The Giving Tree

Module 1
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

The story the giving tree is about a friendship between a boy and a tree. The tree tried to give the boy everything he asks for. The little boy asks for money and the tree gave him apples to sell. He asked for a house and the tree offered branches for lumber. The tree was shade from the sun. If the boy is happy the tree is happy. The boy became too old to play in tree, he asked for a boat. The tree is cut down to a stump to make a boat. Eventually the boy leaves the tree. He returned years later when he was much older. The tree did not have anything left to give but he had a stump for him to sit. The tree was happy.

My Impression
This was a very good book to read. It seems the boy- turn man is very selfish. He wanted everything he could get from the tree. All he did was take and not give anything in return. I don’t remember reading anything in the story about the boy giving the tree anything. One thing I realized is the tree is a true friend. It does not matter how he is treated by the boy he is always there for him. There could possibly be a lot of lessons in this story. But, there was nothing in the story that really made it clear what it is. I am sure everyone will have their own interpretation of what the lesson is.


How would I use this as a lesson in classroom?
Discussion
The students will to the story the Giving Tree. The students will discuss if the boy is a good friend to the tree, why or why Not.
Students will create a tree and on that tree they will list one person’s name they consider a true friend. On each branch they will list which they chose that individual.

Bibliography

The giving tree
Shel Silverstein - HarperCollins - New York - 2004