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The Giving Tree

A Retelling of a Traditional Métis Story about Giving and Receiving

Elementary

Description

The Giving Tree is a story that focuses on the Métis traditions and way of life. It is set in present day with a grandfather telling the story of the giving tree to his grandson.  The story emphasizes the core values of the Métis people while explaining why the tree was given its name. Within the book there is a chart explaining the 12 core values as well as the three fold Métis decision making model.

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General Assessment

Recommendation of how and where to use it

There are numerous activities that could be completed with this book after a thorough reading and discussion, such as:

  • The students could recreate one of Leah Dorion's paintings from the book.
  • The students could create their own leaf for a collaborative class giving tree display.  Each leaf could represent one of the 12 core Métis values.
  • The students could create puppets and props in order to perform a reenactment of the story.
  • The students could rewrite the story from a different perspective such as an animal that used the tree or another traveler.
  • The class could create a large spinner of the core values.  Each day a new core value could be selected via spinning and it would become the focus for the day.
  • Students could create their own giving tree by writing and illustrating what they would leave for others and describing why they would leave those items.
  • The class could create their own giving tree (basket) filled with items that others may find useful: extra mittens, spoons and forks for lunches, extra snacks, etc.

Relevant Curriculum Units

The following tool will allow you to explore the relevant curriculum matches for this resource. To start, select a province listed below.

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      • Social Studies
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        • Communities of the World:Connecting with Canadians
        • Global Indigenous Peoples: Learning about indigenous peoples nurtures awareness and respect for diversity.
        • Global Indigenous Peoples: Indigenous knowledge is continues to be shared through oral history, traditions, and collective memory.
        • Global Indigenous Peoples: Indigenous nations throughout the world value the well-being of the self, the land, spirits, and ancestors
        • Global Indigenous Peoples: People from diverse cultures and societies share some common experiences and aspects of life.
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        • Local Communities: Healthy communities recognize and respect the diversity of individuals and care for the local environment
        • Local Communities:: We shape the local environment, and the local environment shapes who we are and how we live.
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Regional and Global Communities: Canada is made up of many diverse regions and communities
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Global Indigenous Peoples: Learning about indigenous peoples nurtures multicultural awareness and respect for diversity.
        • Global Indigenous Peoples: Indigenous knowledge is passed down through oral history, traditions, and collective memory.
        • Global Indigenous Peoples: People from diverse cultures and societies share some common experiences and aspects of life.
        • Global Indigenous Peoples:Indigenous societies throughout the world value the well-being of the self, the land, spirits, and ancestors

Themes Addressed

Ecosystems (1)

  • Appreciating the Natural World

Indigenous Knowledge (1)

  • Rituals, Spirituality and Worldviews

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