When our trickster Anansi is brought to life and drops into your school, be prepared for a lively story adventure like no other! Perfect to celebrate African and multi-cultural storytelling, diversity education, Black History Month and Tales from Around the World curriculum topics.
Anansi the spider has been at the heart of African and Caribbean storytelling for centuries. His tales carry wisdom, mischief and morals that travel across time and generations, and in Come An’ See Anansi, Bigfoot brings them to life in a way that is impossible to sit still for. An interactive storytelling assembly and workshop experience for KS1 and KS2, it is the kind of programme that gets talked about for weeks.
The Bigfoot educator arrives as Anansi himself: a storyteller of the ancient world, part spider, part human, entirely captivating. From the moment he appears, pupils are drawn into the story of how Anansi convinced the great god Nyame to give him the world’s stories, and the four extraordinary tasks he had to complete to win them. Onini the python, Osebo the leopard, Mmoboro the hornet queen and the invisible spirit Mmoatia: each capture requires a different kind of cleverness, and pupils are part of the chase every step of the way, contributing sounds, actions and reactions as the story unfolds.
Throughout the session, Anansi’s stories are used as they have always been used: to teach, to laugh, to provoke thought and to carry something important across generations. The morals at the heart of each story land gently but memorably, and the conversations they start tend to find their way back into the classroom long after the session ends.
“A fun, interactive and energetic programme which teaches stories full of morals and laughter!” — Claire Smith, Downsview School
LEARNING OUTCOMES
- Discover the origins and purpose of Anansi stories within African and Caribbean culture and history
- Understand how storytelling has been used to carry morals, community wisdom and history across generations
- Participate in live storytelling and bring stories to life through soundscape, tableaux and group drama
- Identify and discuss the moral at the heart of each Anansi story
- Build confidence in listening, responding and contributing within a creative group setting
NATIONAL CURRICULUM LINKS
- English (Speaking and Listening): Listening to and responding to oral storytelling; developing vocabulary; participating in group story circles, soundscape and whole class performance
- History (KS1/KS2): African and Caribbean cultural heritage; understanding oral storytelling traditions; the role of story in communities through time
- PSHE: Exploring morals, values and how we should treat others; developing empathy through character and story
- Drama: Tableaux, soundscape, roleplay and live storytelling; responding to performance; ensemble work and group creativity
- Personal Development: Cultural awareness and curiosity; celebrating African and Caribbean heritage; building a sense of shared human storytelling tradition
FORMAT
Target Audience: KS1 and KS2 (Years 1 to 6)
Session Time: 60 minutes (Assembly and workshop elements combined into a single session)
Capacity: Up to 120 pupils or whole key stage group
Ideal For: Black History Month, Africa Day, whole school enrichment days, cultural celebrations
Resource Pack: A comprehensive teacher resource pack is included with every booking, packed with pre and post activities that extend the learning and bring Come An’ See Anansi into the classroom.
HOW TO ENQUIRE & BOOK
For us to quote your school and offer availability, please fill out the form below and tell us the year groups and how many classes you would like us to work with, along with any specific dates. We promise to respond to you within 24 hours. Important: if you haven’t heard from us, you may need to check your folder of doom (spam folder) where our emails may occasionally end up!
