Okosijigewin

Ojibwe Word Sorting

Sorting Instructions

Step 1: Shuffle and Prepare

  1. Shuffle the cards until they are thoroughly mixed.

  2. Flip the cards upside down. Remove two cards without looking at them and set them aside. You’ll guess their identity later.

  3. Flip over seven cards from the deck and place them face up.

Step 2: Organize Your Cards

  1. Examine the seven face-up cards and group them into 2-3 patterns based on similarities you notice.

  2. Remember, your final arrangement will form a rectangular grid with 3 columns and 7 rows, leaving two empty spaces.

Step 3: Sorting and Discussion

  1. Take two cards at a time and discuss, as a group, where they might belong within the grid. Use the patterns you identified to guide your placement.

  2. Continue this process until all the cards are placed, leaving two blank spaces in the grid.

  3. Once finished, have one group member raise their hand to indicate your grid is complete.

Step 4: Guess the Missing Words

  1. Use the two blank cards to fill the empty spaces in your grid. Write your guesses for the missing words on a separate piece of paper.
    (Tip: Laminated blank cards with dry-erase markers work well for this step.)

  2. As a group, discuss whether your guesses were correct or close. Reflect on the patterns you observed during the activity.

  3. As an individual, journal your thoughts on wether your guesses were correct or close.  Reflect on patterns you observed during the activity.  

Step 5: Verify Patterns

  1. Follow this link to see example photos of the finished gameplay!

Step 6: Add Headers

  1. Place notecards at the top of each column with the following labels:

    • ESHCHIGED AWIIYA above words identified by the Ojibwe People’s Dictionary as VAI’s: These words describe general actions in the third person but don’t specify where the action is directed.

    • ENDOODANG GEGOO above words identified by the Ojibwe People’s Dictionary as VTI’s: These are commands describing actions directed toward inanimate objects.

    • ENDOODAWAAD AWIIYAN above words identified by the Ojibwe People’s Dictionary as VTA’s: These are commands describing actions directed toward another person or an animate object.

Step 7: Explore and Expand

  1. Pick a card from the grid that interests you.

  2. Use a device (phone, tablet, or laptop) to visit the Ojibwe People’s Dictionary at www.ojibwemowin.com. Not all vocabulary from the game will be listed in the dictionary.  As you work through the vocabulary that is within the game try to generate your own definitions for these vocabulary words based on the definitions you find for the word parts.  

  3. Search for your chosen word in the dictionary.

  4. Listen to sound clips (if available) and explore the “word parts” section. Click on any word parts that interest you to learn more.

Step 8: Create New Words

  1. Using blank notecards, experiment with new words based on the roots and endings you explored.

    • If the word part you explored is at the beginning of the word, add new words to the right of the original row.

    • If it’s at the end of the word, add new words to the bottom of the original column.

Reflection
Discuss how the new words you created fit into the patterns and meanings of the grid. Consider the significance of each word’s structure and how it relates to the various ways we use our senses in Ojibwe.