The Mitten Tree

Name: The Mitten Tree
Author: Candace Christiansen

A story that explores service and opens a conversation with your child.

★★★★★ Loved by families

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♥ This book teaches: Service. using what you have to help others.

Before, During & After Reading

Guiding Questions for Parents.

Definition : Service is doing something nice or helpful for someone else. Summary: Old Sarah lives alone but she is not lonely anymore. This story explains why. One day on her walk she notices a boy with no mittens building a snowman. Sarah quietly and anonymously makes him mittens, which he gladly puts on his cold hands. This inspires Sarah to make mittens for all the children. She hangs them on the tree outside her house and the children happily grab their new mittens. Does anyone know that Sarah made the mittens? Someone knows - one day a basket of yarn mysteriously appears on her front porch! Sarah continues to knit mittens for all the children in her town and whenever she runs out of yarn, a new basket arrives on her porch! Lesson Objectives:

Students are inspired to appreciate those who do nice things for them by expressing their gratitude in spoken or written words, pictures, and gestures.

Guiding Questions:

Why did Sarah live all alone?
What did she see outside one day that prompted her to make a pair of mittens?
Do you live where it’s cold outside? Do you wear mittens or gloves to keep your hands warm?
Why did Sarah keep making mittens and what did she do with all the mittens she made?
How did Sarah feel about working so hard to make all the mittens?
Who do you think brought the basket of yarn to Sarah’s porch? Do we ever find out?
Have you ever made something for someone you love? What was it, and did they appreciate it?
Think of someone you care about, make something special and give it to them. How do you think you’ll feel when they get your gift?
Can you think of a gift you received that was very special? What was it and why did it make you happy?
Sarah may have been lonely at first but do you think she felt as lonely after she started making mittens for the children? Why or why not?

🌿 Virtue Connection: Service means using what you have been given to help others.

About the Story.

This guide is part of the Values & Virtues library, a free collection of 400+ book guides and activities organized around 12 core virtues for children from pre-K to 6th grade. Each guide includes Guiding Questions designed to open a real conversation with your child in 10 minutes or less.

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Service · Family Discussion Guide

The Mitten Tree

by Candace Christiansen

Guiding Questions

Students are inspired to appreciate those who do nice things for them by expressing their gratitude in spoken or written words, pictures, and gestures.

Guiding Questions:

Why did Sarah live all alone?
What did she see outside one day that prompted her to make a pair of mittens?
Do you live where it’s cold outside? Do you wear mittens or gloves to keep your hands warm?
Why did Sarah keep making mittens and what did she do with all the mittens she made?
How did Sarah feel about working so hard to make all the mittens?
Who do you think brought the basket of yarn to Sarah’s porch? Do we ever find out?
Have you ever made something for someone you love? What was it, and did they appreciate it?
Think of someone you care about, make something special and give it to them. How do you think you’ll feel when they get your gift?
Can you think of a gift you received that was very special? What was it and why did it make you happy?
Sarah may have been lonely at first but do you think she felt as lonely after she started making mittens for the children? Why or why not?

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The Mitten Tree

Guiding Questions for Parents.

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Guiding Questions