The giving tree is a thought provoking story about a boy’s relationship with a tree. Throughout his life, and arguably selfishly, the boy depends on the tree for his own personal gain. As a child we see him use the tree for food and play whilst later, as the boy grows into an adult, he depends on the tree for wood to make shelter and a boat. The story explores man’s relationship with nature and questions how we use nature carelessly to enhance our own wellbeing. As the story concludes we see the boy as an old man return to the tree which is now just a stump. The tree poignantly declared ‘Sorry Boy, I have nothing left to give you.’ As a teacher I have used this story as an introduction to the theme of nature and environment in which students can explore our relationship with the world around us. Through this story students can question how we use nature and how we can care for the environment. There are numerous port reading activities that can be developed from this story. My students have creating collages around the title ‘How we Use Nature’ where students draw or bring in pictures to creature a collage which represent the many uses of resources which as wood in our lives. Students can present their work to the class and can be used to decorate the classroom. My students have particularly enjoyed planting their own seen and mapping his development from seed to flower as well as performing their own adaptations of the story to the class. During these performances students used a large paper tree from which they could remove the leaves, branches and trunk throughout the performance until they were left only with the tree stump. My students have always enjoyed reading this story, and had fun engaging with the activities it lends itself to, whilst approaching the themes of the book in a mature and responsible manner.
The giving tree is a thought provoking story about a boy’s relationship with a tree. Throughout his life, and arguably selfishly, the boy depends on the tree for his own personal gain. As a child we see him use the tree for food and play whilst later, as the boy grows into an adult, he depends on the tree for wood to make shelter and a boat.
The story explores man’s relationship with nature and questions how we use nature carelessly to enhance our own wellbeing. As the story concludes we see the boy as an old man return to the tree which is now just a stump. The tree poignantly declared ‘Sorry Boy, I have nothing left to give you.’
As a teacher I have used this story as an introduction to the theme of nature and environment in which students can explore our relationship with the world around us. Through this story students can question how we use nature and how we can care for the environment.
There are numerous port reading activities that can be developed from this story. My students have creating collages around the title ‘How we Use Nature’ where students draw or bring in pictures to creature a collage which represent the many uses of resources which as wood in our lives. Students can present their work to the class and can be used to decorate the classroom.
My students have particularly enjoyed planting their own seen and mapping his development from seed to flower as well as performing their own adaptations of the story to the class.
During these performances students used a large paper tree from which they could remove the leaves, branches and trunk throughout the performance until they were left only with the tree stump.
My students have always enjoyed reading this story, and had fun engaging with the activities it lends itself to, whilst approaching the themes of the book in a mature and responsible manner.