Literature Links: Giraffes Can’t Dance

literature links

Literature Links for Primary
Giraffes Can’t Dance

Giraffes Can’t Dance written by Giles Andeae, illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees: At the jungle dance, Gerald the clumsy giraffe has four left feet when it comes to dancing. All the other animals in the jungle have their own unique dance which is described in rhythmic prose. To the astonishment of the others, Gerald finds a way to dance to a different kind of music with the help of a friend.

Activity Idea
While listening to jungle music, students will take on the identity of a jungle animal. In a large area they will dance to the music with movement of that particular animal. Back at their desks students will draw a picture of or write about their feelings as they portrayed that animal.

Additional Picture Books about Dancing
Song and Dance Man by Karen Ackerman
My Mama Had A Dancing Heart by Libba Gray
Dancing the Breeze by George Shannon
Dance of the Dinosaurs by Colin Hawkins and Jacqui Hawkins

* published by Scholastic Orchard Books, 2001

Select a primary literature link for grades K-2:

Primary literature link for grades K-2:

	100th Day Worries (Counting)
	Abe Lincoln: The Boy Who Loved Books (Lincoln)
	Abe Lincoln Remembers (Lincoln)
	Abe Lincoln's Hat (Lincoln)
	The Carrot Seed (Plants)
	Election Day (Election)
	Family Pictures / Cuadros de Familia (Family)
	Giraffes Can’t Dance (Dancing)
	Hurty Feelings (Feelings/Emotions)
	I Pledge Allegiance (Community)
	I.Q. Goes to the Library (Research)
	If I Were President (Elections)
	If You Give a Pig a Party
	In My Family/En mi Familia (Family)
	In the Blink of an Eye (Life Science)
	It is the Wind (Weather)
	It's OK to Be Different (Diversity)
	Just Like Home/Como En Mi Tierra (Homes/Community)
	Marianthe’s Story (Art)
	Meet the Orchestra (Music)
	Mercy Watson to the Rescue
	The Mission of Addition (Addition)
	Mr. Wiggle Looks for Answers (Research)
	My Teacher for President (Election)
	Pigs Will Be Pigs (Measurement & Money)
	Recycle Every Day!(Environment)
	Snowy White World to Save (Environment)
	Touch the Poem (Poetry)
	Stinky the Bulldog (Diversity)
	The Upside Down Boy / El Nino de Cabeza (Being Different)
	The Water Hole (Environment)
	The Whole Human Race (Diversity)
	When Marion Copied (Research)
	Whoever You Are(Culture Diversity)

6+1 Traits® Writing Ideas

Project Based Learning: The Zoo
The following are possible ideas or activities to use:

	Animal Strike at the Zoo. It's True!
	If I Ran the Zoo
	Zoo

Other grade levels:

Visit other literature links writing resources:

	for the intermediate grades (3-5)
	for the secondary grades (6-12)