Re: The Giver

[MRS JOANNE M PROCTOR <EGKW61A@PRODIGY.COM>]

To all who responded to my request for activities for "The Giver":
       I started out replying personally to all, but there were so
many who responded and so many others who wanted the same information.
  Book Links ran an article with activities in May 1994.  Another
suggestion was to have students create their own "societies."  Karen
Williams suggested discussing community relationships and roles, need
for continually telling the stories of our heritage, the purpose of
pain, and the need for judgement and clarity when trying to promote
change.  Pat Menoche says Trumpet Book Club has Giver Book Notes and
The School Librarians Workshop of April 1994 have suggestions.  Cheri
Estes suggests using it with William Wordsworth's poem "Ode:
Intimations of Immortality."  Concerns have been raised about the
suitability of the book for middle school.  Unfortunately, this book
has been placed on our state's William Allen White Award list for
grades 4-8.  We are all concerned about this.  I love the book, but I
have told the younger students & teachers that it is extremely
difficult.  All the librarians in Kansas I have talked to are
struggling with this.  Thanks agian to all of you kind colleagues.

Joanne Proctor
EGKW61A@prodigy.com