After reading The Giving Tree to a group of 5th graders I asked them to draw mind pictures to illustrate multiple perspectives. Since the story is from the narrator/authors voice we explored whose voice was missing. Students wrote from the perspective of the tree and the boy to reconstruct the text. I thought it was a great critical literacy lesson and then used it to introduce an opinion writing unit.
The writing started with a read aloud and note taking about what position students agreed with. Is the tree weak or strong? Students then used the text to find specific examples to support their position and debate with their classmates. Hopefully the oral communication of supporting a position will enhance the students ability to write an opinion piece too.
The original argument idea came from the reading and writing project. I had planned on using the lesson, but realized how reading and writing from a critical stance could help students see they how a character could be viewed differently based on perspective.
