Monkey & Leopard Study Guide
(a work in progress)

Home | Mark Shepard | K-12 Schools | Monkey & Leopard | Study Guide

Field Guide To The Drums

Cool Sound Effects Instrument Making Guide

How To Be A Genius

A Note to Teachers: The drums and stories of Africa form an ocean that is so deep and vast one could dive into it and never surface. I keep finding new stories to add to the repertoire that are just too good to leave out. I keep adding new drums to my collection. So by necessity this program has to be flexible. I have done my best to include the most likely stories I might tell in this program. But I might have found a new one the day before I appear at your school. Please forgive me if what I tell is not yet here! As far as this study guide, it is by it’s very nature a "work in progress." I’ve done my best to provide some basic information as well as discussion starters and a few simple activities that could be used to integrate my performance into your classroom. Because I work with such a large age span I aimed somewhat down the middle. So feel free to use whatever you find helpful. I also welcome ideas and suggestions so please don’t hesitate to write or call me.  Thanks!

Field Guide To The Drums

Cool Sound Effects Instrument Making Guide

How To Be A Genius

Monkey & Leopard: this story explains a number of things.

a. Why leopards eat meat.
b. Why monkeys live in trees.
c. How drums came to be invented
d. Why you never mess with a drummer’s drum without first asking permission.

1. Can you make up your own story explaining one or more things about your own world? A few examples that come to mind: Why are stop signs shaped the way they are? Why is a driveway where you park your car but a parkway is where you drive your car? Where does the rain come from? How do make people small enough to climb inside your Television set? Get creative! Look around you. Make something up!

2. Have you ever "Borrowed" something from someone without their permission? Did you get caught? Tell the story of what happened.

Curiosity: 

1. This story is a "circle" tale. And could literally be told over and over. Can you think of any other stories that never have an end?

2. To create "Curiosity" I took an old African story and turned it into what I call a "story song." Are there any "story songs" that you know? What are they?

3. Have you ever been so curious about something that you broke it? What was it? How old were you? Did you get in trouble? Did anyone find out? How did you feel? (In other words tell me the story of your own "curiosity".

Anansi and the Talking Drum - The Anansi stories from Africa are related to "trickster tales" from all over the world.

1. Can you think of one or more cartoon characters that are tricksters?

2. It seems to me that there are two kinds. One type of trickster character always comes out on top. Another type of trickster always seems to end up with the trick being played on him. Can you think of any examples of this in Books? Cartoons? Movies?

3. Has anyone ever play a trick on you? Tell the story.

4. Have you ever played a trick on someone else? Tell the story?

That’s Ridiculous!: In this story various vegetables, animals and inanimate objects talk to people.

1. How would you feel if it happened to you?

2. Do you have any special possession that would be even more special if they could talk to you? What are they?

Why Lions Don't Fly: In this story little rubber lipped frog tricks causes mihgty Lion to lose the power to fly. 

1. Can you think of any other stories where someone mighty and powerful is conquered or tricked by someone who appears weak? What are they?

2. Can you think of any other animals who would be really scary with the ability to fly? Can you make up your own story about how they used to be able to fly but for some reason or another lost the ability?

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All content Copyright by Mark Shepard.  All Rights Reserved. Used by permission. Revised: November 08, 2007 .