Mi'kmaw Language: Animal Vocabulary
Equipment list
Printed Mi'kmaw animal vocabulary sheets
Tape (for indoors)
Command Clips (for outdoors)
Plastic sheet protectors and some way to attach the papers to an exterior wall or fence or other objects in the schoolyard if doing outdoors
Explanation
This PAL activity is the first in our series of Mi'kmaw Language and Culture lessons that we have co-created with Mi'kmaw teachers and friends.
This is an opportunity to explore some Mi'kmaw words for animals that live in Mi'kma'ki. This lesson contains 10 animal cards, but is only the beginning. Stay tuned to the database for more.
Directions:
Display the printed animal sheets around your learning area (indoors or outdoors). Ensure that they are placed a distance that promotes an appropriate amount of physical activity for your class.
Students will work in pairs or groups of three for this lesson.
Invite the student groups to visit any number of animal cards by visiting one station at a time.
At each station, students will read aloud the Mi'kmaw word printed on the sheet with each other. Then, using a digital device, they will scan the QR code on the sheet to listen to a Mi'kmaw speaker pronouncing the word. Students then practice saying the word aloud using the proper pronunciation.
Encourage the students to move liberally around about the learning space to get to their next station. Discourage groups from visiting three stations in a row. This will encourage lots of movement and give students a chance to process and practice the word they have just learned.
After the groups have visited the identified number of stations, gather the students in a circle for a debrief.
Debrief questions could include:
What did you notice about the Mi'kmaw words you just learned?
What was your favourite word and why?
Which word was the most difficult / easiest to learn?
What other Mi'kmaw words would you like to learn this way?
The website that we used to source is: https://www.firstvoices.com/mikmaw/
Downloads
ASK ID 2024-02-28-001-E