Great, Interesting Virtual Extensions and Research

for The Giver, by Lowry

About the Book

In Jonas' perfect world, everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. But when Jonas learns the truth, there is no turning back.

In a utopian community where there are no choices--where everyone has his or her place in the world assigned according to gifts and interests--the time has come for 12-year-old Jonas to become the new Receiver of Memory. He will be the one to bear the collective memories of a society that lives only in the present, where "Sameness " is the rule. But Jonas soon recognizes the losses and discovers the lie that supports his community. He decides he will change his world--but he cannot predict how that change will come about, or what that change will mean for himself and the "newchild" Gabriel, whom he has resolved to protect.

Resources and Lesson Plans for Teachers

The Giver - Lesson Plans and Resources

 

CyberGuide to The Giver from SCORE (Schools of California On-line Resources for Education). This site has lesson plans which are connected to the California State Standards. It includes such activities as a chart, historical jigsaw, informational chart, formulating a career plan, and narrative responce to literature. Rubrics and scoring guides are included in each activity.

Teacher Guide, Random House -

• A message from the Author: The author tells why he wrote the book. (Note: The transcript of an interview with Lois Lowry is presented. However, the audio link has expired.)
• Teaching ideas are given (pre-reading activity, thematic connections, interdisciplinary connections, etc.)
• Internet Resources
  • Read an excerpt
  • A History of Orphan Trains - Here you'll find extensive information about the orphan trains including history, timeline, articles, family stories, and statistics
  • Orphan Trains of Kansas - Stories, history, newspaper accounts, and graphics (photographs of orphans).
  • Rainbow Kids--Your Source for International Adoption Information - Resources on orphans with statistics, links to orphanages, adoption agencies, and orphan resources on the Internet can be found here.
  • The Family Research Council - Search for topics of interest to family, find links to legislation that affects the family, articles about family and issues that affect the family. Note: The FRC is a nonprofit nonpartisan educational organization which reaffirms and promotes the traditional family unit and the Judeo-Christian value system.
  • America's West--Development and History - Many issues of westward expansion including towns, westward trails, and famous people in westward expansion can be found at this site.

Teacher Guide - Tallmania (8th grade teacher site includes surveys, question chapters, links, discussion of controversies about the book)

Students, Find Out More About Lois Lowry

Lois Lowry Biography (Rutgers) This site also includes some summaries of four of her other books (Number the Stars, A Summer to Die, etc.)

Authors Online Biography: Lois Lowry (Scholastic books)

1. When was Lois Lowry born?
   • She says she is a grandmother now, and feels an urgency to write. What does she want to convey to others?
2. Lois Lowry describes herself as an introvert. What does this mean?
   • How did this help her become a writer?
   • Do you think of yourself as an introvert or an extravert?
3. What is the major theme of all of her books?
4. What are some of her other books?
5. Which awards has Ms. Lowry won for her books?

Discussion Group - Read some readers' questions to Lois Lowry and some of her answers. Which of her answers surprised you the most? Why? Which one did you expect?

 

More Resources: Audio Tapes - If you were absent, or want to hear parts of the book, ask your teacher for the audio tapes. Spanish version - Try reading this book in two languages! Simplified version - If you need to catch up on a chapter you missed, ask your teacher for a simplified version. [Coming soon!]