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Basic 1 · Religious and Moral Education · Religious Worship

Sacred Stories and Their Lessons

In this topic you will listen to a traditional story and learn its lesson.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

  • Retell a traditional story
  • Name the characters in the story
  • Say the lesson of the story

What you already know

  • Traditional proverbs

Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.

Strand
Religious Practices
Sub-strand
Religious Worship
Indicator
B1.2.1.1.2 – Recite religious passages and sing religious songs

Introduction

Long ago, elders told stories at night by the fire. One famous character is Kwaku Ananse the spider. His stories teach us lessons.

1. Ananse and the Pot of Wisdom

The story

  1. Ananse collected all the wisdom in the world in a pot.
  2. He wanted to hide it at the top of a tall tree.
  3. He tied the pot in front of him and tried to climb.
  4. The pot kept getting in his way.
  5. His son Ntikuma said, "Father, tie the pot on your back."
  6. Ananse was angry that a child was wiser than him.
  7. He threw the pot down. It broke, and wisdom spread everywhere.
Ananse the spider trying to climb a tree with a pot tied in front while his son watches
Figure 1: Ananse and the pot of wisdom Draw Ananse with his pot.Illustration: Sirbus

2. Lessons from the Story

  • No one person has all the wisdom.
  • We can learn from everyone, even children.
  • Do not be greedy.

Remember: Stories teach us how to behave.

New words

story
An account of things that happened, told for fun or teaching.
character
A person or animal in a story.
wisdom
Knowing what is right and wise.
greedy
Wanting everything for yourself.

Summary

  • Ananse tried to keep all the wisdom in a pot.
  • His son showed him a better way.
  • No one has all the wisdom; we learn from others.

Class activity: Story Drama

  1. Listen to the story again.
  2. Act it out: Ananse, Ntikuma and the tree.
  3. Tell the class the lesson.

You need: Printed cards of Ghanaian traditional proverbs, Sacred stories, Local drum, Gourd shaker

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. Who is the main character in the story?

    • A. Kwaku Ananse
    • B. A lion
    • C. A hen
    • D. A teacher
    Show answer
    Answer: Kwaku AnanseThe story is about Ananse.

  2. 2. Who told Ananse to tie the pot on his back?

    • A. Ntikuma
    • B. His wife
    • C. A lion
    • D. The chief
    Show answer
    Answer: NtikumaNtikuma is his son.

  3. 3. The story teaches that no one has all the wisdom.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueWisdom spread to everyone.

  4. 4. Ananse kept the pot of wisdom forever.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: FalseHe threw it down and it broke.

  5. 5. Wanting everything for yourself is being ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: greedyAnanse was greedy.

  6. 6. What lesson does the story teach you?

    Show answer
    Answer: We can learn from everyone; do not be greedy.Even a child was wiser than Ananse.

Homework

  1. Tell the Ananse story to someone at home.