Life is a gift from God. “The Giver” by Lois Lowry gives life a whole new meaning. Students are encouraged to learn more about “The Giver” and God’s gracious gift of life for them. The learning center will help students gain a broader understanding for their unique place in God’s world. The students will experience a variety of learning strategies such as writing, observing, listening, and viewing.

I AM POEM—In this activity students will become writers. They will read the poem “Where I’m From” by George Ella Lyons. They will answer the question: What did you find out about the author through his poem? Afterwards, the students may choose to either write a poem mimicking the form of “Where I’m From” OR choose to write a Bold, Beautiful Bio-Poem. Students will reveal their unique identity through their creative writing.

MIRROR, MIRROR, ON THE WALL—Students will understand that mirrors can tell unique information about them. God has created each student different and unique. Each person is composed of genetic factors that determine some physical characteristics. Students will then look into the mirror on the table and determine the following factors:

1.      Look to your hairline above your forehead, does your hairline come to a point? If it does, you have a widow’s peak.

2.      Look at your ear lobes. Are they completely attached to your head or are they separated?

3.      Can you roll your tongue?

4.      What color eyes do you have?

Tonight, you may ask your parents a few of these questions to see how genetics have played a role in forming you. Students will be looking for traits such as: attached earlobes, eye colors, hair color, hand shapes, widows peak, and so on in their siblings or parents at home. This information will help students understand that God made each of his children unique but provide traits from their own parents.

DO YOU REMEMBER—Memories play a key role in “The Giver.” Students will test their own memory. There is a box by the activity board with “Can You Remember” written on it. The students will reach their hand in and pick out one of the items at a time (a ribbon, toy, stuffed animal, pencil, sucker, etc.). The students must look at the item for two seconds and place it back into the box. Students repeat this step with each item. The students must not write this item down. Students should continue on to other activities on the board. After completing that activity, the students will test their memory and try to name each of the objects they pulled out of the box earlier.

TO FURTHER YOUR READING—“The Giver” is the first book in a series written by Lois Lowry. The next book in the series is “Gathering Blue” and the last book is “The Messenger.” Students will take some time to read the back of each book and flip through the chapters. Students will then have to write down similarities and differences on a compare and contrast chart. This will encourage students to read more books by Lois Lowry.

THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK—“The Diary of Anne Frank” is an amazing resource about a Jewish girl and her experiences during the Holocaust in World War II. This book provides a detailed look of what life was like for her and her people and how God’s creation endured sin through racism in World War II. Students will flip through the different journals and stories written by Anne Frank. Students must then find a journal to read and write their own journal entry reflecting on the thoughts of Anne Frank. Students will also write what they would do in a situation like Anne’s.

VIDEO—Understanding the cruelties in World War II are important for students to know. Students will have the opportunity to watch a documentary on Anne Frank. Students will appreciate their gift of life and understand their individuality. People mean more to God than numbers on their wrists. Students will explore the true meaning of being an individual. Students will then write a response to the video, “Anne Frank.”

All these activities will help increase the curiosity of the students and what it means to be unique. The students will gain a better understanding for memory, colors, and differences through this learning center, “The Gift of Life.”