“The Giving Tree”, by Shel Silverstein is such a beautiful story. This book can be shared a as a read-aloud for younger children, because the story presents powerful morals and life lessons. I am sure most of our viewers are familiar with this story, but is you are not here is a little background information. This book is about a personified tree that has deep love for a little boy and the little boy loves her. The boy grows older and older and every time he comes to visit her when he gets older, all he ends up doing is taking from the tree. Despite this the tree continues to love the tree and in the end they the boy is an old man and the tree is only a stump, but they end up together again.
The life lessons of love, happiness, and greed are obvious in this text. It will touch the heart of all readers young and old. It can be a text integrated for science and ELA. The book helps the reader learn about trees and what they contribute to the world and the powerful themes in the text can allow several writing prompt lessons for a third grade class. Another great idea would that would encompass writing, and science concepts, would be to also read “The Lorax”, by Dr. Seuss after reading “The Giving Tree”. Both texts present many on the same issues. Students could compare and contrast the differences and similarities between the two.
This book is a great way to get children to appreciate what they have. So many people, young and old, strive for the "next best thing" just as the young boy growing up did. Our nation needs to stop wanting "things" and start loving the people and world around us. Happiness is often found in the simple things.
ReplyDeleteI think this book is incredible! I remember reading it as a child in the classroom and I still enjoy reading it as an adult. It has such a beautiful life lesson to it and I completely agree with this nation having to "stop wanting things" and absolutely start being grateful for whatever we have around us. Once again, this book is an excellent source to introduce appreciation in all things as well as being more humble.
ReplyDeleteThis book would be great to read for the classroom! Many kids take everything for granted and they do not know how good they have everything. You could do a lesson on appreciating things and have each student come up with a list of everything they appreciate in their life. It would be an eye opener for how many good things they have!
ReplyDeleteI could not agree more with all of you! This book is a favorite of mine and I wish it had been read to me as a child. I actually did not discover this text until I was an undergraduate. The first time I read it, I started to tear up. I know it might sound corny but it is true. It was then I knew how amazing this book really is. If it could touch a young adult like that, just imagine what it could do for children!
ReplyDeleteCarrie, children do tend to take things for granted and so do adults. This text makes us stop to think that everything in life has a purpose and that purpose is not to just be there for the personal benefit of humans. Your lesson idea is wonderful. I feel more lessons like yours should be implemented in classroom, for all ages.
I wonder have any of you come across any other texts that have some or the same morals as “The Giving Tree”. I would love to learn more about other books I have not discovered yet.
Thank you so much for responding to my post and for participating in my groups blog :)
This book is wonderful to teach children about respect and greed. The students earn to love the tree and all of it's loving characteristics, but as the tree gets used, the love that it can give is less and less. This is a wonderful way to teach students about caring for others and being respectful. This book is and always will be a classic!
ReplyDeleteAlison,
ReplyDeleteThis book is a classic. I just adore it. You are absolutely right it has the theme of caring, something this world has a lack of in my opinion. Emergent literacy students should have this book read to them, because it teaches them so many valuable life lessons and it can help them establish that love of reading. Thank you for your comment!