Giraffes Can't Dance Lesson Plan

Students will:

• Develop skills to hear and identify rhyming words

Book Summary

Colorful illustrations and delightful rhyming text beautifully capture this sensitive tale about a clumsy giraffe that learns to dance to his own special music.

Before Reading

Explain to the class that they are going to listen to a story about a giraffe named Gerald, who gets teased because he is clumsy and unable to dance like the other animals. However, Gerald meets a special friend who helps him. Ask the children if someone has ever helped them learn how to do something new. How did they feel when they could not do what everyone else was doing? How did they feel once they learned how to do it?

Teaching Plan

Booktalk

After reading the book, encourage the students to discover the meaning of the story. What did Gerald have to do in order to become a dancer? Is it important that everyone is able to do the same thing well? Ask the class why they think the author wrote this story. What did he want children to learn from Gerald's experience?

Rhyme Time With Gerald

Read the book several times with the children so they become familiar with the rhythm and rhymes of the text. Encourage them to read along as they learn the story. Plan the following activities to help the children identify and create rhyming words:

• Tell the class that you will leave out some of the rhyming words as you reread the book. Ask them to fill in the missing rhyming words.
• Reread the story and have the class make a list of all of the rhyming word sets. After reading each page ask the children to identify the two words that rhyme. Record each set on chart paper. Review all of the rhyming words, then invite the class to think of more rhyming words to add to their list.
• Invite the children to think of one more rhyming verse for each page using the new rhymes from their list. Offer assistance if needed.
• How many words rhyme with giraffe? Create another word list with the class. Can they compose a rhyme using their words? Provide the children with drawing materials to create a picture to illustrate their rhyme.