Seventh-grade students at Independence Middle School recently stepped inside the world of The Giver through an immersive and thought-provoking lesson led by English Language Arts teacher Dawn Frate.
As part of the class’s study of the novel, Frate brought the story off the page and into the classroom by dressing as The Giver and assigning students careers—mirroring the experiences of characters in the book. The hands-on approach immediately captured students’ attention and helped them better understand the structure and values of the novel’s seemingly perfect society.
The Giver challenges readers to examine themes of freedom, conformity, individuality, and emotion. Through this interactive experience, students engaged in meaningful discussions, connecting the novel’s themes to their own perspectives and questioning the world author Lois Lowry created. The activity encouraged deeper critical thinking and gave students a tangible way to explore complex ideas.
