By Lois Lowry

Warm Up: Introduction What would it take to make your world perfect? What would you be willing to give up to have your world perfect?

Survey – Agree or Disagree? STATEMENT AGREE DISAGREE 1. An ideal community would not have any hunger or starvation. YES NO 2. An ideal community would not have any jealousy or competition. 3. An ideal community would not have any unemployment. 4. All children should have equal possessions and privileges at a certain age, regardless of the status of their families. 5. Families are much closer when they share their feelings. 6. Life would be better and easier if we did not carry bad memories in our heads. 7. Because of overpopulation, families shouldn’t have more than 2children. 8. There is no real need to learn about world history. 9. There is no real need to learn about one’s own family history. 10. Our job or occupation should be a careful match to our interests and talents.

About the Author Biography About Her Writing

Biography Birthplace: Hawaii Birth Date: March 20, 1937 Parents: Robert & Katherine Hammersburg Education: Brown University University of Southern Maine

About her Writing She has tackled a number of topics in her literature including: adoption, mental illness, the Holocaust and futuristic societies. Whatever the theme, Lowry portrays realistic life experiences to her audience.

Utopia or Dystopia? UTOPIA DYSTOPIA - A beautiful society with a general pacifistic attitude (no violence) - Poverty and misery are removed - Very few laws are necessary - Money is not necessary - People work on what they enjoy and benefits the common good - Refers to a perfect society that does not exist or can never exist - Totalitarian dictatorship - Technology replaces humanity - Society in which nearly every aspect of public and private behavior is regulated by the state. - Poor standard of living among the lower and middle classes - Protagonist that questions the society - Set in the future but resembles contemporary society UTOPIA DYSTOPIA

Utopia or Dystopia? Utopian and dystopian societies are often present in science fiction literature.

Upcoming Ceremonies In the first few chapters of The Giver, you sense that the community is greatly anticipating and excited about the upcoming Ceremonies. Some members of the community probably work along in advance to prepare the event.    Get together in pairs and pretend you are on the advertising committee for the ceremonial program and must plan ways to spread the word throughout the community.  On the advertisement, you should make sure to include all important information, such as who should attend, what the event is, when the event will take places and why this event is about to take place. Be creative!

Ceremonies in The Giver At age one, children get assigned to their families. Children also receive their names. At age seven, children get a front-buttoned jacket, which is the first sign of independence At age eight, children perform voluntary work. They give up their “comfort objects.” Children become more independent. At age nine, children receive bikes. Girls no longer have to wear hair ribbons. At age ten, children get hair cuts. Girls no longer wear braids. Boys had shorter hair which allowed for their ears to show. At age eleven, children get new clothes. Girls get different undergarments because they have undergone puberty. Boys gets pants with pockets designed to carry the calculators that they use in school. At age twelve, children learn their future professions. They become adults.

Let the Ceremonies Begin!