The Great Kapok Tree…it’s Legendary

I fell in love with The Great Kapok Tree about 10 years ago when I first discovered it. I was a 4th grade teacher at the time and as a class we decided to present it as a live play at the end of the school year. I can still remember how much fun my kids had. We crafted a beautiful kapok tree, “planted”  it smack dab in the middle of the room, the kids knew their parts so well, the parents helped me with the costumes, it was truly a team effort and unforgettable learning. We literally brought the story to life that day and The Great Kapok Tree settled into my heart as a top 10 favourite.When school started again that fall, I got busy becoming a 1st grade teacher and I was pulled into a different world and I honestly kind of forgot about my favourite tree. I knew it was there, I just couldn’t see it as clearly anymore. That was, until last week, when I was going through an old box and there it was, neatly packed away with all my Rainforest stuff. I picked it up and was instantly back in love.  It’s a purely magical story, full of lush backdrops and stunning animals and a message that is so clear, even clearer as we approach Earth Day. The message is simple – leave the trees alone. Trees are homes, food, shelter, a place to frolic and things of beauty.

The most extraordinary part of the story for me is when the jaguar explains to the sleeping man that the birds and animals living in the tree are a food source for him and where will he find his dinner if the tree no longer exists? You can take this story in so many directions, it’s wonderfully overwhelming – animals, the amazon, birds, the food chain, destruction, nature’s beauty, dependence and the list goes on…

I read The Great Kapok Tree to my 1st graders this week and we have been devouring it ever since. They amazed me with their predictions toward the end of the story – would the man chop the tree down? And they wowed me with their comments about how everybody wins in the end. And just when I thought I could be impressed no more, one of my kids said-The tree is legendary Miss.

Yes. The tree is legendary.

Mark Twain once said “I can live for 2 months on a good compliment.” Well, I can live even longer on the insightfulness of a 1st grader who spies legend in that tree. It was a magical moment.

The Great Kapok Tree now rests on my shelf of honour.

Click on any of the pics below to use these free resources with the story.