Jingle Dancer by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Verbal/ Linguistic
1. When Jenna visits her Great-aunt Sis she tells her the story about Bat (again). Is there a story you love to hear told to you? What is it? Retell the story to one of your classmates, so they can share it too.
2. In the story, the author uses personification to describe the times of day:
As Moon kissed Sun good night
As Sun fetched morning
As Sun caught a glimpse of Moon
How could you use personification to describe the seasons?
Logical/ Mathematical
In the story, Jenna needs four rows of jingles to finish her dress. Can you identify anything else that comes in fours? (The author's note mentions: the four directions, four seasons, four stages of life, and four colors of man).
Visual/ Spatial (a good bulletin board activity)
After identifying all of the above, create a picture using any media you like. Use a variety of color, texture and pattern so that you will remember them!
Body/ Kinesthetic
Dancing is a terrific exercise. Brainstorm a list of all the different kinds of dance you can think of. List, too, if any of them have special costumes or regalia that are worn. Then, get those feet moving! If anyone has a dance they know which is celebrated in their culture, perhaps they would share it. Note: it is strongly recommended that the children do not imitate a powwow or otherwise "play" Indian; instead, feature another form of dance. (If you want to integrate a powwow into the curriculum, you might consider a powwow video or taking the children on a field trip to a powwow in your area).
Musical/ Rhythmic
Jenna’s heart beats to the “brum, brum, brum, brum of the powwow drum.” Find something, other than an actual drum, that would create this sound. Then, create other rhythms that you think match the rhythm of the words in this story.
Interpersonal
Jenna never asks for more than one row of jingles. Why? Have you ever asked for more than you should have? Write a brief journal about the times when maybe you should ask for less.
Intrapersonal
In the story, Jenna goes to visit her Great-aunt Sis, Mrs. Scott, and Cousin Elizabeth. If you were going to be in a big performance, who would you go tell? Who might you ask for help in getting ready for it? Write a letter to one of them telling about this story you read, and how it made you think of them!
Prediction/ Pre-reading Guide
Pre-Reading
What can you tell about the story just by reading the title and looking at the cover? Who do you think this story is about? Why do you think so?
Have you ever heard of a powwow? What do you think it would be like?
Prediction guide:
1. Why do you suppose Jenna waits last to ask her Grandma for jingles?
2. Do you think Great-aunt Sis will come see Jenna dance?
3. Do you think someone will video-tape Jenna’s dance like they did Grandma Wolfe?
4. Who will Jenna tell about the powwow? Why?
Comprehension Questions for
Jingle Dancer by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Knowledge
1. Explain what a jingle does.
2. Identify the characters who help Jenna prepare for the powwow.
Comprehension
1. Describe what happens in the story in your own words.
2. Retell why each person can’t dance at the powwow.
Application
1. What can you learn from the way Jenna solved her problem?
2. What did you learn about contemporary Native Americans?
Analysis
1. How is a jingle dance similar to a ballet recital? How is it different?
2. Examine where each of the characters live. Is it what you expected? Why or why not?
Synthesis
1. Imagine you were going to jingle dance. What things would you have to learn before that would be possible?
2. What events are important in your family each year? In what ways do you prepare for them?
Evaluation
1. What do you suppose happens after the powwow?
2. Which scene of the book is your favorite? Why?
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