The Giving Tree

Author: Shel Silverstein

Illustrator: Shel Silverstein

Genre: Picture book

Silverstein, Shel. The Giving Tree. New York, NY: HarperCollins, 2014. Print.

Annotation
The Giving Tree is a children's picture book about a tree that loved a little boy. Everyday the boy would come to the tree to eat her apples, swing from her branches, or slide down her trunk. The tree was happy. As the boy grew older he began to want more and more from the tree, until the tree had nothing left to give.

ELA Content Standards
Craft and Structure- Grade 1
5.) Explain major differences between books that tell stories and books that give information, drawing on a wide reading of a range of text types.

How it Connects: Talk about the story the book tells and the message the author is trying to get across. 

Comprehension and Collaboration- Grade 1
1.) Ask and answer questions about what a speaker says in order to gather additional information or clarify something that is not understood.

How it Connects: The teacher could use this story to talk about the different stages of life everyone goes through. Some kids may not understand why the boy in the story is getting older and less active.

Vocabulary
gather, stump, branches, trunk

Classroom Usage
Independent Reading: Read the story silently then draw a picture of someone they are close to in their life that has always been there for them.

Small Groups: Discuss the different stages of life for humans and discuss the life cycle of a tree.

Centers: Split into four groups
1.) Discuss the life cycle of trees and humans
2.) Draw a tree and label the parts
3.) Write down different ways trees are helpful to our environment
4.) Talk about different ways we can help the environment

Differentiation
ELL students will be able to learn about different life cycles. This book may help with students comprehension and learn more about our environment.