168 Fables and Stories: Supplemental Guide 10A | All Stories Are Anansi’s
- Tell students that the Ashanti people of Ghana, Africa, call their
folktales “spider stories.” Tell students that many African folktales
have the spider, “Kwaku Anansi,” as a main character. - Have students tell their partner what they think Nyame and Anansi are
talking about.
Show image 10A-3: Anansi carries a branch in the forest - Have a student point out Anansi.
- Ask students what other character they see in the picture. (a snake)
- Tell students that the snake is Onini [oh-NEE-nee]—the python who
can swallow a goat. Onini can open his mouth so wide that he can
swallow a goat! Mention that pythons can grow to be very long and
that some can actually swallow animals the size of a goat.
Show image 10A-5: Leopard in a hole - Ask students what other character they see in the picture. (a leopard)
- Tell students that the leopard is Osebo [oh-SAY-boe]—the leopard
whose teeth are as sharp as spears. Mention that leopards are mainly
found in Africa and Asia. Leopards hunt other animals as their food. - Have students tell their partner why they think the leopard is in a hole.
Show image 10A-7: Hornet’s nest - Have students point out Anansi.
- Point to the large hornet. Tell students that the hornet is Mmoboro
[mmoh-BOH-roh]—the hornet whose sting burns like a needle of fire.
Mention that hornet stings hurt more than bee stings, and unlike bees,
hornets can sting multiple times. - Ask students whether the animals that Anansi meets—the python, the
leopard, and the hornet—are dangerous and scary animals. - Give students Response Card 10 (All Stories Are Anansi’s) from
Instructional Master 10A-1. Have students identify Onini—the python—
Osebo—the leopard—and Mmoboro—the hornet. [You may wish
to have students make up movements and/or sounds to represent
these three characters and use the movements and sounds when the
characters appear in the story.]