Lessons from Anansi the Spider

Lesson 4
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ELA

Alternate Unit 3

2nd Grade

Lesson 4 of 19

Objective


Describe Spider by describing how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.

Readings and Materials


  • Book: The Adventures of Spider: West African Folktales by Joyce Cooper Arkhurst  — "Why Spider Lives in Ceilings"

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Target Task


Discussion & Writing Prompt

Both Leopard and Spider think they are clever. Who is actually clever? Why?

Sample Response

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Key Questions


  • How did the rainy season affect the animals?

  • Why did Leopard try to look friendly when talking to Spider?

  • Model fluent reading: What did you notice as I read Leopard and Spider’s dialogue?

  • The author says, “now Spider was lazy and very naughty, but he was not stupid. He knew at once that Leopard’s voice was much too sweet.” What does this mean?

  • Why did Leopard go into Spider’s house?

  • Why does Spider start talking to his house?

  • Why do Spiders live in ceilings?

Vocabulary


puny

adj.

very small or weak

stalk

v.

to walk around in a threatening way

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Common Core Standards


  • L.2.6 — Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading and being read to, and responding to texts, including using adjectives and adverbs to describe (e.g., When other kids are happy that makes me happy).
  • RL.2.2 — Recount stories, including fables and folktales from diverse cultures, and determine their central message, lesson, or moral.
  • RL.2.3 — Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.

Supporting Standards

RL.2.10
SL.2.1
SL.2.2
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Lesson 3

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Lesson 5

Lesson Map

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