Bibliographic Information
Lowry, L. ( 1993). The giver. Boston, Massachusetts :Houghton Mifflin,
Genre: Young Adult
Suggested Grade Level: 4-8
Response to the book:
I love dystopian novels! I have read the series for “The Hunger Games”, “Divergent”, and “Matched” to name a few. I had not heard of this book and am glad we read it. It is eye-opening to see what society is capable of doing when they want everyone to be the same. Erasing the past is a horrible thing to do; we must be able to learn from our mistakes and make life all our own. Having a life where everything is planned out and mistakes are “released” is terrifying. A beauty of life is learning from our mistakes.
This book is set in the future, where society is completely preselected in every aspect of life. Children are genetically created, the majority of people have the same look, everyone shares the same birthday as anyone else born the same year. Every citizen has the same items in their homes and have the same amount of children. Choices are unheard of in this life, jobs are even chosen for you at the age of 12. Anyone that is not a follower of the rules or is an individual is “released”.
Lesson Plan Idea
After reading the book, “The Giver”, students will be able to create a final chapter for the book that expresses what they think happened to Jonas, Gabriel and his community after he left, independently.
This lesson plan is for children in 8th grade. Before the book is read, all students will make a list of the memories that are the most vivid in their life. They must sort the memories in the categories of positivity and negativity. Students would choose to erase the memories that are painful. Once the book is read, students will revisit the list and see if they have a change of heart.
Have students create a final chapter for the book.
Discussion Questions:
How would your life be different if everything was preselected for you?
What would be easier and what would be more difficult?
Outside Resources:
https://www.walden.com/blog/the-giver-7-creative-classroom-activities/
https://prestoplans.com/2017/01/13/giver-creative-class-activities/
http://www.bookrags.com/lessonplan/thegiver/funactivities.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzIqcjKaR5wIVvxitBh33ZwLhEAMYAyAAEgKTIvD_BwE#gsc.tab=0
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