FNMI Integration Lesson Plan January 29, 2019

Instructor: Brittni, Risa, & Bryn

Rationale:

First Nations Inspiration (From Playsport)

The game we have chosen is called ‘Tossing the Ball’ which is a Cree volleyball game. This
game places a large emphasis on the Medicine Wheel. For Aboriginal cultures, the Medicine wheel may
be a symbol of the interconnection of life, nature's various cycles, and represent the circular journey of
life (Ophea PlaySport, 2014). Using the Medicine Wheel as a guide for the game we can introduce
students to the symbolism of the Medicine Wheel, what the 4 quadrants represent, and how the Medicine
Wheel has connections to students daily lives.
To make these connections we made some adaptations and additions to the original layout of
the game which we found on the website PlaySport.net.
To get students working through an Aboriginal worldview and have them understand the circular,
rounded nature of the Medicine Wheel we chose to give the students in each quadrant a responsibility
that matches or is influenced by the Medicine Wheel teachings in that quadrant. The player in the East
will be responsible for direction and rotation of play. Mary Lee (2006) a Cree Elder says the East is
where life begins. The East is for new beginnings and so the East player (direction leader) will be
responsible for starting play and following the clockwise motion of the sun which rises in the East. The
South player is responsible for positive reinforcement and energy/spirit. Mary Lee (2006) describes the
south as being an active place. The South player will be responsible for sharing that energy with the
group and keeping spirits high. The West player is responsible for equipment. Mary Lee (2006) says the
West is a time of responsibility and caring for others. Therefore the West player will have the
responsibility of caring for the equipment and making sure players are not in any danger. The North
player is responsible for peerfeedback. The North is the mental stage, a place where people have seen
journeys and can reflect on them (Lee, 2006). The player in the North quadrant will act as this
knowledgeable other and provide feedback to the group on what they are doing well and how they can
approve. As the group rotates during play each player will have an opportunity to experience the
different roles of the game just as when they move through life they will experience the different
teachings and roles of the Medicine Wheel.
Understanding the importance of the Medicine Wheel and its significance within Aboriginal
communities will allow us to meet the outcomes we set for our activity. Through applying the teachings of
the Medicine Wheel to a game we can also show the students how Aboriginal culture can play a role in
their lives as they communicate with others.
Incorporating this game into the gym curriculum is not strictly due to the TQS section five
element; but rather embracing a Non-Euro-Canadian understanding of the origin of sport. This is
important to supporting students understanding that sport and games come from or are adapted from
many cultures and different groups of people.

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Cree Volleyball
FNMI Integration Lesson Plan January 29, 2019
Instructor: Brittni, Risa, & Bryn

P.E. Outcome A: Students will acquire skills through a variety of developmentally

1.
appropriate movement activities; dance, games, types of gymnastics, individual
General
activities and activities in an alternative environment; e.g., aquatics and outdoor
Learning
pursuits.
Outcome(s)
2. S.S Outcome 7:1: Students will demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of
the distinct roles of, and the relationships among, the Aboriginal, French and British
peoples in forging the foundations of Canadian Confederation
1. A7-5 demonstrate ways to receive, retain and send an object with varying speeds and
accuracy in skills specific to an activity
Specific 2. A7-6 demonstrate manipulative skills by using elements of space awareness, effort
Learning and relationships, with and without objects, to improve performance
Outcome(s) 3. 7.1.1 - appreciate the influence of diverse Aboriginal, French and British peoples on
events leading to Confederation
4. 7.1.2 - appreciate the challenges of coexistence among peoples
1. Students will be able to apply previous learned skill bump to a partner.
Learning 2. Students will be able to demonstrate ability to volley to partner.
Objective(s 3. Students will be able to display respectful body language.
) 4. Students will be able to communicate respectfully about other cultures (e.g.
appropriate terminology)
Essential Question(s):
● Significance of FNMI in sport and games.
Students will be able to…
Students will know… ● Understand the significance of a medicine
● How to bump a volleyball. wheel
● How to set a volleyball. ● Understand how FNMI people have
influenced modern day games/sport.

Stage 2: Assessment Evidence

Summative Formative
● N/A ● Exit Slip
Assessment Assessment

Stage 3: Learning Experience

Tech Resources ● Volleyballs
● N/A
to Do to Bring ● Tape
Time Content/Description Notes
30 Minutes ● FNMI Integration Lesson Plan
Warm-Up
5 Minutes ● Crows and Cranes
● This is a traditional Aboriginal game.
● Students will be divided into two teams

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Cree Volleyball
FNMI Integration Lesson Plan January 29, 2019
Instructor: Brittni, Risa, & Bryn

● Facing each other on either side of center time.

● One team is crow and one team is crane.
● When the teacher calls crow - those students chase
the crane and vise versa.
Movement in the Medicine
Wheel and in Native
American ceremonies is
Introduction
circular, and typically in a
● Explanation of Medicine Wheel
clockwise, or “sun-wise”
- The medicine wheel is a traditional symbol in
direction. This helps to
many First Nations cultures
align with the forces of
- There are four quadrants. North, East, South, and
Nature, such as gravity and
5 Minutes West (explain the responsibilities of each
the rising and setting of the
quadrant)
Sun.
● Explanation of Tossing the Ball
Explain to students that if
- Students create a medicine wheel on the ground
they drop the ball they
- Students will bump and volley a ball around a
should start again from the
Medicine Wheel (highlighting interconnectedness
east quadrant where the sun
and working together)
rises. Highlighting that
things can start again and
we can learn from the past.
Activity (Tossing the Ball - Cree Volleyball Game)
● Divide students into groups of 4
● Students will work together to create their medicine
Additional Challenges
wheel out of tape. The Equipment manager for each
(consider adding a
group helps to facilitate and direct the making of it.
challenge every 5 minutes)
● Each student will stand in one quadrant of the
Pass the ball in a sunrise
medicine wheel
(clockwise) motion.
● Students will bump or volley the volleyball around to
Increase quadrant sizes.
group members
Run around the outside of
● Each quadrant will have a responsibility to keep in
15 Minutes the medicine wheel after
mind while playing
sending the volleyball.
● Every time the ball drops the group rotates positions
in a sunrise direction
● North - peer feedback (give suggestions to group
*For younger grades rather
members)
than volley it can be a
● East - direction leader (ensures the group maintains
simple catch and throw
movement in a sunrise (clockwise) direction
game.
● South - positive reinforcement (give out positive
comments and praise to group members)
● West - equipment manager (gets and puts away tape
and volleyball, leads creation of the medicine wheel)

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Cree Volleyball
FNMI Integration Lesson Plan January 29, 2019
Instructor: Brittni, Risa, & Bryn

Cool Down/Conclusion Ask questions to ensure

● Meet in the middle and have a closure conversation understanding and answer
5 Minutes
about FNMI significance in games/sport. any students remaining
● Handout exit slip for assessment purposes questions.

Name: _____________________

What is your main takeaway from today’s class? You must write at least 5 sentences on this.

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Cree Volleyball
 FNMI Integration Lesson Plan January 29, 2019
Instructor: Brittni, Risa, & Bryn

References

Lee, M. (2006). Cree (Nehiyawak) Teaching. Retrieved from

http://www.fourdirectionsteachings.com/transcripts/cree.html

Ophea Playsport. (2014). Tossing the Volleyball (Cree Volleyball Game). Retrieved from
http://www.playsport.net/activity/tossing-ball-cree-volleyball-game

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Cree Volleyball