Giraffes Can’t Dance Activities and Teaching Resources
Do your students struggle with their perseverance? Read on to find Giraffes Can’t Dance activities and comprehension questions that promote determination, self-confidence and risk-taking, and starts discussions on bullying.
In Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae Gerald discovers he can dance, even though he thought it was impossible. The book promotes themes of:
– It's okay to be different and do things your own way
– Developing the courage to do what, at first, seems impossible
– Having a growth mindset and support from others helps you do new things.
The book also gives opportunities to teach:
- perseverance and risk-taking
- growth mindset
- following your dreams
- asking questions
- problem and solution
- character traits
- making connections
Scroll down for Giraffes Can’t Dance activities, discussion questions and videos.
Giraffes Can’t Dance Summary
Gerald the giraffe is tall, awkward and clumsy. He wants to dance, but lacks confidence in his abilities. When he attempts to join in the annual Jungle Dance, the other animals laugh at him because everyone knows giraffes can’t dance. Gerald creeps off the dance floor feeling useless and dejected.
Unknown to Gerald, a cricket had been watching. It gives the giraffe support and advice – “Sometimes when you’re different, you just need a different song.” The advice inspires Gerald to find the rhythm in him and is thrilled to find he can actually dance.
The other animals gather to watch the giraffe move. They are amazed at his dancing ability. When they ask how he can dance so well, Gerald tells them everyone can dance when they find music that they love.
Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae
Illustrator: Guy Parker-Rees
Publisher: Orchard Books (2014)
ISBN: 9781841215655
Take a look inside
Guy Parker-Rees Official Website
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- The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds
- The Thing Lou Couldn't Do by Ashely Spires
Giraffes Can’t Dance Activities & Resources
I have created literacy graphic organizers for Giraffes Can’t Dance. You can find them at my Teachers Pay Teachers store. There are many activities for each literacy area to differentiate depending on your student’s ability/age. They include activities for:
- Character Traits and Analysis
- Comprehension Questions and Writing Prompts
- Inferring and Predicting
- Main Idea and Theme
- Making Connections
- Problem and Solution
- Retelling, Sequencing and Summarizing
*Click on these links to discover book recommendations on these topics.
Giraffes Can’t Dance Activities & Links
- Educate & Celebrate: Giraffes Can't Dance Lessons
- The Hanen Centre: Building Vocabulary with Giraffes Can't Dance
- Scholastic: Lesson Plan
- Teaching Ideas: Giraffes Can’t Dance Teaching Ideas and Resources
- Teaching Children Philosophy: Guidelines for Philosophical Discussion
FREE Giraffes Can’t Dance Activities
Would you like free graphic organisers for Giraffes Can’t Dance?
I have a freebie that is part of a larger resource so you can try it out before buying anything!
Fill in the form below to get access to the FREE pack. Click on the image to see the full pack on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Giraffes Can’t Dance Read-Aloud Questions
Read aloud sessions are a wonderful way for children to understand the connection between written text and spoken language. You can model reading habits and strategies, reading fluency, tone and eye contact. You can also introduce different genres, authors and illustrators.
- Do you think giraffes can dance? How do you know?
- Think about things you are good at, or not so good at?
- How do you feel when you can’t do something as well as you wish?
- Does it matter if you are not good at something if you enjoy doing it?
- Describe the problem faced by Gerald and how he solved it.
- How did the illustrations help you understand Gerald’s journey?
- How would you describe Gerald? What are his character traits?
- Why is it a problem to make assumptions about yourself and others?
You can find a full set of discussion cards in the Giraffes Can’t Dance Literacy Bundle or as a separate pack.
Giraffes Can’t Dance Book Videos
Books by Giles Andreae & Guy Parker-Rees
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looking for parent involvement activities
Hi Rebecca,
This website is written for teachers, though parents are more than welcome. I don’t have any specific parent activities, but on each picture book page (like this one) there are activities related to the books. If you do a google search you will find many articles with parent activities for picture books!