Katie Morag and the Dancing Class
#9 of 15 in Katie Morag Series
on Goodreads (52)
What’s inside...
The Two Grandmothers have decided that Katie Morag is to take ballet classes, much to her dismay as she prefers her usual activities on a Saturday morning. Despite her initial reluctance, Grannie Island encourages her, saying it will help her coordination, while Granma Mainland looks forward to seeing her granddaughter in a pink ballet outfit. However, Katie Morag consistently arrives late to her ballet classes, and one day, she is so late that she accidentally joins a tap dancing class. Intrigued by tap dancing and longing to join, she faces the dilemma of not having the right shoes and not wanting to ask Granma Mainland for another pair. Fortunately, Grannie Island creatively transforms Katie Morag's wellies into tap boots, allowing her to participate and eventually become the star of the dance performance, winning over even Granma Mainland.
Character compass
Katie Morag
Mrs. Maccoll
Discussion points
How do you think Katie Morag felt about going to her first dancing class?
What would you have done in Katie Morag’s shoes when she faced challenges in her dancing class?
Why is it important to try new things, even if they seem difficult at first?
How did Katie Morag’s family and friends support her in her dancing journey?
What did Katie Morag learn from her experience at the dancing class?
Tip: Role play these questions
Ensure to listen actively to your child’s responses, making them feel heard and encouraging them to express their thoughts freely.
Relate the story to your child’s experiences with trying new activities or learning new skills, discussing both challenges and achievements they’ve encountered.
Highlight the importance of persistence and encouragement, just like Katie Morag received, in overcoming obstacles and trying new things.
Encourage your child to draw parallels between how Katie Morag's community supported her, and how your family and friends support each other.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The value of perseverance
Explanation: Katie Morag struggles with learning steps in her dancing class but keeps trying despite the difficulties.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to persist through challenges in school or in learning new skills, understanding that effort leads to improvement.
Example Lesson: Respect for cultural traditions
Explanation: The book highlights traditional Scottish dances, showing Katie Morag's participation and learning.
Real-World Application: Kids can appreciate and engage with different cultural histories and practices, promoting diversity and inclusion.
Example Lesson: Importance of community involvement
Explanation: Katie Morag’s dancing class involves various community members, fostering a sense of community.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to participate in community activities, building social skills and a sense of belonging.
Example Lesson: Dealing with embarrassment
Explanation: Katie Morag feels embarrassed when she makes mistakes in her dance class but learns to overcome her embarrassment.
Real-World Application: Teaches children to cope with and overcome feelings of embarrassment in public or social settings.
Example Lesson: Joy of learning new skills
Explanation: Despite initial struggles, Katie Morag finds joy in mastering the dances, showing the emotional rewards of learning.
Real-World Application: Children are motivated to undertake new learning experiences, understanding that the joy of achievement is worth the effort.