The Giver by Lois Lowry is an amazing book to use for classroom discussion at the middle school level because of the many complex issues upon which the book touches. Completing a unit on The Giver allows teachers to use differentiation in the classroom, challenging students at their own levels. The activities I suggest here are to be used in connection with basic critical thinking assignments. When I complete this unit in my own classroom, I create study guides for each chapter which have sections for vocabulary, questions to test basic comprehension, as well as a few short essay questions so students have the opportunity to delve deeper into the issues being discussed. I always plan several enrichment projects for this book as well, since every classroom has several students who need to be challenged more than the other students. I use these activities as enrichment for my gifted and talented students, or other high achieving students, because the assignments are very challenging for middle school students. As my other students work on finishing up study guides or other planned activities connected to the book, my gifted and talented students work on these enrichment activities.
Making Decisions
This first activity I have used both as a whole-class activity and as an activity for my gifted and talented students. If you decide to use it as the latter, those students who complete this activity should be ready to present to the class what they experienced and how they felt throughout the activity.
Start off by discussing with the class the lack of decision-making on the part of the people in Jonas’ world. Some good examples of this are jobs being chosen for the people, meals delivered to each home every day, and being assigned both spouses and children. After a classroom discussion of this, present the idea that for an entire day, someone else will make all of the decisions for each student (within reason, of course!), including what they will eat for lunch and how they will spend their free time. Explain to students that they will have to comply with all the decisions made for them and will be keeping notes on how it felt to have someone else make these decisions. Give students time to prepare a simple power point or other report, which outlines the decisions made for them and how they felt about each of those decisions. Students should also be able to discuss further how important it is for people to be able to make their own decisions, even if some of those decisions lead to disappointments or consequences.
Symbolism in the Novel
Another activity that can be assigned for enrichment is an activity that takes a close look at the symbolism within the novel. Students will create a chart outlining the special gift each age group receives on the annual “birthday.” Students should include the age of the child, what the gift is, and then describe the symbolism behind the gift. For example, the bicycle children receive symbolizes new-found freedom and the fact that they are growing up. Students should complete this chart right up to the age where students receive their assignment and describe what receiving their assignment symbolizes. I take this activity a step further and have my students think back to their own birthdays. They need to list at least five gifts they received for different birthdays, as well as the age they received them, and come up with their own interpretation of what those gifts symbolized in their own lives. For example, if one student puts down that she received a puppy for her tenth birthday, this may symbolize that she was becoming more mature and responsible. Students can present these charts to the class.
Utopian Societies
Another activity for some students may be to have them research other utopian societies in literature. Students can create a Venn diagram to compare and contrast these utopian societies with our own society. Some obvious differences would be the lack of war, hunger, and disease in the utopian societies, but students should be able to point out other more subtle differences between utopia and our society, such as the way each world is governed. Students should write a two-page report on their findings and present this to the class.
Alternate Ending
One last activity that I have my gifted and talented students complete is creating a final chapter for the book. Lois Lowry leaves the reader to decide for themselves what happens to Gabe and Jonas when the sled over the hill and see the lights. Students will have to put their interpretations in a final chapter. I require my students to use dialog and to remain true to the story. It would make absolutely no sense if Jonas was suddenly abducted by aliens, for example, though I do give my students creative license to decide what Jonas’ new world will be like and how he and Gabe will fit in this world. The final chapter should be about four pages in length.
Conclusion
These activities are a perfect way to incorporate differentiation in the classroom. The Giver is a challenging novel for all students, but for those students who need extra enrichment in order to be fully challenged, these activities offer you the opportunity to challenge them appropriately.
Michelle Cote - Michelle Cote is an English teacher who enjoys sharing her love of writing with her students. As a contributing writer on Suite 101, she ...
