Learning Outcomes

• To explore Identity and Individuality through story “Giraffes Can’t Dance” by Giles Andreae,
• To discuss the giraffe’s  individual talents as a dancer and talk about pupils’ own individual talents,
• To discuss the giraffe’s feelings throughout the story (from feeling ashamed/embarrassed/sad at not dancing in the same style as the other animals to feeling proud/joyful/happy with his own dance).

Introduction

• Begin the lesson with Circle Time, asking each child, while holding the Speaking Object, to name one thing that he/she is good at (if they wish to participate),
• Tell the children we will listen to a story about a giraffe who feels sad because he thinks he cannot dance like the other animals,
• Listen  the story “Giraffes Can’t Dance” by Giles Andreae (teacher reads book or see animations/story being read aloud .https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZjsLK5vwNU )

Development

• Discuss the story through questioning – how did Gerald feel when his knees buckled?  how did Gerald feel about the Jungle Dance?, how would you feel if you were Gerald?Should the other animals have been laughing at Gerald? Do you think the cricket had good advice for Gerald? Can you remember what he said?
• “Sometimes when you’re different, you just need a different song”- open up discussion on what this means (individuality) and associate it with children’s own lives (e.g., we all have different shoe sizes for different foot sizes, each of us has individual tastes like favourite colours, favourite TV programme etc.) – we are all different and unique.
• Relate own discussion to Gerald – Gerald danced beautifully to different music but found the music of the Jungle Dance difficult to dance to.

Plenary

• Encourage each pupil to choose his/her own favourite part of the story and illustrate it,
• Discuss why it was your favourite part,
• Recap on what Individuality means.