to bring back to the classroom.
3. 1 cup of white glue
1
mixed with /3
cup water
4. a roll of magnetic
tape

Resource Books Leaders’ Guide 7