Social Emotional Learning
Read-Along Activity: The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Objective
In the book “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein, we learn about a special relationship with a boy, and a tree. As the boy grows older, his love and compassion for the tree, seemingly fades, while the tree’s love for the boy continues on. The tree gives everything she has to the boy, all to make him happy, which makes her happy! This story resonates with students and adults, and is a great display of love and giving. Read this story to your students, or watch the read aloud as a class before participating in an “open circle” discussion about feelings, giving, and caring for others.
Listen to the story “The Giving Tree” and watch the illustrations come alive with the animation.
Instructions
Read “The Giving Tree” to your students or play this read aloud video.
Open Circle Discussion: Make an “open circle” with chairs/ spots/ comfy seats in your classroom. Leave one space open intentionally in the circle to represent the idea that there is always room for one more person, idea, or opinion, in an open circle discussion. Everyone is included, and no one is left out!
Go through “The Giving Tree” discussion questions listed below (printed here) and allow students to take their thoughts and feelings in whatever direction they like!
If students are feeling shy, you can have them answer questions with a partner next to them first, and then ask for 3 volunteer pairs to share their thoughts.
Lean in to topics that students have a lot of thoughts about, and feel free to abandon questions that aren’t resonating with students. This is a free flowing conversation about big topics, so go with what the kids can handle and are interested in!
After the open circle discussion, hand out one worksheet (printed here) to each student. Give them 10-15 minutes to draw their feelings on the page! Feel free to play some relaxing music in the background during this time and encourage students to work alone and connect with their thoughts during this activity.
Open circle discussions are powerful social emotional learning program that get your students thinking and connecting with a topic. These discussions allow all ideas to be heard and for all students to be included. The open chair represents the idea that there is always room for one more idea, person, or opinion!
Discussion Questions
Do you have a tree that you love? Maybe at the park, at school, in your yard at home, or at a family members house!
When the boy was young, how did the boy feel about the tree? When he was growing up, how did he feel about the tree? When he was really old, how did he feel about the tree?
How did the tree feel about the boy the whole story?
What did the tree want the boy to be/feel every time she got to see the boy?
Do you think it is important for humans to care about trees? Why?
Do you think it is important for humans to care about other humans? Why?
When is a time that you have felt like someone in your life has cared about you and wanted you to be happy? Maybe it was a family member, friend, classmate, teacher,etc.
When is a time that you have wanted someone in your life to be happy? How did you help them feel happy?
How do you feel when the people you care about are happy? How do you feel when they are sad?
How can you make someone else happy TODAY?