“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.
Skippyjon Jones author Judy Schachner has created a site a for her books. Skippyjon Jones is a series about a Siamese cat that is certain he is a Chihuahua dog and the many adventures he has. The site Skippyjonjones.com presents numerous activities for the classroom, using reader's theater or wordle.net (a site that allows the insertion of words and then creates various designs with the words) opportunities to practice Spanish, sing songs, and many printables. The Skippyjon Jones site offers many activites for students to use on-line, to help with comprehension or to dress up Skippyjon Jones in his many costumes. The Skippyjon Jones series can be used with grades 1-3. The Skippyjon Jones books are very funny and encourage students to use their imagination. The video displays a little about the Siamese cat/Chiuacha dog name Skippyjon Jones.
