The Giving Tree Lesson Plans
Author: Shel Silverstein

The Giving Tree Shel Silverstein Lesson Plans and Ideas for Projects for Teachers

The Giving Tree Lesson Plans for Elementary School Teachers



This page contains The Giving Tree lesson plans,
teaching resources, and fun student projects.

The Giving Tree Lesson Plans and Creative Writing Worksheets and Ideas

Welcome to The Giving Tree
lesson plans page of my website.

blue bullet point On this page, you will find a set of creative writing lesson plans and worksheets to use with Shel Silverstein's beloved story. In addition, you will find a set of teaching resources and unique tree templates for students to use so that they can design their own family trees.

blue bullet point The Giving Tree is a heart warming story that provides morals and lessons for children of all ages. This book of few words and simple line drawings has become a classic. The story will touch your students' hearts as they listen to The Giving Tree and share in the journey between the boy and the tree.

blue bullet point Few books are as simple to read and open to interpretation as The Giving Tree, written and illustrated by Shel Silverstein. Out of such a simple story, many lessons can be discussed that are appropriate for all age groups.

blue bullet point Shel Silverstein takes the reader on a very heartfelt journey, a journey through life with a boy and a tree. To say that this particular apple tree is a "giving tree" is an understatement.

blue bullet point The concept of giving is revealed as the tree continues to give to the boy throughout their journey of life. In spite of receiving nothing in return, the simple act of giving to the one that he loves, makes the tree happy.

blue bullet point I read The Giving Tree for the first time over 35 years ago when I was an elementary school student. This story is just as powerful now to me as an adult, as it was back when I was a child.

The Giving Tree Teaching Resources, Lesson Plans, and Worksheets Shel Silverstein blue bullet point When I read this story to my students, I refrain from sharing my own interpretations of the story. Instead, I sit back and listen to my students as they discuss Shel Silverstein's story.

blue bullet point With each reading, and during my many years as a classroom teacher, I have gained new insights into the story as I have listened to my students' interpretations and the emotions that the story has stirred within them.

blue bullet point I often read The Giving Tree to my students in November. This book fits well with an autumn theme because of the leaves. It also ties in well with a Thanksgiving theme because students are thinking about people that they are THANKful for and how they can be more GIVING. There are fall leaves in this set of teaching resources that will help you to create an eye catching Giving Tree fall bulletin board display.

blue bullet point The beginning of the school year is also a wonderful time to read this story to your students. I have also read The Giving Tree to my students right before Mother's Day or Father's Day.



The Giving Lesson Plans

Creative Writing Worksheets and Leaf Templates


The Giving Tree Bulletin Board Banner

The Giving Tree Lesson Plans:
This five page banner is included for free in this set of The Giving Tree teaching resources.


Buy The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein Lesson Plans for Teachers Now

The Giving Tree Lesson Plans
Creative Writing Worksheets and Leaf Templates
Author: Shel Silverstein


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A very DETAILED description about this
Giving Tree resource set is provided below.


The Giving Tree By Shel Silverstein Elementary School Bulletin Board Fall Display

The Giving Tree Lesson Plans: Hallway Display


blue bullet point Above: This photograph shows a Giving Tree bulletin board display designed by Amy, a Grade 4 teacher in Texas, using the teaching resources that are found on this page. Amy reads The Giving Tree with her students in the fall and designs a huge fall tree.

blue bullet point After the fall, Amy takes the leaves off of her tree display, sprays the tree with spray snow, and adds puffy snow around the base of the tree. Then, she has a wonderful tree for a winter bulletin board display that did not take her very long to create.

The Giving Tree Creative Writing Worksheets and Lesson Plans For Teachers blue bullet point This set of The Giving Tree lesson plans will help your students complete a creative writing activity based on Shel Silverstein's book.

blue bullet point This set of creative writing teaching resources contains the following:

  • teacher directions and lesson plan ideas
  • student idea web
  • first draft worksheet
  • final draft black and white worksheet
  • color final draft worksheet
  • grading rubric
  • student book cover sheet
  • matching 5 page bulletin board display banner
  • leaf templates with writing lines

Below are examples of the direction worksheets
that are included in this set of teaching resources:


The Giving Tree Directions for Teachers for Lesson Plans

The Giving Tree Lesson Plans: Teacher Directions


The Giving Tree Idea Web Creative Writing Worksheet and Lesson Plans blue bullet point Before my students begin writing their essays, they use an idea web to brainstorm and preplan their ideas for this creative writing assignment.

blue bullet point This is a two paragraph essay, so the idea web is divided into two sections:

  • Paragraph 1 - People Who Are Giving To Me
  • Paragraph 2 - How I Can Be More Giving

blue bullet point Below is an example of the idea web worksheet that is included in this set of creative writing teaching resources for The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.


The Giving Tree Shel Silverstein Idea Web Worksheet Creative Writing Lesson Plans

The Giving Tree Lesson Plans: Idea Web


The Giving Tree First Draft Printable Worksheets Elementary School Students blue bullet point For creative writing assignments, I believe that it is important for students to go through the writing process.

blue bullet point For this reason, my students never begin their creative writing assignments by writing on their final draft worksheets, instead they write on first draft worksheets. Then, they edit and revise their work on their own, with a partner, or in writing conferences with me.

blue bullet point Below is an example of the first draft writing worksheet that is included in this set of teaching resources. The writing lines and spaces on the first draft worksheet match the lines and spaces on the final draft worksheets.


The Giving Tree First Draft Printable Worksheets

The Giving Tree Lesson Plans: First Draft Worksheet


After your students have edited and revised their first drafts,
you should give them their final draft worksheets.


The Giving Tree Final Draft Printable Worksheets

The Giving Tree Lesson Plans: Final Draft Black and White Worksheet


The Giving Tree Fun Final Draft Creative Writing Worksheets and Templates Shel Silverstein

The Giving Tree Lesson Plans: Final Draft Color Worksheet


This set of creative writing lesson plans includes a grading rubic which has
sections for both a student self-assessment and a teacher assessment.


The Giving Tree Shel Silverstein Grading Rubric for Project

The Giving Tree Lesson Plans: Grading Rubric Worksheet


The Giving Tree Shel Silverstein Bulletin Board Display Ideas and Examples Elementary Classrooms blue bullet point I know that it takes teachers a lot of valuable time to assemble their classroom bulletin board displays. Many teachers spend hours of time cutting out large display letters or making a banner on their own at home on their computers.

blue bullet point This time is valuable and better spent on developing your classroom curriculum and grading papers, so I have designed a matching 5 page banner for your bulletin board display (shown below).

blue bullet point If you have access to a laminating machine, you can laminate this banner so that it is more durable and you can use it year after year for bulletin board displays of your students' The Giving Tree creative writing assignments.


The Giving Tree Shel Silverstein Free Bulletin Board Display Banner

The Giving Tree Lesson Plans:
This five page banner is included for free in this set of The Giving Tree lesson plans.


blue bullet point This set of The Giving Tree lesson plans includes two shorter writing assignments that are written inside leaf templates.

  • A Giving Person (these leaf examples are shown below)
  • I Can Be a Giving Person By (not shown)

The Giving Tree Shel Silverstein Leaf Shaped Creative Writing Templates blue bullet point Below are the leaf templates, which have the topics written on them and the lines for students to write their responses on.

blue bullet point These student response leaves will help you to create a colorful autumn tree for your The Giving Tree bulletin board display. I have designed leaves with fall colors for you to use, or your students can color their own leaves using the black and white leaf templates (not shown).

blue bullet point There are 3 different shapes of leaves, each facing left and right, for a total of 12 different leaves. 4 leaf templates are shown below.

blue bullet point The leaf writing templates are also provided in black and white (not shown) so that your students can color the leaves themselves.


The Giving Tree Fun Leaf Shaped Creative Writing Templates Shel Silverstein

The Giving Tree Lesson Plans: Leaf Shaped Creative Writing Tempaltes


blue bullet point After your students have completed their final drafts and written their responses in their leaf templates, you will be able to create a dynamic and colorful autumn bulletin board display.


Giving Tree Bulletin Board Display

blue bullet point Above and Below: These two pictures will give you examples of how to design your bulletin board display. You will be able to create a fall bulletin board display using this set of Giving Tree lesson plans that will grab everyone's attention!


Giving Tree Bulletin Board Display

The Giving Tree Lesson Plans: Classroom Bulletin Board Display



Buy The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein Lesson Plans for Teachers Now

The Giving Tree Lesson Plans
Creative Writing Worksheets and Leaf Templates
Author: Shel Silverstein


$4.50

Click on the Add to Cart button above to purchase this set of teaching resources.
You will be emailed a download link for this resource set so you can download and use it today!

  • Secure payment method through Paypal.
  • Use your credit card or Paypal account.
  • Download link is emailed to you today!
  • Print as many copies as you want.
  • Save and reuse this fun project forever!
Payment Processed Through Paypal






RELATED TEACHING RESOURCES SET:

Family Tree Lesson Plans
and Family Tree Newspaper

Fun Family Tree Lesson Plans for Elementary School Teachers and Students

This five page banner is included for free in this set of Family Tree lesson plans and teaching resources.

Buy Family Tree Lesson Plans and Writing Templates Now

Family Tree Lesson Plans Set
Includes family tree templates and
creative writing newspaper teaching resources.


$6.00

Click on the Add to Cart button above to purchase this set of teaching resources.
You will be emailed a download link for this creative writing project so you can download and use it today!

  • Secure payment method through Paypal.
  • Use your credit card or Paypal account.
  • Download link is emailed to you today!
  • Print as many copies as you want.
  • Save and reuse this fun project forever!
Payment Processed Through Paypal

Family Tree Student Projects Classroom Bulletin Board Display Example Photograph

Classroom Display of Students' Finished Family Tree Projects


My Family Tree Project Templates for Tree, Branches, and Leaves

Example of Family Tree Project Templates Assembled Together


blue bullet point Example of Family Tree Projects Are you looking for a unique idea and way for your students to create their own family trees? Have you used traditional one page worksheets for this activity in the past?

blue bullet point I have created a Family Tree lesson plans set that will have your students excited and branching out to learn about the members in their own family trees.

blue bullet point In order to assemble the tree, there are two branch templates and a trunk template that are glued together to form a family tree that measures 18 inches in height and 13 inches in width.


Family Tree Templates For Elementary School Students Projects

blue bullet point Boy Students Family Tree Explain to your students that each family is different and their "planning worksheet" (shown below) is meant to help them plan their family tree. Students may have to add additional boxes if there are more members in certain sections of their family tree.

blue bullet point I designed this family tree project so that it is not too taxing on parents to help their child with the names required for this project. Parents should know the names of their own brothers and sisters and their children, their mothers and fathers, and their own aunts and uncles (hopefully!)

blue bullet point If you want to go farther back in the family tree for your students' projects (great grandparents, great cousins, etc), there are blank leaves so that you can add this component to your students' projects.

Below is an example of the family tree planning worksheet.


Family Tree Diagram Worksheet Elementary Students

blue bullet point This set of family tree lesson plans includes two branch templates and one trunk template.

blue bullet point When these 3 templates are assembled together, the Family Tree measures 18 inches in height and 13 inches in width.


Family Tree Templates for Branches

Family Tree Templates for Trunk

The Family Tree is divided into two parts:
the left side is for the mother's family and the right side is for the father's family.


Family Tree Girl blue bullet point There are 6 branches for the key family members: mother, maternal grandmother, maternal grandfather, father, paternal grandmother, and paternal grandfather.

blue bullet point The student leaf is already on the trunk and students should glue leaves for their brothers and sisters in this same trunk area.

blue bullet point After the three pieces of the tree have been assembled, students glue the vertical title "My Family Tree" in the middle of the tree.


Family Tree Graphic blue bullet point There are two sizes of leaves. The larger leaves are for the closest family members: student, brothers, sisters, mother, father, and four grandparents. The student, mother, father, and 4 grandparent leaves are already on the branch templates. (see above)

blue bullet point The smaller leaves (see below) are for the more distant members of their family tree: aunts, uncles, cousins, great uncles, and great aunts. You will need to print out extra worksheets of the leaves because some students will need more leaves for their brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, great uncles, and great aunts.


Leaves for Family Tree Elementary Student Project

blue bullet point Below I have provided a large visual example of how this family tree project works to illustrate the members of a person's family.

blue bullet point This is an example of the mother's branch. The mother's leaf is already on this left branch. Directly opposite (not shown), on the right hand branch, is the father's leaf.

blue bullet point Students write the names of each family member inside each leaf.

blue bullet point For this example, the mother has one brother and one sister, and these family members are the student's uncle and aunt. The student glues an aunt and uncle leaf onto the mother's branch.

blue bullet point The uncle has one child, so one cousin leaf is glued in this place. The aunt has two children, so two cousin leaves are glued in this place. The cousin leaves should be glued so that they are touching their parent's leaf.


Example of Family Tree Diagram for Elementary Student Projects

Family Tree Branches blue bullet point If you use this format in gluing the leaves on the tree, a student may have a branch that only has their mother's leaf on it, if their mother has no brothers or sisters. On the other hand, the father's branch might be very full if he has 6 brothers and sisters, and they have a lot of children.

blue bullet point This unique family tree project provides a very good visual image for your students of what their family tree actually looks like.

blue bullet point In the example below, this student has 16 leaves/family members on her mother's side of the family and 20 leaves/family members on her father's side of the family.


Fun Family Tree Project for Students Branch and Leaf templates

Family Tree Lesson Plans Project

blue bullet point There is a set of Family Tree color templates (shown below) for you to use for your example that you share with your students provided in this set of Family Tree teaching resources.

blue bullet point It is a bit time consuming to color all the branch and leaf templates. I hope that these color printable worksheets help save you time in designing your own example that you display for your students so that they understand how to complete these fun Family Tree projects.


Family Tree Templates and Diagram for Elementary School Students Project

blue bullet point I have provided blank branch, trunk and leaf templates in this set of family tree lesson plans so that you can have your students design this project in any way in which you choose.

blue bullet point In this set of templates, the names of the family members are not written on any of the leaves and the 6 closest family members' leaves are not already included on the branches.


Family Tree Templates and Diagram for Projects

blue bullet point These family tree lesson plans work well in conjunction with a social studies unit. While students are studying a particular event in history, they could be discovering about their own roots and creating their own family tree.

blue bullet point This assignment works well as a week long homework activity for students to complete at home with the help of their parents. Parents will enjoy working on this very different type of homework assignment with their child and sharing information with their son or daughter about the members of their own family.


Family Tree Projects and Templates for Elementary School Students

blue bullet point You will be amazed at your students' finished Family Tree projects and the creative ideas that they incorporate into their individual projects.

blue bullet point Below: This student has included photographs of her family members on her family tree project. I love that she has included photographs of her dogs laying in the grass and that she considers her dogs as important members of her family.


Family Tree Projects Ideas and Examples for Elementary School Students

Newspaper Delivery Boy For Student Writing Projects blue bullet point I try to always include a creative writing component to any assignment when I get the chance. My students need all the writing practice that I can squeeze into my lessons.

blue bullet point While my students are finding out the names of the members of their family tree from their mothers and fathers, I have my students ask each of their parents to share something interesting about one member of their family they may never have heard about before.

blue bullet point Then, my students create a newspaper and it contains two articles. One article is about a member from their mother's side of their family tree, and the other article is about a member from their father's side of the family.

blue bullet point I have included all of the components of this Family Tree Newspaper in this set of Family Tree lesson plans.

This Family Tree Newspaper set includes an assembling
directions
printable worksheet and a grading rubric.


Family Tree Student Newspaper Grading Rubric

This Family Tree Newspaper teaching resources
set includes three first draft worksheets.

Biography Newspaper Student Projects and Templates blue bullet point Students write two newspaper articles about someone on their mother's side of their family and then on their father's side of their family.

blue bullet point Students also have to create a comic strip for their newspapers about something interesting that happened to someone who is in their family tree.

Below is an example of two of the three
first draft printable worksheets.


Family Tree Newspaper First Draft Printable Worksheets

blue bullet point For the final drafts of their newpaper projects, students have two templates that are glued together to form a large Family Tree Times Newspaper.

blue bullet point After the templates have been assembled together, the student newspaper project measures 13 inches in height and 10 inches in width.


Newspaper Templates and Projects for Elementary School Students

Newspaper Templates and Printable Worksheets

There are color final draft templates of this Family Tree Times Newspaper
for you to use for your example that you show to your students.


Large Newspaper Creative Writing Templates for Student Projects

Finally, this Family Tree Times Newspaper set includes a
5 page bulletin board banner for you to use for your
classroom display of these newspaper projects.


Family Tree Newspaper Writing Activity Bulletin Board Display Banner

This 5 page bulletin board banner is included in this set of family tree lesson plans.

Buy Family Tree Lesson Plans and Writing Templates Now

Family Tree Lesson Plans Set
Includes family tree templates and
creative writing newspaper teaching resources.


$6.00

Click on the Add to Cart button above to purchase this set of teaching resources.
You will be emailed a download link for this creative writing project so you can download and use it today!

  • Secure payment method through Paypal.
  • Use your credit card or Paypal account.
  • Download link is emailed to you today!
  • Print as many copies as you want.
  • Save and reuse this fun project forever!
Payment Processed Through Paypal



The Giving Tree Reading Fair Activity Shel Silverstein




Alphabetical List of Books

Click on the book covers below to view
the fun, unique, and extra large projects that I have
designed for these popular novels and picture books.

Amelia Bedelia First Day of School Book Report Projects

Amelia Bedelia
First Day of School

Herman Parish
(2 Projects)

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Book Report Projects

Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory

Roald Dahl
(4 Projects)

A Christmas Carol Book Report Projects

A Christmas
Carol

Charles Dickens
(2 Projects)

The Enormous Crocodile Book Report Projects

The Enormous
Crocodile

Roald Dahl
(6 Projects)

Esio Trot Book Report Projects

Esio
Trot

Roald Dahl
(4 Projects)

First Day Hooray Book Report Projects

First Day
Hooray

Nancy Poydar
(1 Project)

First Day Jitters Book Report Projects

First Day
Jitters

Julie Danneberg
(1 Project)

The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me Book Report Projects

The Giraffe and
the Pelly and Me

Roald Dahl
(1 Project)

The Giving Tree Book Report Projects

The Giving
Tree

Shel Silverstein
(1 Project)

How I Spent My Summer Vacation Book Report Projects

How I Spent My
Summer Vacation

Mark Teague
(1 Project)

How the Grinch Stole Christmas Book Report Projects

How the Grinch
Stole Christmas

Dr. Seuss
(1 Project)

Shiloh Book Report Projects

Shiloh
Phyllis Reynolds
Naylor
(1 Project)

Stellaluna Book Report Projects

Stellaluna
Janell
Cannon
(1 Project)

Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving Book Report Projects

Twas the Night
Before Thanksgiving

Dav Pilkey
(1 Project)

The Way to Start a Day Book Report Projects

The Way to
Start a Day

Byrd Baylor
(2 Project)

The Whipping Boy Book Report Projects

The Whipping Boy
Sid Fleischman
(2 Projects)

Click on the book covers to see the fun, unique, and extra large projects that are available for each book.





Children Engaged In Fun Reading Activities



Thank you for visiting my The Giving Tree lesson plans page.

Please be sure to check out the other pages on Unique
Teaching Resources
for a large variety of fun lesson plan activities
that will engage your students in learning and save you valuable time.

Heidi McDonald

Creator and Website Manager
Unique Teaching Resources


Engage Your Students In Learning


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Roald Dahl Lesson Plans and Fun Group Projects

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below to view each project.


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Fun Projects and Lesson Plans For Childrens Books

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Click here to view this unique cheeseburger book report project.


Click here to view this yummy sandwich book report project.

More Book Report Projects:

- Monopoly Gameboard
- Main Character Body
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