Activity Overview
Learning to summarize a story is a skill students will use throughout their life. Starting with the Beginning, Middle, and End, students will learn to identify important scenes in stories in a way that creates an easy to understand summary. In this activity, students will create a 3 cell storyboard that summarizes the beginning, middle, and end of Anansi the Spider: A Tale From the Ashanti.
Anansi the Spider Summary Example
Beginning: Anansi gets lost and falls into the river. He gets swallowed by a fish! His son, Trouble Seer, sees that he is in trouble and the six sons set out to help their father.
Middle: Working together using their unique abilities, Anansi’s six sons save their father from danger. All of them returned home safely that evening.
End: Anansi sees a great globe of light in the forest, and wants to give it to the son who rescued him. Since all of his sons worked together to rescue him, Anansi asks Nyame, The God of All Things, what he should do. Nyame put the glowing ball in the sky, and that is how the moon came to be.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a visual summary of Anansi the Spider.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Separate the story into the Beginning, Middle, and End.
- Create an image that represents an important moment or set of events for each of the story components using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
- Write a short description of each part of the story.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plot | Each of the three cells represents a different part of the story. The cells are in order from beginning to end. Sentences accurately summarize each part. | One cell is out of order, or the storyboard is missing important information. | Important information is missing and/or two or three cells are out of order. |
| Images | Cells include images that help to tell the story and do not get in the way of understanding. | Some of the images help tell the story. Descriptions do not always match the images. | Images do not make sense with the story. |
| Spelling and Grammar | Spelling and grammar is mostly accurate. Mistakes do not get in the way of understanding. | Spelling is very inaccurate and hinders full understanding. | Text is difficult to understand. |
Activity Overview
Learning to summarize a story is a skill students will use throughout their life. Starting with the Beginning, Middle, and End, students will learn to identify important scenes in stories in a way that creates an easy to understand summary. In this activity, students will create a 3 cell storyboard that summarizes the beginning, middle, and end of Anansi the Spider: A Tale From the Ashanti.
Anansi the Spider Summary Example
Beginning: Anansi gets lost and falls into the river. He gets swallowed by a fish! His son, Trouble Seer, sees that he is in trouble and the six sons set out to help their father.
Middle: Working together using their unique abilities, Anansi’s six sons save their father from danger. All of them returned home safely that evening.
End: Anansi sees a great globe of light in the forest, and wants to give it to the son who rescued him. Since all of his sons worked together to rescue him, Anansi asks Nyame, The God of All Things, what he should do. Nyame put the glowing ball in the sky, and that is how the moon came to be.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a visual summary of Anansi the Spider.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Separate the story into the Beginning, Middle, and End.
- Create an image that represents an important moment or set of events for each of the story components using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
- Write a short description of each part of the story.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plot | Each of the three cells represents a different part of the story. The cells are in order from beginning to end. Sentences accurately summarize each part. | One cell is out of order, or the storyboard is missing important information. | Important information is missing and/or two or three cells are out of order. |
| Images | Cells include images that help to tell the story and do not get in the way of understanding. | Some of the images help tell the story. Descriptions do not always match the images. | Images do not make sense with the story. |
| Spelling and Grammar | Spelling and grammar is mostly accurate. Mistakes do not get in the way of understanding. | Spelling is very inaccurate and hinders full understanding. | Text is difficult to understand. |
How Tos about Anansi the Spider Visual Summary
Organize a Story Sequencing Relay
Arrange your class into small teams and give each group mixed-up sentence strips of the story. Challenge them to put the events in order as fast as possible! This interactive activity boosts comprehension and helps students practice summarizing by sequence.
Assign roles for each student
Give each student a specific job—such as summarizer, illustrator, or presenter. Clear roles keep everyone involved and support different learning strengths.
Model how to spot key events
Demonstrate finding the most important parts of the story by thinking aloud. Show how to ignore extra details and focus on main actions to summarize effectively.
Guide students to match images with text
Encourage students to create drawings or select images that match the summary sentences. Visual supports help solidify understanding and make summaries memorable.
Review and reflect as a class
Invite students to share their relays and discuss how each team organized the story. Class reflection promotes deeper learning and gives everyone a chance to celebrate creative approaches.
Frequently Asked Questions about Anansi the Spider Visual Summary
What is a visual summary of Anansi the Spider?
A visual summary of Anansi the Spider is a concise depiction of the story's beginning, middle, and end using images and brief descriptions. Students create a storyboard with three scenes to show key events, helping them understand and remember the story.
How do you teach students to summarize the beginning, middle, and end of a story?
To teach students to summarize a story, guide them to identify important events in the beginning, middle, and end. Have them create images or short descriptions for each part, focusing on main characters and actions. This helps students grasp story structure and key details.
What are some easy story summary activities for grades 2-3?
Easy story summary activities for grades 2-3 include creating storyboards, drawing scenes for each story part, sequencing pictures, and writing brief summaries. These hands-on tasks make summarizing engaging and accessible for younger learners.
Why is summarizing stories an important skill for students?
Summarizing stories teaches students to identify main ideas, organize information, and improve comprehension. It is a key skill for academic success and everyday communication, helping learners express what they've read in clear, simple terms.
How can I use 'Anansi the Spider' to teach story structure?
Use 'Anansi the Spider' by having students split the tale into beginning, middle, and end segments. Ask them to illustrate or describe key moments from each part. This approach reinforces understanding of narrative structure and helps students practice summarization.
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Anansi the Spider
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