1. How the Tortoise got his Crooked Shell A Nigerian Story by Abimbola Alao
Lesson Aims:
To explore morals in West-African storytelling
Lesson Objectives:
Write a short story explaining the origin of an animal
Discuss morals and include one in a story

2. Thinking points Why were all the animals so hungry?
What lie did Ijapa, the tortoise, tell to get Ehoro to help him?
Where did Ehoro, the rabbit, go to get food?
What did Ehoro do to signal his Mother?

3. What happens next?
Ehoro, the rabbit, has just shouted up to his Mother “Mother, we’ve been tricked!”
What do you think the different characters will do?

4. What am I?
The aim of this game is to describe an animal to the rest of your group using as few clues as possible
Each player in a small group will be given an animal picture which they keep face down until it is their turn
You can describe your animal however you want, but you CANNOT name it!

5. Morals
In this activity you will work in groups and try to figure out what a ‘moral’ is.
Points to help you:
In the story ‘How the Tortoise got his Crooked Shell’ there is a clear moral. What do you think it could be?
What other messages do stories have for us?
Can you think of any stories that have morals?

6. Animal Stories Example: Rhino Its horn A small, soft nose…
Think of an animal
Choose a distinctive feature about that animal
What would that animal look like without that feature?
Now write an imaginative story about how your animal came to have that feature
Try to include a moral in your story

7. Animal Stories Helpful Hints:
You should try to include a moral – will it be a warning or a piece of good advice?
Is your animal’s feature a reward or a punishment for its behaviour?

8. Ehoro’s Song Iya, iya ta’ kun wale o Alu jan jan ki jan
Listen to the song that Ehoro sang in the story
Now have a go at singing along with it!
Iya, iya ta’ kun wale o
Alu jan jan ki jan