How to Create a Giving Tree at Christmas in a Classroom

Most teachers love celebrating the holiday season in their classrooms. The children are excited and happy and there's a festive spirit in the air. The true meaning of the season, however, is sometimes lost on students, especially younger children. For this reason, many teachers focus on teaching the true meaning of the spirit of the holidays, which is giving, not getting. Teaching children to help others in need is not always easy, but a one good way to do it is to set up a giving tree in your classroom.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Artificial Christmas tree
• Green butcher paper
• Charity of your choice
• Craft supplies for making Christmas tree ornaments
• Charitable gift

1. Explain the giving tree to your students. Most children associate a Christmas tree with getting presents. Tell them that your classroom tree is going to be a giving tree. It is for the students to give presents, not get presents. The gifts the give will go to children and families in need. Incorporate this into a lesson on charity, or read them a story about giving, such as the book appropriately titled, "The Giving Tree."

2. 
    

   Choose your charity or charities. You can choose to have the children bring in any kind of useful item that can help any general charity, or you can be more specific, such as having them create shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child, or donating a new toy for Toys for Tots. See links to these charities and others in Resources below.

3. Create the tree. You can use a life-sized, artificial Christmas tree or simply make one out of green butcher paper and attach it to the wall. Have the children decorate it with home-made ornaments (made in the classroom). Hang lights on it to make it extra special.

4. Partner with the parents. Once you have explained the giving tree to your students, you will need to send home a letter to the parents telling them about your giving tree, and asking them to encourage the students to give. Parental help and encouragement at home is vital to the giving tree's success.

5. Lead by example. When you introduce the tree, start the giving by placing your own gift beneath the tree. Explain to the students that giving comes from the heart, and that everyone is able to give different amounts, which are all equally good. Make sure they don't feel pressured to give.

6. Take the items to the local charity. If you can, plan a field trip to drop off the items. Ask ahead of time if someone can speak to your class about the charity when you drop off the gifts. This will greatly benefit the children, who will get to see where the gifts are going and how they will help families in need.

Tips & Warnings

• See if you can get your whole school to join in, and create one large tree in your school's lobby.
• Check to be sure your school district allows holiday-specific activities. If not, use the giving tree as a general charity effort rather than one associated with Christmas.

Resources

• Toys for Tots
• Operation Christmas Child
• Make A Wish Foundation
• Angel Tree

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