Dancing Hands by Margarita Engle Read-Aloud Activities

This picture book companion for Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln by Margarita Engle offers 45 print-and-go activities designed to meet the unique needs of your students. From identifying story elements and analyzing characters to making inferences and determining the theme, this resource helps students think critically and engage with the text. The activities encourage students to provide text evidence, express their own thoughts, and apply higher-level thinking skills—all while making learning fun and engaging.

⭐️This Resource Includes:⭐️

• Judging by the Cover: Students analyze the book cover and answer questions.

• Story Elements: Students identify key story elements using words and pictures.

• Sequencing: Retell and illustrate the main events of the story.

• Character Traits: Identify two traits that describe Teresa, with examples from the text.

• Character Change: Explain how Teresa changes throughout the story and the events that cause the change.

• Overcoming Obstacles: Discuss challenges Teresa faces and how she responds.

• Setting Influences the Plot: Analyze how the story's setting contributes to mood and plot development.

• Author’s Message: Identify four key events and discuss the author’s message.

• Making Inferences: Use details from the text to make inferences and connect them to the story.

• 3-2-1: Explore three emotions Teresa felt, two key moments in her journey, and one word that best describes her.

• Dear Piano: Write a letter from Teresa to her piano, reflecting on its significance.

• Compare and Contrast: Compare Teresa’s life in Venezuela and the United States.

• The Perfect Playlist: Design a soundtrack with songs that represent key moments and themes from the story.

• Diary Entry: Write a diary entry from Teresa’s perspective about a significant event.

• Design a Concert Flyer: Create a flyer advertising one of Teresa’s concerts.

• Music Appreciation: Listen to a Teresa Carreño composition and respond to questions about it.

This resource also includes crossword puzzles, book reviews, podcast interview prep, a biography research brochure, and more! It's a comprehensive toolkit for diving deep into Teresa Carreño's inspiring story.