The Giving Tree Icebreaker
Grade Levels: K - 3
Third-grade teacher Stephanie Silver says, "After reading The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein, a book that most if not all my students had heard at least once, I came up with an idea of how to tie literature and life skills together. I decided to have the class make their own giving tree to help students think of positive gifts to give back to the class. I found that my students really enjoyed this activity and throughout the year showed a great improvement in respect for their fellow classmates."
Objectives
- Students will think of gifts that are meaningful and free.
- Students will get to know their classmates better.
Materials
- White board, chalkboard, or easel
- The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
- Apple die-cuts, 1 or 2 per student
- Tree trunk, branches, and leaves made out of construction paper (size will vary depending on where you wish to display it)
Procedures
- Read The Giving Tree to your class.
- Discuss the theme and the students’ definition of a gift. In the story, the gift is not a material gift, but one that is from the heart.
- Brainstorm a list of gifts that don’t cost money. This idea may take some leading questions, but eventually they’ll get the hang of it. Some of the gifts that might come up are laughter, respect, and perseverance, to name just a few. The list can grow and grow!
- Give each student a gift to write on an apple.
- Make it more fun by splitting up your students and having one act out the gift to another and vice versa.
- Place the apples on the tree.
- Discuss the relevance of giving each other these gifts and how the act of giving will not only make them better students, it will make them better people.
