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The Giver: 8 Creative Class Activities
The Giver by Lois Lowry is a teacher’s dream novel. The complex dystopian plotline, dynamic characters, and thought-provoking themes provide so many opportunities for teachers to foster text-to-self and text-to-world connections. Critical thinking activities that allow students to empathize with the characters are a must-have in any novel unit. Below are 8 of my favorite activities for The Giver that do just that.
1. The Ceremony of 12 Simulation
This first activity is always a class favorite. It allows students to empathize with Jonas and his friends as they are assigned careers by the Chief Elder during the Ceremony of 12 .
How This Activity Works:
Welcome students to the classroom with a colorful poster for The Ceremony of Twelve. Once they are all settled, immediately transform into The Chief Elder. Address the class explaining that although they have spent the last 11 years learning to fit in and standardize their behavior, that this ceremony will celebrate their differences. Then, one-by-one present each student with their new job and a designated card that states all of the roles and responsibilities. After each student gets their assignment, have the rest of the class say in unison, “Thank you for your childhood.”
Give your students a choice of assignment. They can either fill out an application for a job switch or write a journal discussing their feelings on their new role in the community!
2. Seeing Beyond Activity
In The Giver , Jonas has the capacity to ‘see beyond.’ This means that Jonas, unlike the other members of the community, can use his senses from memory that allow him the ability to see color. This fun, seeing beyond class activity allows students to step into Jonas’ shoes to understand his ability to see beyond.
Students enter the classroom to a colorful poster welcoming them to Seeing Beyond. Ask them to circulate the room to different areas that have hidden image optical illusions. Some will be able to see the hidden pictures, while others will not.
After the activity, students work with partners to discuss how they felt when they were or were not able to see the hidden image. They will also discuss how it felt to successfully or unsuccessfully help someone else see the image and how this relates to the novel.
3. Memory Transmission Activity
Through his role as The Receiver, Jonas receives transmitted memories of the past from The Giver. This FREE memory transmission activity allows students to empathize with both Jonas and The Giver as they will both receive and transmit memories. This one has always been a real hit with my students!
Put a colorful poster on the door welcoming your class to The Giver’s Annex. Then, transform into The Giver and give each group of students descriptions of new memories that Jonas will receive.
Some of the memories involve painful memories, like homelessness, while others involve more positive memories like Neil Armstrong’s arrival on the moon! Students discuss prompting questions that will have them understand the value of keeping the world’s memories safe. After all the memories have been transmitted, they will shift into the role of The Giver. In this role, they will transmit one important historical memory to Jonas of their choosing.
4. The House of Old Activity
The elderly in The Giver are seemingly treated with the utmost respect and care in The House of Old , but the reader soon learns that things are not as positive as they appear. The elders of the community are killed (a.k.a released from society). This activity allows students to examine how the elderly are treated in different cultures/countries in the world and how this compares to how they are treated in Jonas’ community.
Students will enter the classroom to a colorful poster welcoming them to The House Of Old. They participate in small group discussions with information cards that provide details about how the elderly are treated in different cultures. When they are done, they fill in the blank card with how the elderly are treated in the novel and share with the rest of the class!
5. Dream Sharing Activity
In Jonas’ community, everyone must share any dreams they have with their family members. On the surface, dream sharing seems like a good way to keep open communication about inner feelings. In reality, however, it is another way that the government can keep control of the thoughts of their citizens and squash any independent thinking. This activity allows students to interpret their own dreams and consider what deeper meaning their dreams may have.
After reading chapter 6, a poster welcoming them to Dream Sharing greets students at the door. Break the class up into groups of 4 and tell each group to imagine they are family members. Each group receives dream prompt cards with common topics for dreams that have symbolic meanings. Each student shares a dream they remember which connects with one of the topics. If they can’t connect with any topic, they can share any dream they remember.
After everyone has shared their dreams, give each group the Dream Interpretation Cards that explain the symbolic significance of each dream topic. Students discuss and reflect on how it felt to reveal a dream and consider whether or not this would be a good practice in their everyday life.
6. A World Without Pain Activity
In Jonas’ community, members are sheltered from feeling any physical or emotional pain. While this theoretically seems like a peaceful way to live, Jonas soon learns that feeling no pain desensitizes people and doesn’t allow them to appreciate positive emotions. From pain, people are also able to learn from mistakes and avoid making those same mistakes again in the future. This activity brings this idea to the forefront by showing students a real-life example of someone who feels no pain.
Students work in groups to read information about people who feel no physical pain. You could have them research Gabby Gingras or Ashlyn Blocker, for example. As a group, students discuss whether or not they would like to live a life without physical pain and what challenges they might face if they chose yes. Then, they work with their group to brainstorm a list of advantages and disadvantages to living a life free of emotional pain.
7. The Telling of Feelings Activity
Jonas and his family participate in a nightly ritual called The Telling of Feelings where each person describes an emotion that they experienced during the day and discusses it with the others. Help students understand what this ritual would be like by forming classroom families and simulating the practice.
After reading chapter 2, put students into groups. It is preferable that groups consist of two boys and two girls, but it isn’t necessary. Tell them that the group is their new family and they are to assign roles (parents and siblings).
Each student gets a “Feelings Card” that they fill out in preparation for the ritual. Students must choose a precise word that describes a feeling they had that day. Each member of the group shares their feelings while the other members listen carefully.
After the ritual, have students discuss whether or not they could see themselves doing this with their family, if it would make a family closer, and why they think this is a required ritual in Jonas’ community.
8. Family Forming Activity
In The Giver , couples can only have 2 children as mandated by the government. While this may seem completely removed from the modern-day, this activity will teach students about China’s one-child policy and allow them to consider how it relates to the novel.
This activity works best with a bit of pre-reading discussion. Students discuss how they would react if the government limited the number of children they could have. Ask them if they think this could or would ever happen.
After some discussion, have them read an article or watch a video on China’s one-child policy. I have students record their thoughts as they read using a graphic organizer. The one I use has them consider their thoughts, what they learned, and something that surprised them. Ask students to make a connection between this policy and the events of the novel.
Grab a ready-to-use unit plan with over everything you need to teach T he Giver (340 pages/slides of eye-catching powerpoints, printable assignments, questions, vocabulary, and interactive class activities) by clicking here .
I hope you found this helpful! If you are interested in more tips and resources for developing students’ reading skills in ELA, click here.
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Why was the Ceremony of Twelve so important?
In The Giver, the Ceremony of Twelve is the most important ceremony in Jonas's community because it is when the adolescent children are given their permanent assignments, which are their individually selected occupations. It is the last ceremony each year and is considered a rite of passage to becoming an adult.
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Ceremonies are important to the Community . They represent the children of the communities growing up and reaching the age where they can start doing their Assignments and benefitting their communities.
Overview [ ]
Rather than celebrating the day the were born, the children in Jonas's community age as a group yearly through a ceremony done for two days in December. The ceremonies happen to a child yearly until they reach the age of twelve; after that they are considered grown and eventually stop tracking their age until they become Elderly. However, everyone attends the ceremonies to watch future children have their ceremonies as well. The Ceremony of Twelve is the most anticipated for children and the grown alike.
Ceremonies [ ]
- Naming Ceremony/Ceremony of One
- Ceremony of Two
- Ceremony of Three
- Ceremony of Four
- Ceremony of Five
- Ceremony of Six
- Ceremony of Seven
- Ceremony of Eight
- Ceremony of Nine
- Ceremony of Ten
- Ceremony of Eleven
- Ceremony of Twelve
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The Giver Ceremony of Twelve Activity - Novel Simulation of the Ceremony of 12
What educators are saying
Description.
The Giver Ceremony of Twelve Activity is an interactive classroom activity that your students will never forget! In The Giver by Lois Lowry, children are assigned their careers during The Ceremony of 12. Bring this into your classroom and allow your students to empathize with Jonas and the rest of the community by taking on the role of Chief Elder and assigning roles to each of your students! The resource includes absolutely everything you need to successfully facilitate a mock Ceremony of Twelve in your classroom!
How The Giver Ceremony of Twelve Activity Works:
Students will be greeted in the classroom by a colorful poster welcoming them to The Ceremony of 12. The teacher is then transformed into The Chief Elder who addresses the class with an included speech.
During the ceremony, each student will come to the front of the class to receive their specifically chosen assignment card that states their roles and responsibilities in the community. They might be assigned the role of nurturer, recreation director, birthmother, caretaker of the old, or any of the other included 32 roles!
After students have received their assignment and the Ceremony of Twelve has come to a close, they will have the choice of two assignments : writing a journal entry or filling out an application for a career change.
Included in The Giver Ceremony of Twelve Activity:
➡️ Teacher Instructions: These detailed instructions will guide you through every element of how to successfully run a simulation of The Ceremony of 12 in your classroom!
➡️ Classroom Poster: Welcome students with this eye-catching poster that will introduce them and hook them into the activity
➡️ Chief Elder's Speech: A copy of The Chief Elder's speech from the novel that the teacher can read to introduce the Ceremony of 12 to the class.
➡️ Selecting Students Graphic Organizer: Easily organize which students will receive which role with this graphic organizer that lists each of the possible careers students might receive.
➡️ Ceremony Presentation: Type student names into the presentation, so the Ceremony of Twelve runs seamlessly, assigning each student their role and signalling them to come to the front to receive their career card.
➡️ 32 Career Cards: Each card includes a career role, many directly referenced in The Giver , and a detailed explanation of the roles and responsibilities associated with the role.
➡️ Journal Response Assignment: This assignment is for students who are pleased with their career assignment. They will share their thoughts and feelings about their new role. They will consider if they like their career, what they would change if they could, and what concerns they have.
➡️ Application for Job Change Assignment: This assignment is for students who are not pleased with their career assignment and would like to request a change in job.
What Teachers Are Saying About The Giver Ceremony of Twelve Activity:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Another great product to use with The Giver . Students really enjoyed this activity . As a matter of fact, I saw some students this summer and they brought up this very activity with smiles on their faces! Thank you
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ When the students saw the poster on my door for the ceremony, they were all instantly intrigued . It led to great discussions about the jobs within the community and spoke highly of each personality within the room. It was a great way to discuss the themes in the novel but also served as a great community builder for my class as well.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Love this activity! This was a perfect way to really get the students involved and thinking about the Ceremony of Twelve and different life assignments.
>>>This resource is included in my unit plan for the novel!
➡️ The Giver Unit Plan
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→ The Giver Escape Room Activity
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Quick answer: At the Ceremony of Twelve in The Giver, Elevens receive assignments crucial for the Community's functioning, such as Pilot, Nurturer, and positions in the Department of Justice ...
The Ceremony of Twelve is one of the Community's annual Ceremonies and is when the Twelves get their Assignments. Additionally, this is considered the most important and last age Ceremony, as there are no more age ceremonies following this age Ceremony and age becomes unimportant, as noted by several members of the Community. Since this is the final ceremony, it represents a rite of passage ...
Assignments are the occupations of the inhabitants of the Community. Assignments are designated when a member of the Community goes through their respective Ceremony of Twelve. All Assignments can be found here. Claire is given the Assignment of Birthmother at the Ceremony of Twelve. Coming soon... Assignments are made by the Elders may be appealed by contacting them, who form a committee to ...
Summary: The Ceremony of Twelve in The Giver is crucial as it marks the transition from childhood to adulthood. During this ceremony, each twelve-year-old is assigned their lifelong job based on ...
Chapter 7 of The Giver opens with Jonas and the community inside the Auditorium for day two of the Ceremony. This is the day the Elevens become Twelves and receive their Assignments.Jonas speaks a ...
The Ceremony of Twelve is the most important, where children receive their life-long assignments based on their skills and interests, determining their roles in the society. plot: Ceremony of the ...
Summary and Analysis Chapters 6-8. As Chapter 6 begins, Jonas' family unit is preparing to go to the December Ceremony, which lasts for two days. By describing the rules that each peer group must follow, Lowry emphasizes the theme of individuality versus conformity. We learn that Fours, Fives, and Sixes are required to wear jackets that button ...
Analysis. Chapters 7 and 8 deal with the extremely important Ceremony of Twelve, in which the former Elevens officially enter the adult world and receive their Assignments, which will determine their vocations for their working lives until they enter the House of the Old. The Assignment process and Ceremony of Twelve is unique because, as the ...
The biggest, most important Ceremony in The Giver is the Ceremony of 12. At this Ceremony, the children learn their Assignments, which are the jobs they will do through adulthood. Create an account
Below are 8 of my favorite activities for The Giver that do just that. 1. The Ceremony of 12 Simulation. This first activity is always a class favorite. It allows students to empathize with Jonas and his friends as they are assigned careers by the Chief Elder during the Ceremony of 12.
Answers 1. In The Giver, the Ceremony of Twelve is the most important ceremony in Jonas's community because it is when the adolescent children are given their permanent assignments, which are their individually selected occupations. It is the last ceremony each year and is considered a rite of passage to becoming an adult.
The Giver Chapter 8. Louis Lowry's ''The Giver'' is a young adult science fiction novel. It tells the story of Jonas, a twelve-year-old living in the Community, a society where there is no longer ...
The general conflict in Chapter 2 of The Giver is Jonah's apprehension about what assignment he will be given. He is approaching the Ceremony of Twelve when he will be given his job for the rest ...
12: The final ceremony, this is the one where each child receives his or her job assignment. A Committee studies each child's interests and talents and then makes a job assignment.
Ceremonies are important to the Community. They represent the children of the communities growing up and reaching the age where they can start doing their Assignments and benefitting their communities. Rather than celebrating the day the were born, the children in Jonas's community age as a group yearly through a ceremony done for two days in December. The ceremonies happen to a child yearly ...
Analysis. After sharing, Jonas 's parents ask to speak with Jonas alone. Jonas's father tries to calm his fears by telling him that people are rarely disappointed in their Assignments, because the Committee of Elders monitors Elevens' interest so as to place them where they would best be able to do good work for the community.
Analysis. After all the Assignments have been given out, the Chief Elder tells the crowd that she has skipped Jonas purposely. Jonas, she says, has been selected to be the next Receiver of Memory. The crowd gasps, and Jonas notices an elder who stands out from the crowd because of his pale eyes. He knows this man is the Receiver.
Explore insightful questions and answers on Ceremony of the Twelve in The Giver at eNotes. Enhance your understanding today!
Jonas is skipped at the Ceremony of Assignments because he has been selected for a special role as the Receiver-in-training, rather than a typical assignment. Initially, he feels stunned, confused ...
The Giver Ceremony of Twelve Activity is an interactive classroom activity that your students will never forget! In The Giver by Lois Lowry, children are assigned their careers during The Ceremony of 12. Bring this into your classroom and allow your students to empathize with Jonas and the rest of the community by taking on the role of Chief Elder and assigning roles to each of your students!