For this week’s Literacy Snack, we’re reading Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae.

“A wonderfully illustrated, fun tale depicting an important message through Gerald, the giraffe. All the jungle animals have their own specialty dance except poor Gerald. Their teasing and bullying has Gerald feeling sad and bad about himself. However, with a little advice and encouragement, he soon learns it’s OK to be different and those who are just “Need a different song.” Sashaying and boogying, Gerald finds his rhythm and shines.”

The plot presents a great opportunity to discuss the harmful effects of teasing and laughing at others who are different, while at the same time encouraging those who don’t fit in, to have fun and accept their uniqueness. It also a great way to set the stage for growth mindset. Asking, what can you not do yet?

To tie it all together, we’re making Gerald the giraffe for our snack this week.

Ingredients

1 Nutter Butter cookie

2 small candy eyes

1 pretzel stick

1 mini Nilla Wafer cookie

2 raisins

2 brown/chocolate sprinkles

Assemble

Have the students place the mini Nilla Wafer at the bottom of the cookie as his nose area. Add in the two brown sprinkles as his nostrils. Break the pretzel stick in half and add to the top of the cookie as his little horns. Place the two raisins on the outer side of the horns as his ears. Last, add his eye balls. He turns out so cute!

While the students are enjoying their snack, I made a free printable for them to work on. They get to think, draw and write about what they would like to do but can’t do yet like Gerald.