Westampton Intermediate School

5th grade students in Mrs. Kish’s Language Arts classes imagined themselves celebrating the holidays during the Great Depression. Students made connections through the eyes of a young boy as he visited New York City for the first time in 1931 to sell trees for extra money. “The Carpenter’s Gift” by, David Rubel is a Christmas Tale about the first tree erected and decorated by workers and their families. Students learned the rich history of the tree and the traditional lighting ceremony which brings over 125 million visitors yearly. In the end, students recognized the theme of generosity and paying it forward is the true gift of the holiday season.