What You Need

• A few Anansi tales or picture books

What to Do

1. Introduce Anansi, the spider, to the class. As the "owner" of stories in West African and Jamaican cultures, Anansi not only tells the stories, he "stars" in them. Share a few short Anansi tales. Discuss the common themes of:
   • Anansi's cleverness and bravery
   • he overcoming of great obstacles by the smallest and weakest characters
   • the use of humor to solve problems
   How do these stories help to shape cultural identity?
2. Most families or groups of friends have an Anansi or two—people who can recreate a special moment or humorous event through imaginative storytelling. These stories might begin "Do you remember the time that . . . ?" or "You won't believe what happened . . . !"
3. Ask students to discuss the "Anansis" that they know. What are some common characteristics of good stories and good storytellers? What kinds of stories hold interest? How do these kinds of stories help us to understand ourselves?
4. Instruct students to ask a family member or a friend who is a good storyteller to share a story—from generations ago or from last week. Remind students to listen carefully to the structure and the details of the story. Ask them to think about ways to make the story their own. When they are ready, students will share their stories with a small group.

Teaching Options

• Students may ask two different people who were at the same event for separate "versions" of the story. How are they alike? How are they different?
• Artifacts such as pictures, postcards, or memorabilia can add detail to the stories.
• Students could write a journal entry about what they learned about themselves through the story they chose to share.