Sacrifice- The Giving Tree
LESSON TIME: 45 minutes
SUGGESTED APPLICATION:
Language Arts, Social Studies
SUGGESTED GRADE LEVEL:
2nd Grade
Objectives
Students will:
 Define the word sacrifice.
 Provide examples of sacrifice in their communities and lives.
 Describe sacrifices they have made in their own lives.
 Describe reasons sacrifice is valued in society.
Core Value Focus: SACRIFICE
(suggested definition - The act of giving up something that you want to keep especially in order to get or
do something else or to help someone.)
Recipient Focus: All recipients
Introductory Activity:
The students will watch a Disney Clips video, which features sacrifices in Disney movies. The class will do a pairshare to discuss the sacrifices that were observed in the video. A whole group discussion will follow the pairshare.
Small Group Activity:
The teacher will read the book, The Giving Tree to the students. The group will then work together to answer the
following questions:
1. How did the tree show sacrifice?
2. What happened at the end of the story to the tree?
3. What is the ultimate sacrifice?
4. Is sacrifice a way to show love?
5. Why do people sacrifice?
6. Have you seen someone sacrifice for someone else?
7. What is a sacrifice that you could do?
8. Does sacrificing make you a hero?
Concluding Activity:
Brainstorm examples of sacrifice they see in other movies, books or in their everyday lives. Students should be
prepared to share their examples the next class period.
Assessment:
Teacher observation
Extended Activities:
 Show youtube clips below.
 Brainstorm ways that students can show sacrifice in their own lives (fundraiser, volunteering, etc.)
 Possible modification for advanced/older students-(5th grade standards in most states): Show different
Google Slides of the amputees and lead them into discussion about what the amputees have in common.
Lead them to understand that all of them gave up a part of themselves for the greater good of their country
or their military brethren as a sacrifice.
Resources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DS0r9_stF8 - teaching introduction to sacrifice with Disney clips
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ2tYj452QI - Sacrifice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6y20NTiopk4 - Big Hero 6 Sacrifice
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8FMHegzVxa-cHpod3JMeW5pZ0k/view?usp=sharing - Google Slides of
amputees
(Quote on the focus core value)
“Think about the past and consider the sacrifices men and women in the military have made for us.”
Gary G. Wetzel, Army-Vietnam War
“Millions have served in the military and made sacrifices, and most have gone unrecognized.”
George E. Wahlen, Navy-World War II
(Quote on the focus core value)
(Worksheet)