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.
Cross the room as if
Word orchestra
Listen to the story
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.