Search Keyword:
Grade Level:
Search in:
Advanced Search
African Folktales: Anansi and the Magic Stick
Description:
This lesson is designed for 1st or 2nd grade to introduce African folktales and to introduce or expand the students' knowledge of locating and accessing the dictionary, the atlas, and folktales in the library. Students will participate in a fun activity with a shared read aloud of ANANSI AND THE MAGIC STICK by Eric Kimmel. The students will respond and interact with creative writing, illustrating, and speaking activities. This lesson is designed to be taught collaboratively between the LMS and the classroom teacher and integrated into the English Language Arts curriculum.
Goals & Objectives:
The students will be able to:
1. state in their own words what a folktale is.
2. locate Africa on an atlas.
3. locate dictionaries, atlases, and folktales in the library.
3. participate in a shared read aloud.
4. complete a writing activity.
5. share their work with classmates
Materials & Sources:
  • ANANSI AND THE MAGIC STICK by Eric Kimmel;
  • display of other folktales (some African);
  • dictionaries;
  • atlases;
  • pages printed from the PowerPoint, included with this lesson plan, for the read aloud;
  • paper, pencils, crayons;
  • word processing software/computers/printer
Procedures:
1. Ask the students to recall if they have ever played a trick on someone or if someone has ever played a trick on them. (ie. April Fool's Day) Tell them that in today's class they are going to hear a story about a spider that likes to play tricks on his friends - the story is an African folktale.
2. Together brainstorm what the students already know about folktales. Model how to look up the word 'folktale' in a dictionary using guide words at the top of the pages. Show the students where to locate the dictionaries in the library. If multiple copies of dictionaries are available, have the students locate the books and practice looking up the word 'folktale'.
3. Model how to look up the country of Africa in an atlas using the index. Show the students where to locate the atlases in the library. If multiple copies of atlases are available, have the students locate the books and practice looking up Africa using the index.
4. Briefly introduce the folktale books that are on display by reading the titles. Point out the call numbers of the books and show the class where these books are located in the library.
5. The students will participate as you read aloud ANANSI AND THE MAGIC STICK. Display the pages and give them a signal when it is time for them to read their parts.
6. After the story, allow time for discussion. Ask the students "What tricks did Anansi play on his friends?"
7. Give directions and model a writing activity. The students will write and illustrate a paragraph or short story about what they would do with a magic stick if they had one -or write and illustrate a different ending for the story.
8. The students will type their stories on a computer.
9. The class will share their stories aloud and display their writing and artwork for others to view.
10. Optional: see Eric Kimmel's Website at http://www.ericakimmel.com for other motivational activities.
Assessment:
1. The teachers and students will interact with questions and answers throughout the lesson.
2. The teachers will observe the students locating and accessing information from the dictionary and encyclopedia.
3. The teachers will observe the students participating in a shared read aloud.
4. The teachers will observe the students completing a writing activity.
5. The teachers will observe the students sharing their work with others.
Sources:
ANANSI AND THE MAGIC STICK by Eric Kimmel http://www.ericakimmel.com
Print this Lesson Plan
Presented By: Cynthia Tidd
Website by Data Momentum, Inc.