The Giving Tree

The Giving Tree

Written and Illustrated by Shel Silverstein

Published in 1964

Grade Level: 2nd-3rd grade 

Synopsis: The Giving Tree is a story about the relationship between a young boy and a tree.  The tree comes to love the boy very much because of the time that the boy spends with it.  As a young child, the boy swings from her branches, rests in her shade, and eats her apples.  As the boy grows up, his relationship with the tree changes.  He no longer rests in her shade or plays in her branches.  The things he wants are no longer as simple as they once were.  The boy, now a young man, asks the tree to let him cut down some of her larger branches in order for him to build a boat to sail away on.  In a selfless act the tree agrees.  Years later the boy comes back, but he is no longer a boy.  He is a young man.  He asks the tree if he can cut her down in order to have lumber to build himself a home.  In yet another act of selflessness the tree agrees.  The tree is no longer a tree, rather just a stump.  Then, many years later, the boy, now an old man, returns and the tree says, "I'm sorry, boy...but I have nothing left to give you."  The boy replies, "I do not need much now, just a quiet place to sit and rest."  The tree then says, "Well, an old tree stump is a good place for sitting and resting. Come boy, sit down and rest." The boy, now an old man, sits down and the tree was happy.

Theme/Skill: Although The Giving Tree is written with few words, the message that it extends is much larger; generosity.  The selfless generosity of the tree towards the boy can teach children that kind acts do not need to be repaid.  The book may be taught before Thanksgiving or Mother/Father's Day in order to connect the theme of the book to the students' appreciation for their parents and what they are thankful for in their own lives.   

Pre-reading activities: In order to help students better understand the theme and concept of this story (or any story) it is important to incorporate an activity that will introduce the themes and concepts present in the story.  One way to do this would be to write the title of the book on the board.  Students could share what they think the story will be about and what the word "giving" means.  They should talk about the meaning of the word, why people give, and who people give to.  Following this discussion, students could fill out the worksheet (seen below) about giving as it pertains to their own lives.  

Pre-reading activity

Post-reading activities: The teacher could use the worksheet (seen below) to talk to the students about order and the main events in the plot.  Discuss with students the meaning of the title, how the feelings of the tree changed throughout the book, and how the boy felt at the end of the book.  Students could create a word list or chart describing the differences between how the boy treated the tree and how the tree treated the boy. 

Post-reading activity

Assessment: The activities mentioned in the pre and post reading activities will be the precursors to a writing activity in which students will brainstorm, write a first draft, conference with the teacher, edit and revise, and write a final draft.  The writing assignment will be brief (appropriate length for second and third grade students) and will be about the generosity that students have seen in their own lives and how they plan to be generous in return.  Students will also write about the relationship between the boy and the tree and how they would do things differently if they had been the ones in that situation. 

Reflection: Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree has become one of his best known titles and has been translated into more than thirty languages (Wikipedia. August 26, 2011. "The Giving Tree").  Anyone who has read the book can understand why so many people have fallen in love the story about the tree and the boy.  As a child I remember feeling sorry for the tree when the boy left her or what the boy took something from her.  I wanted the boy to tell her thank you when she gave him what he wanted and I wanted him to stay with her so that she wouldn't be lonely.  Those feelings that I had are feelings of compassion that I know each person who reads this story will feel.  When people read The Giving Tree I hope they can see themselves in both the boy and the tree.