Mindset Monday (Giraffes Can't Dance)

I have used the book Giraffes Can't Dance (affiliate link) to teach lessons on problem solving, perseverance, diversity and self-esteem and I recently realized that Giraffes Can't Dance is another great book for teaching mindset and "the power of yet".  Apparently I'm not the only one who made this connection as I found a FREE worksheet on TPT, made by The OCD Teacher in Room 112, where students are given the opportunity to reflect on something that they can't do yet and then write about how they can get there.  You can find that worksheet for FREE HERE.  I also found a packet that costs only $1.00 on TPT, made by Growth-Mindset-In-Action,  This packet, which focuses on growth mindset and ability, can be purchased HERE.  The Brown Bag Teacher also posted a great lesson on her blog. You can find that lesson HERE.  I plan to have my students create a bulletin board called "Giraffe's CAN Dance".  I will try to post a picture when it is complete.  You can purchase Giraffes Can't Dance HERE.

If you want to use Giraffes Can't Dance for other topic areas you can find some great ideas below:

Connections:

Exploring Diversity with "Giraffes Can't Dance" by Reed-Resources

Problem Solving/Feelings by Kristen-Brooks-Dankovich

Giraffes Can't Dance-A lesson on Kindness

Giraffes Can't Dance: Responsible Behavior, Self-confidence Development, Trustworthiness

Mindset Monday and The Pout Pout Fish

It has been awhile since I have done a Mindset Monday post!  I have been using The Pout Pout Fish books a lot this year and I was thrilled when I found The Pout-Pout Fish Goes to School.  It is a great book for talking about mindset and the "power of yet".  There are a lot of really cheap resources on TPT that I purchased to help me teach this lesson.  You could easily teach this lesson without purchasing anything additional but I couldn't help myself:)

You can purchase The Pout-Pout Fish Goes to School HERE.

The Pout Pout Fish Goes to School Writing Activity ($1.00 on TPT)

Growth Mindset lesson about New Beginnings ($1.25 on TPT)

Growth Mindset Reading Response Activities ($3.00 on TPT)

Pout Pout Fish Facts : You Are Smart (Free on TPT)

Empathy (Hey, Little Ant)

Hey, Little Ant is a great book that challenges readers to look at life from an insect's point of view.  It is the perfect book for teaching empathy.   It can be really difficult for young students to understand the concept of "standing in someone's shoes" and this book does a really good job of showing just what this means.  

Hey, Little Ant can be used to teach so many different topics.  The teacher's guide lists the following:

Respecting differences

Fostering respect for all living things

Considering stereotypes

Recognizing alternatives to resolving tension through violence

Exploring concepts of big and small, powerful and powerless

Standing up to peer pressure

Connections:
I absolutely love the lesson that lunchbuddiesplus shared on her blog.  She uses Hey, Little Ant to show the difference between  a "thinking of you" person vs. a "just me" person.

You can also get some ideas from the Hey, Little Ant Teacher's Guide.

Some good resources on TPT:
Social Skills, Perspective Taking, Thinking about others  ($3.50)


Bullying- Hey Little Ant! ($3.50)


These are all FREE on TPT:
Hey Little Ant Point of View by Lockwood's Little Learners


Ant Writing Response Pages {Freebie} by Jen Ross - Teacher by the Beach


Hey, Little Ant Opinion/Persuasive Writing by Creativity-To-The-Core



Ant Craftivity by Kelly-Morgan


Hey Little Ant Bulletin Board Writing  by Working-4-The-Classroom

Hey, Little Ant! Reader's Theater by Hanssen-House