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Basic 3 · Ghanaian Language · Story Telling

Dramatising Stories and Their Morals

In this topic you will act out a story and discuss the issues and morals in it.

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

  • Dramatise a story
  • Identify the problem in a story
  • Discuss the moral of a story

What you already know

  • Retelling stories and their lessons (Basic 2)

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

Strand
Oral Language
Sub-strand
Story Telling
Indicator
B3.1.4.1.1-3 – Dramatize and discuss issues and morals in a story

Introduction

Ananse borrowed money from many animals and refused to pay back. His trick failed in the end. Acting out the story helps us see its lesson.

1. The Story

  1. Ananse borrowed money from the fowl, the fox, the dog and the lion.
  2. He told each to come for the money on the same day, one after the other.
  3. When the fowl came, he hid it when the fox arrived; the fox chased the fowl.
  4. The trick went on until the lion came.
  5. In the end, the animals found out and Ananse ran away in shame.

2. Issues and Morals

Discussing the story
QuestionAnswer
What is the problem?Ananse would not pay his debts
What did he do wrong?he lied and tricked others
What is the moral?pay your debts; do not cheat others
Children acting the story of Ananse and the animals he owed
Figure 1: Ananse and his debts Draw a scene from the story.Illustration: Sirbus

New words

dramatise
To act out a story.
issue
A problem in a story.
debt
Money you owe someone.
shame
A bad feeling after doing wrong.

Summary

  • We dramatise stories to understand them.
  • Every story has a problem and a moral.
  • This story teaches us to pay our debts and not cheat.

Class activity: Ananse Drama

  1. Choose roles: Ananse, fowl, fox, dog and lion.
  2. Act out the story with masks and props.
  3. Discuss the moral with the class.

You need: Ghanaian-language folktale picture book, Character picture cards, Calabash, Kente cloth props

Exercises

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

  1. 1. Money you owe someone is a…

    • A. Debt
    • B. Gift
    • C. Salary
    • D. Prize
    Show answer
    Answer: DebtThat is a debt.

  2. 2. What is the moral of the story?

    • A. Pay your debts
    • B. Borrow more
    • C. Trick friends
    • D. Run fast
    Show answer
    Answer: Pay your debtsCheating brings shame.

  3. 3. Ananse tricked the animals.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueHe lied to them.

  4. 4. The story teaches us to cheat.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: FalseIt teaches honesty.

  5. 5. To act out a story is to ______ it.

    Show answer
    Answer: dramatiseThat is dramatising.

  6. 6. What problem did Ananse cause?

    Show answer
    Answer: He refused to pay his debts and tricked others.That is the issue.

Homework

  1. Tell the Ananse story to someone at home and ask them the moral.