“I can’t draw!” If you’ve heard this in your classroom, this Giraffes Can’t Dance activity gives students a chance to try, practice, and discover new strategies. Through giraffe directed drawing and reflection, students explore how their work can change when they keep learning.
Pair this STEAM lesson with Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae to connect reading, art, and growth mindset. Students create four giraffe drawings, using different supports along the way and reflecting on their progress.
Start with a Read-Aloud
Plan a creative read-aloud extension with this Giraffes Can’t Dance STEAM activity! Elementary students create four giraffe drawings, try different drawing supports, and write about what they like and want to improve. With printable journal pages and a directed drawing guide, this growth mindset activity brings art and reflection together. Save it for back-to-school lessons or a classroom focus on perseverance!
Begin by reading Giraffes Can’t Dance. Gerald’s experience provides a starting point for talking about challenges, confidence, and finding an approach that works for you.
Ask students:
How does Gerald feel when dancing is difficult?
Have you ever felt frustrated while learning something new?
What can you do when your first attempt doesn’t turn out as planned?
Introduce the drawing challenge by explaining that students will have several opportunities to practice. Each drawing is a chance to try a strategy and learn something about their work.
Gather Your Materials
Build confidence with this Giraffes Can’t Dance activity! Students use a giraffe directed drawing guide, printable STEAM journal, and reflection pages to practice trying new strategies. Pair this growth mindset activity with your favorite read-aloud for a creative lesson that connects art, writing, and perseverance. Save this idea for your elementary classroom!
This activity uses simple classroom supplies:
Printed directed drawing journals
Pencils and erasers
Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
The included giraffe drawing guide
A device and screen to show the drawing video linked in the lesson
The resource includes teacher instructions, drawing and reflection pages, a six-step giraffe drawing guide, and a final growth mindset reflection.
Draw, Reflect, and Try Again
Looking for Giraffes Can’t Dance activities that encourage perseverance? This elementary STEAM lesson combines giraffe drawing with growth mindset writing prompts. Students draw, reflect, and try again through four drawing rounds, using step-by-step directions and a video tutorial along the way. A simple read-aloud extension for practicing creativity and reflecting on progress!
First, draw independently. Give students approximately 10 minutes to draw a giraffe using their current drawing skills. Then have them write about something they like and something they want to improve. Encourage students to notice specific details, such as the giraffe’s neck, legs, or spots.
Next, use the directed drawing guide. Students create a second giraffe using the included step-by-step template. The guide offers support while leaving room for individual choices. Remind students to consider their first reflection as they draw, then pause for another written reflection.
Then, try a video tutorial. For the third drawing, students follow the video linked in the teacher instructions. This gives them another way to observe the drawing process and try new techniques. Afterward, students reflect on what they like and what they would still like to change.
Finally, bring everything together. Students use what they have learned to create a fourth and final giraffe drawing. Allow time for thoughtful details and coloring. Displaying the drawings in order can help students see how their choices and strategies changed throughout the activity.
Make Growth Mindset Visible
Bring Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae into your art and STEAM lessons! After reading about Gerald, students practice drawing a giraffe and reflect on their progress. This book companion activity connects literacy, creativity, and growth mindset with simple classroom supplies. An engaging way to start conversations about confidence, challenges, and learning something new!
The reflection process is an essential part of this lesson. Students do more than repeat a drawing—they identify a goal, use support, and decide what to try next.
Encourage observations such as, “The guide helped me draw the legs,” or “I tried a different shape for the head.” Students may prefer different features from different attempts, and that can lead to a useful conversation about how learning develops.
Finish with the included growth mindset reflection page. Students explain what a growth mindset means, how they demonstrated it, and how their drawing changed during the activity.
Connect Art, Writing, and STEAM
This Giraffes Can’t Dance directed drawing activity combines creative expression with written reflection. It also introduces a process students can use during STEM challenges: make an attempt, examine the result, try a new strategy, and revise.
Use it for a read-aloud extension, a growth mindset lesson, or a classroom art activity. You can spread the drawing rounds across several sessions to give students time to reflect.
With a familiar story, simple materials, and opportunities to practice, students can begin replacing “I can’t draw” with “What could I try next?”
This lesson is available in Carly and Adam’s store and as a FREE Download for STEM Teachers Club members.
Spend Less Time Planning and More Time Teaching!
Hands-on STEM learning starts here.
Find ready-to-use STEM Activities and Science Curriculum, Practical Professional Development, and a Community of Educators to help you teach STEM with confidence.
You can get all 1000+ STEM Challenges by Carly and Adam as part of the STEM Teachers Club. Save 30% on your first month/year using coupon Code: CarlyAndAdamBlog.