This is a one-time 55-minute live online group class titled “Roots of Kindness.” It is designed for children ages 7-9 who can read at the intermediate level and understand and answer simple questions. The goal of this class is to develop students’ social, emotional, and reading comprehension skills. The lesson will be delivered through direct instruction using differentiated instruction and integrating curriculum approaches to meet learner’s needs and enhance their creative and critical thinking skills. The goals will be achieved through delivering instruction utilizing slides, read-aloud by the teacher, and discussions before, during, and after reading the story. 

Students will engage in text analysis to help them understand the story through interactive and reflective activities. The activities will help them understand the concepts of kindness, generosity, giving, and receiving. They will use comprehension strategies such as asking and answering questions and making connections. For example, students will illustrate a part of the story that resonates with them and use the making connections strategy to engage in thoughtful discussions and reflections about the story’s themes and relate them to personal experiences. The activities will help them recognize their own emotions and understand how these feelings influence their behavior and interactions.

By the end of this class, students will have a deeper understanding of “The Giving Tree” and its lessons on kindness and empathy. They will also develop crucial social-emotional skills to help them navigate their relationships and interactions with greater awareness and compassion.