Study Guide for the Creative Arts Theater Production of
WHY MOSQUITOES BUZZ IN PEOPLE’S EARS
AN AFRICAN FOLKTALE
Based on the award-winning book by Verna Aardema
Image from the original book art by Leo and Diane Dillon
Immerse your students in the traditions, rhythms and narrative spirit of Africa!
Mosquito wants to make himself seem important, so he tells a big lie. This lie leads to
consequences he would have never expected. Students will encounter puppets,
masks, and creative movement as they explore the wide range of emotions that are
evoked in this award-winning story. This visually stunning show is presented by
Creative Arts Theater, the Performing Arts Division of the Tampa Parks and Recreation
Department.
This program is presented as part of the Artists-in-the-Schools Program, which is funded & jointly
sponsored by the Hillsborough County School District and the Arts Council of Hillsborough County.
BEFORE THE SHOW
Pre-Performance Activities and Discussion Questions
Synopsis
Mosquito tells Iguana an exaggerated story that annoys Iguana so much that he puts sticks
in his ears so he doesn’t have to hear such nonsense. This sets off a chain reaction of
mishaps between, Iguana, Python, Rabbit, Crow and Monkey. This sequence of events
eventually involves Mother Owl, who in return refuses to hoot and wake the sun. A council is
called by King Lion to find out why the jungle has been plunged into darkness. Each animal
is questioned and places blame on another. But in the end, Mosquito is identified as the
culprit. Mosquito learns her lesson but is plagued by a guilty conscience. She still travels
from ear to ear whining, “Are you still angry with me?”
Characters
o Mosquito - Likes to exaggerate to appear more important
o Iguana – Easily annoyed by nonsense
o Python – Sensitive and suspicious
o Rabbit – Easily frightened and fearful
o Crow – Messenger, alert to danger
o Monkey – Excitable and easily thrown into a panic
o King Lion – King of the jungle community
o Mother Owl – Devoted mother and the character that wakes the sun
o Baby Owlets – Babies still in nest and not yet able to fly
Read About It!
Introduce the book by saying something such as,
"How many of you have been outside at dusk and had a mosquito come
buzzing around your ear? What did you do? How did you feel? Today we
will be reading a story – an African legend that gives a possible
explanation why mosquitoes buzz in our ears. Before we begin, tell me
why you think mosquitoes buzz in people's ears?”
Read the story, Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears, by Verna Aardema to your students
by either reading aloud or asking students to read aloud.
Vocabulary
Did you come across any unfamiliar words when you read the story? Here are some you
may not have known. Review the words and use each one in a sentence.
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Yam – a root vegetable that is grown and eaten in Africa.
Mischief – an action that is naughty or that may cause harm.
Duty – is what should be done because it is right or important.
Nonsense- something that is silly or does not make sense.
Council - a group that meets to discuss something or to make plans.
Satisfied – when someone’s needs or wishes are met.
Tidbit – a small bit of food.
Folktales
A folktale is a story that is passed down through generations by word of mouth. The
stories rarely ended with the words "and they all lived happily ever after". Usually the
stories taught a lesson, and often, the character learned that lesson the hard way.
Storytellers retell folktales, adding their own personal touches to entertain listeners and
to teach a moral, or lesson. Myths, tall tales, legends, fables, and fairy tales are all
folktales.
Discussion Questions:
• What do you think the moral of this story is? What does the story want us to
learn?
• Can you think of any other stories that have morals?
Think About It!
Ask students to make predictions about the play they’re going to see based upon their
knowledge of the source text and what they have learned about the subject matter.
Discussion Questions:
• Which characters do you expect to see onstage?
• How do you imagine the location will be created onstage?
• How do you imagine the scenery, costumes and props will look?
• How will the characters be brought to life?
• Will there be music? If so, how will it sound?
Activity: Now that you’re students have imagined the play, have them take out some
paper and crayons and draw what we think the play might look like!
Additional Pre-Performance Discussion Questions
•
Discuss some of the characteristics of folktales, fables and legends. For example,
talking animals, repetition, humor, magic, etc. Which characteristics were found in this
story?
•
In this story, Mosquito tells a lie to seem more important. Has anyone you know done
this? Have you ever done this to someone else?
•
Review known information about mosquitoes. Discuss why mosquitoes might buzz
around people’s heads.
Standards Connected to Pre-Performance Discussion & Activities:
LAFS.K.RL.1.1 – With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key
details in a text.
LAFS.1.RL.1.2 - Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of
their central message or lesson.
LAFS.2.RL.1.2 - Recount stories, including fables and folktales from diverse cultures, and
determine their central message, lesson, or moral.
LAFS.3.RL.1.1 - Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text,
referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
LAFS.4.RL.1.3 - Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama,
drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character’s thoughts, words, or actions.)
LAFS.5.RL.1.2 – Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text,
including how characters in a story or drama respond to challenges or how the speaker in
a poem reflects upon a topic.
Theater Etiquette
We would appreciate it if you would read this special welcome to your students before
the show.
We are thrilled that you have come to see the play Why Mosquitos Buzz in People’s
Ears!
In order to make sure that everyone enjoys the show, here are some rules that we all
need to follow.
When you watch TV at home, you can talk all you want, and it doesn’t disturb the
people on the screen. But here, Mosquito, Iguana and Mother Owl can hear you!! A
live theatrical performance is different than watching a movie or TV show. The actor’s
rely on the audience’s attention and energy in order to give their best performance.
Please make sure that you are not talking or distracting those around you during the
play. Sit properly in your own chair and keep your hands and feet in your own area.
So what can you do? It is okay to laugh if something is funny and to clap at the end of
scenes and the show. We love those sounds!
After the play, the actors will share time with you to answer any questions you may
have, so be thinking about things you would like to know more about as the play
unfolds.
We want you to have a good time and we hope that you enjoy the show!
Standards Connected to Theater Etiquette:
TH.K.S.1.1 - Demonstrate appropriate audience behavior at a live performance.
TH.1.S.1.1 - Exhibit appropriate audience etiquette and response.
TH.2.S.1.1- Exhibit the behavior necessary to establish audience etiquette, response, &
constructive criticism.
TH.3.S.1.1 - Demonstrate effective audience etiquette and constructive criticism for
a live performance.
TH.4.S.1.1. - Exhibit proper audience etiquette, give constructive criticism, & defend
personal responses.
TH.5.S.1.1- Describe the difference in responsibilities between being an audience member
at live or recorded performances.
AFTER THE SHOW
Post-Performance Activities and Discussion Questions
Think About It!
Discussion Questions:
• How did the characters look?
• Were the characters portrayed like you thought they would be?
• How did the stage look? Was it what you expected?
• Did anything surprise you about the play?
Cause & Effect Discussion Activity
Lead a class discussion to identify the ways of cause and effect as demonstrated by the
characters in the show. Use the following as a guide. Work together in cooperative groups
or individually.
CAUSE
EFFECT
The iguana did not want to hear
the mosquito tell big, fat lies.
He put sticks in his ears.
Iguana did not hear Python’s greeting.
Python thought Iguana was angry with him.
Crow saw rabbit running for her life.
Crow spreads the alarm.
*What is the cause of the following effect?
Monkey started screeching and leaping
through the trees to warn the other animals.
*Answer: Monkey heard the crow calling out a danger alarm
Plot
The plot is what happens in a story. The events in a story usually lead up to a really exciting
event, called the climax. By the conclusion, or end of the story, characters might find solutions
to their problems or answers to their questions.
Activity: Ask students to talk about their favorite parts (plot points) in the show. Next, ask
them put the following events in the correct sequence.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Rabbit saw the python come into her burrow.
King Lion called a meeting of the animals.
Python thought the Iguana was plotting mischief against him.
Mother Owl refuses to wake the sun.
The mosquito has a guilty conscience.
Correct sequence of events: c.a.d.b.e.
Crossword Puzzle
Fill in the blank spaces with the correct words
1
1
2
3
4
2
4
3
5
ACROSS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
When Iguana did not want to hear Mosquito’s lie, he plugged up his _____.
The sound the mosquito makes in your ear.
What did the Iguana put in his ears?
Who killed the baby owlet?
Who called the meeting of all the animals?
DOWN
1.
2.
3.
4.
Who was frightened by Python?
What did the animals fear would never come back?
Who woke the sun?
Who thought Iguana was angry with him?
Crossword Answers
1
1
A
E
R
S
A
2
3
4
3
M
5
2
S
B
B
U
Z
I
T
4
I
C
U
O
N
K
S
N
K
E
W
L
Z
Y
A
K
I
O
N
E
ACROSS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
When Iguana did not want to hear Mosquito’s lie, he plugged up his _____.
The sound the mosquito makes in your ear.
What did the Iguana put in his ears?
Who killed the baby owlet?
Who called the meeting of the animals?
DOWN
1.
2.
3.
4.
Who was frightened by Python?
What did the animals fear would never come back?
Who woke the sun?
Who thought Iguana was angry with him?
Standards Connected to Post-Performance Discussion & Activities:
LAFS.K.SL.1.2 - Confirm understanding of a text read aloud or information presented
orally or through other media by asking and answering questions about key details and
requesting clarification if something is not understood.
LAFS.1.RL.1.3. Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key
details.
LAFS.2.RL.1.3 - Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and
challenges.
LAFS.3.RL.1.3- Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings)
and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events
LAFS.4.RL.3.7 - Make connections between the text of a story or drama and a visual or
oral presentation of the text, identifying where each version reflects specific descriptions
and directions in the text.
LAFS.5.RL.1.3- Compare and contrast two or more characters, setting, or events in a
story of drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact).
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Internet:
Africa –
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/africa/tools/lesson_plans.html
Storytelling in the Classroom –
http://www.storyarts.org/classroom/index.html
Myths, Folktales and Fairy Tales –
http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/mff/
African Folktales http://www.worldoftales.com/African_folktales.html
Sock Puppet Lesson Plan –
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/activity-plan-3-4-pet-puppets-0
Books:
Tales For The Third Ear From Equatorial Africa
Aardema, Verna
Dutton, New York, 1969
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears,
Aardema, Verna
Dial, New York, 1975
Puppets and Masks
Boekholt, Albert
Sterling, New York, 1981
Hat Shaking Dance and Other Ashanti Tales from Ghana
Courtlander, Harold
Harcourt, Brace, World, Inc., 1957
101 Masks
Cummings, Richard
David McKay Company, Inc.
New York, 1968
The Complete Book of Paper Mask Making
Grater, Michael
Dover, New York, 1967
African Village Folk Tales
Kaula, Edna Mason
World Publishing Co., New York, 1968
Anansi The Spider
McDermott, Gerald
Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York, 1972