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Published
2026-09-10
Section
Middle Grades
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Kayla Maas
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
When We Care for the Earth, The Earth Cares for Us
Exploring Reciprocity and Responsibility through Story
Kayla Maas
Keywords: Reciprocity, Sustainability, trees, close reading, compare and contrast
Abstract
This five-day unit is designed to help students see the important connection between people and the Earth. The idea that when we care for the planet, it, in turn, cares for us. Using The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein and The Apple Tree by Sandy Tharp-Thee, students explore how our choices affect the world around us and the ways that giving and receiving can exist in balance. We start the week by building background knowledge about how the Earth provides for us every day with clean air, water, food, and beauty, and our responsibility to care for it in return. Students analyze the two stories: The Giving Tree shows what happens when we only take, while The Apple Tree demonstrates what happens when we nurture and care for something over time. Through discussion, journaling, and reflection, students begin to see themselves as part of a circle of care, capable of making small actions that truly matter.
