1. Mr. Verlin South Philadelphia High School September 16, 2014

2. Preliminaries  How are the following quotes similar?  “Let there be light.”  “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God…”  “It is He who created the heavens and the earth…He saith, “behold! It is. His word is the truth…”  Hand in your letter project.

3. Objectives:  The students will be able to explain why stories are needed and what they tell us about people.  The students will be able to explain what Anansi tells us about the importance of stories.  The students will be able to define personification and explain how the author uses it to advance the theme of the Anansi story.

4. Focus Lesson: Stories  Personification  The Anansi story  Anansi the character  Pre-reading  Homework Questions  Main Idea  Small group reading: identify 2 examples of personification.

5. Focus Lesson: Writing Prompt  Every culture, every tribe, every group of people has stories they tell that define who they are as a people. Beyond simply being funny or interesting, why do you think people relay stories and not just lists or facts?” (If students need further help, add: “We have a constitution and many laws in this country, but no one walks around talking about them the way that they talk about loving The Outsiders or the old myth that George Washington chopped down a cherry tree. What is it about stories that is so compelling to humans?”) 10 assessment pts.

6. Homework  Read “Anansi Owns All Tales That Are Told,” in Holt World Literature, pp. 3–6.  Answer the homework questions on the handout.  Due 9/20 for 10 homework points.