After reading, The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein my fourth graders came up with a great idea. They decided that they wanted to make a lower school giving tree. Student Council Officers read this beautiful story to the entire lower school at an assembly. They followed the story with a conversation about the importance of both giving and appreciating. Students shared ideas about different ways we can give to others. Our giving tree is a great way for students and staff to show their appreciation for these acts of kindness. If someone goes above and beyond and does something kind for you, you can write or draw on a leaf to recognize them. Leaves will be presented at each of our assemblies and students will be able to add them to our giving tree. Our goal is to fill the tree with as many leaves as we can by the end of the year. Student Council helped to create our giving tree by drawing pictures of ways to spread kindness. Their pictures fit together to make our tree, which is now hanging outside of the lower school office. It is very quickly filling up with leaves! Students love to surprise others by writing a leaf to show their appreciation and the students that are being recognized couldn't be prouder to pick their special spot on the giving tree to place their leaf for all to see. Parents and students are always stopping to admire the pictures and leaves on their way in and out of the lower school office. Here is our giving tree at the very beginning.
This has been a great way to recognize and appreciate others. Anyone can give a leaf and anyone can receive a leaf. I love that the purpose of the giving tree connects to our lower school rules: Respect yourself, Respect others, Respect the environment. I am so excited to watch the kindess spread as our giving tree grows with more and more leaves. Stay tuned for more pictures...
