Dancing Hands

Name: Dancing Hands
Author: Margarita Engle

A story that explores courage and opens a conversation with your child.

★★★★★ Loved by families

Read the Guiding Questions Find this book →

♥ This book teaches: Courage. doing what is right even when it is hard.

Before, During & After Reading

Guiding Questions for Parents.

Definition: Courage is the willingness to go beyond fear to face a healthy (not foolish) challenge, even though it could be painful, risky, or end in failure. In short: Do good, try hard even when it’s scary. Summary: Teresa Carreno was a talented and aspiring young musician from Venezuela. When war broke out in her country, the family moved to the U.S.A. where there was also a war - the Civil War. At first she was shy in her new country but playing the piano and composing songs helped her face challenges. She became a sensation and was finally invited to play for President Lincoln who was leading the nation at a very difficult time. The Lincolns also lost their son, prior to Teresa’s arrival. She wanted to comfort the grieving family and she succeeded in that. After that, she toured all over the world bringing joy to her listeners and inspiration to fellow pianists and composers. Lesson Objectives:

Students discuss ideas about how people like Teresa overcome obstacles to achieve success.
They discuss how they can use her example of courage and dedication to achieve success in their own lives.

Guiding Questions:

How did Teresa’s parents influence Teresa to love music?
What kind of songs did Teresa like to play?
Why did her family have to leave Venezuela?
How did her musical abilities help Teresa cope with sadness when she moved to the U.S.A.?
Teresa had two nicknames - what were they?
What did Teresa do to show that she had courage?
Have you ever performed on stage? If so, what was it like?
Find internet recordings of pieces composed by Teresa Carreno and listen to them.
Do you play a musical instrument? If not, which one would you like to learn to play?
When you feel sad do you like to listen to music? If so, what kind of songs cheer you up? If not, is there something else you like to do that makes you feel better?

🌿 Virtue Connection: Courage means acting on what is right even in the presence of fear.

About the Story.

This guide is part of the Values & Virtues library, a free collection of 400+ book guides and activities organized around 12 core virtues for children from pre-K to 6th grade. Each guide includes Guiding Questions designed to open a real conversation with your child in 10 minutes or less.

Read-aloud video · Best with headphones

Find this book at your library or bookstore →

Explore more guides for 3rd & 4th Grade.

Browse all Courage guides See all 12 virtues

Courage · Family Discussion Guide

Dancing Hands

by Margarita Engle

Guiding Questions

Students discuss ideas about how people like Teresa overcome obstacles to achieve success.
They discuss how they can use her example of courage and dedication to achieve success in their own lives.

Guiding Questions:

How did Teresa’s parents influence Teresa to love music?
What kind of songs did Teresa like to play?
Why did her family have to leave Venezuela?
How did her musical abilities help Teresa cope with sadness when she moved to the U.S.A.?
Teresa had two nicknames - what were they?
What did Teresa do to show that she had courage?
Have you ever performed on stage? If so, what was it like?
Find internet recordings of pieces composed by Teresa Carreno and listen to them.
Do you play a musical instrument? If not, which one would you like to learn to play?
When you feel sad do you like to listen to music? If so, what kind of songs cheer you up? If not, is there something else you like to do that makes you feel better?

valuesandvirtues.org · Made possible by our supporters

Dancing Hands

Guiding Questions for Parents.

About the Story.

More Courage guides.

A Little SPOT of Courage

Amy Wu and the Warm Welcome

Be Brave, Little Penguin

Before She Was Harriet

Explore more guides for 3rd & 4th Grade.

Dancing Hands

Guiding Questions