Roald Dahls
Anansi and Turtle
Looking at the title and image on the first page, what do you think the story is about? A Turtle and a spider.
What are some of the features of traditional tales and fables? What makes them different from other stories we read? The pictures are colorful and it is a retold story by Olabanji and Kat Temitope.
Where is the story set? You need to identify and look up where this country is.
In the beginning of the story we see that they are telling tales under the moonlight, why are tales often told under moonlight? The story is set in Nigeria, NIgeria is a place in Africa, Tales are often told under the moonlight because they want the story to be interesting.
We know that this story is ‘retold’ what does the word ‘retold’ mean and can you give an example/ explain further? Retold means that when a story is retold by someone who did it first then another person retells it but with their own words or the same words from the first retailer..
What does the word ‘customary’ mean? What is customary in your culture? (Maybe sharing a meal, or giving someone a compliment)
Predict what you think will happen next in the story? The turtle and the spider might share the yams together.
What are tricks and how might Anansi trick turtle? Anansi might act sick and say”OHH i'm gonna faint i need food ohh ohhh” then turtle might give him something to eat.
Tuesday:
4-6
Summarise what has happened in the story - this needs to be in your own words.
One sunny morning Anansi the spider cooked some tasty yams, as he was seated down to enjoy his delicious meal, Turtle arrived for a visit he has been travelling for long.
Why are they washing their hands? When do you wash your hands?
What might happen next? Why do you think that? They are washing their hads because they are about to eat, You have to washing your hands when you're gonna eat or when you have been playing, you might get the flu if you have not washed your hands,because your hands are dirty.
Tell me about manners and family routines – We know that in the story Anansi apologises in the first line then tells Turtle off again for having dirty hands?
Manners in a family is like a rule that the family members have to follow throughout their lives a routine is like a activity families do together.
“What might happen next?” “Who is the cleverer of the two?” Think about the fact that Turtle has worked out that Anansi knows Turtle’s hands will get dirty. What might Turtle do? Anansi might give some yams to tutle, The cleverest is Turtle,Turtle might trick Anansi.
Wednesday:
What does the terms “All the same” mean on the new page? Think about the fact that the writer has begun the new page with “all the same”? “All The Same” means that Nice and Nice is the same so there not different there the same same letters.
Have a look at careful language of manners – Turtle thanks Anansi and invites him to dinner. Why do you think Turtle is so polite? Because he is hungry and tired also he needs lots of food to eat.
Anansi’s eyes “bulged” – discuss what this means and why his eyes would bulge. What does this tell us about the character of Anansi? Bulged means that he is puffed up and tired.
Identify the setting and how it is different from the place Anansi lives. What do think may happen next? Turtle is gonna have to walk all the way back to the sea, and it will take a really long time.
Use the words and illustrations to consider the food Turtle has prepared and how this fits with the traditional story feature of animals with human characteristics. Animals And Humans are similar topeople because on the story the spider is cooking and humans cook also the turtle washes his hands and humans wash there hands and the thing that is the same like humans to animals is that humans can walk and animals can walk but some cant.
Anansi needs food, how will Anansi get down? What will Turtle do? Anansi might
Give turtle some food and turtle will will not take it.
After reading the story who was smarter? Why do you think this? Turtle because if turtle goes and washes his hands then when he comes back there is dust and Dirt on the path and turtle feet get dirty again.
What are the features of traditional tales and how does story fit the familiar patterns, including the ending?
Friday:
How did Anansi tricked Turtle – “What did he use?” Turtle used the same trick on Anansi? He told Turtle to wash his hands in the sea but if turtle goes and washes his hands its clean but then if turtle come back to anansi his hands are dirty because the path is dirty.
Traditional stories often have a message or moral. think, pair, and share their ideas for what the message might be? traditional stories have a message in it because it was told a long long long time ago and it is been retold by someone else but in their own words.
Write a story of their own based on a traditional tale format; use a known tale and turn it into a Turtle/Anansi story; or create a fable around a problem scenario.
OR you can retell this or other stories from the point of view of another character.
