1. Slide 1
Why the Moon Is in the Sky
A Tale from Africa
Do you know any stories about the moon? What are they? What do you like best about the moon?
Long, long ago, before the moon rose high in the sky at night, Anansi the Spider had six sons. The first son could see problems from far away, so he was called See Trouble. The second son was able to build roads through thick forests, so he was called Road Builder. The third son could drink up mighty rivers, so he was called River Drinker. The fourth son could quickly catch animals, so he was called Game Catcher. The fifth son was capable of throwing a stone a long way to hit a mark, so he was called Stone Thrower. And the sixth son was big and round, so he was called Cushion.
One day Anansi went away on a long trip. When he was not back within a few weeks, his sons began to worry.

2. Slide 2
Why the Moon Is in the Sky
A Tale from Africa (Cont.)
The son who was called See Trouble climbed to the top of a tall tree and looked around for his father. Suddenly he cried, “Father has fallen into a river! He is being swallowed by a huge red fish!”
“Follow me,” Road Builder cried. Then he made a road to the river, and all the other brothers rushed after him.
“Stand back!” River Drinker shouted, and he drank huge gulps of water until the river was dry. Then Game Catcher ran to the red fish on the river bottom, cut it open, and Anansi jumped out.
Just then a hungry hawk swooped down from the sky. It grabbed Anansi in its sharp claws and flew up toward the clouds. Stone Thrower acted quickly. He picked up a stone and threw it at the hawk. CRACK! The stone hit the hawk hard, and the hawk dropped Anansi. Down, down, down Anansi fell.
“He will be killed when he lands,” Cushion thought. “Only I can save him now.” So Cushion stretched out and took a deep breath. PLOP! Anansi landed on soft Cushion, so he was not hurt.
That night Anansi said to his sons, “You are all very brave. And you all deserve my thanks.”

3. Slide 3
Why the Moon Is in the Sky
A Tale from Africa (Cont.)
The next night, Anansi was walking in the forest when he saw a strange glow ahead of him. When he got closer, he saw that it was a beautiful shining sphere. The sphere lit up the forest floor with a dazzling light. Anansi had never seen anything like it!
“I will take this shining ball home and give it to one of my sons,” Anansi thought. “It is the perfect reward for the one son who did the most to save my life.”
So Anansi picked up the ball and headed home. He thought about which son to reward. Would he reward See Trouble for spotting him, Road Builder for clearing the road, or River Drinker for emptying the river? Would he reward Game Catcher for opening up the fish or Stone Thrower for hitting the hawk? Or was Cushion the most deserving because he had stopped Anansi’s fall?
Anansi thought and thought, but he could not decide which son should have the shining sphere.
“Nyame!” Anansi called to the sky god. “Come and help me. Hold this shining ball while I decide which son should have it.” So Nyame came and held the wonderful ball of light for Anansi.

4. Slide 4
Why the Moon Is in the Sky
A Tale from Africa (Cont.)
When Anansi returned home, he asked Nyame to show the beautiful shining ball to his six sons.
“I found this lovely sphere of light in the forest,” Anansi said. “And I will give it to the son who did the most to save my life.”
Of course, all the sons wanted the beautiful ball. They argued and argued about it. Each son said he had done the most to save Anansi’s life. But in truth, each son had played an equal part in bringing Anansi home safely. So on and on into the night the sons argued. And even Anansi himself could not decide which son should have the wonderful reward.
Finally Nyame the sky god had heard enough. He took the beautiful shining sphere up into the sky with him. And to this day, that is where it stays. If you look up into the night sky, you will see it. Each month it goes through many phases, getting bigger and rounder and then small and slender again. It is the moon. It is there still just as it was in the days of Anansi.
Unit 6, Week 5
1. What things are you capable of doing now that you couldn’t do last year?
2. What things are dazzling to your eyes?
3. What award do you deserve? Why do you deserve it?
4. Why is it important to give an equal amount of food to each child at a party?
5. How can you keep from swallowing big gulps of water when you dive into a pool?
6. What is the difference between a mighty river and a quiet stream?
7. What phases do babies go through when they are learning to walk?
8. How would you reward a dog for doing tricks?
9. Which of your fingers is the most slender?
10. What things have you seen that are spheres?