Monkey and Papa God

A tale from Haiti

Here is the suggested order of activities to support English learners access to the story. “Cross the room as if…”, provides students with a physical experience embodying both the actions and emotions of the story. Word Orchestra provides experiences in a supported and scaffolded structure with the words of the story. Both these activities will make the story accessible for all your learners.

  1. Cross the room as if

  2. Word orchestra

  3. Listen to the story

  4. Tableaux + human slide show creation and performance

Cross the room as if…

Students walk across the room acting out the various prompts inspired by the story they will soon listen too. Alternatively, if there is no room, the students can remain at their sits and “Stand as if…)

You are surrounded by bees

You are collecting honey

You are carrying something very valuable 

You dropped something you care a lot about

You tripped on a tree root

You are hiding in the branches of a tree

You are curious

You see something interesting

You taste something you never tasted before

You taste something delicious

You put your hand into something sticky

You are climbing a tree

You receive a great gift

You are walking into the middle of a desert

You are opening a big bag that has something inside that you know will be wonderful

You are being chased by something fierce and dangerous.

 

Word Orchestra

Group Parts

Give these key parts to groups 

A. Misery, Misery

B. Papa God why do you give me so much misery?

 

C. I want more misery

 

D. Please, Papa God

 

E. Dogs.  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Dogs.

 

 

Individual parts

Give each of these to one student.  If you have fewer students you can combine the phrases.  If you have more students you can shorten the phrases to create more.

 

1.  Once upon a time

 

2.  An old woman

 

3.  Hives and hives of bees 

 

4.  Honey

 

5.  To the market place

 

6.  A great clay pot 

 

7.  A terrible thing 

 

8.  The root of a tree

 

9.  Smash

 

10.  Oozing and trickling 

 

11. Oh misery, misery

 

12.  Papa god 

 

13.  Little monkey

 

14.  Sweet and sticky

 

15.  Delicious

 

16.  I want more

 

18.  Climbed the tree

 

19. Monkey misery

 

20.  Dry, hot desert

 

21.  Barking dogs

 

22.  Teeth

 

23.  Scared.  Help!

 

24.  Tree

 

25.  Waited all night

 

5 scenes

Generally, most groups benefit from choosing their own scenes, but here are some scenes for those needing support.

1.   An old woman fills barrels, and buckets, and pots with honey.

2.   An old woman trips on root of a tree, and drops her clay pot of honey, which spills out, onto the forest floor.

 3.   A monkey sneaks up to the spilled honey and tastes it and thinks it’s delicious.

 4.   The monkey climbs to the top of the world to get more honey from Papa God.

 5.  A monkey opens a bag that is filled with dogs that begin to chase him.