An Ode to the Olive Tree
This lesson guide is based on Hilwa’s Gifts, a poignant story about land, life, and family. In collaboration with writer, Safa Suleiman, this lesson can be used in English Language Arts, perfect for grades 2-3.
This lesson guide is based on Hilwa’s Gifts, a poignant story about land, life, and family. In collaboration with writer, Safa Suleiman, this lesson can be used in English Language Arts, perfect for grades 2-3.
This lesson guide is based on Hilwa’s Gifts, a poignant story about land, life, and family. In collaboration with writer, Safa Suleiman, this lesson can be used in English Language Arts, perfect for grades 2-3.
Lesson Overview
“Palestinian joy and love are reflected in every line and every spread. I want to students to see the enduring connection that this Palestinian family has to the land and learn about the ancient tradition of olive harvesting that Seedo (grandfather) passes on to Ali” - Safa Suleiman
In this lower elementary lesson, students will explore the cultural significance of the olive tree in Palestinian life. Centered around the children’s book Hilwa’s Gifts, the lesson invites students to engage in a sensory activity, reflect on the role of plants in their own cultures, and make meaningful connections between land, identity, and family traditions.
About Collaborator
Safa Suleiman is a Palestinian American educator with more than twenty years of experience in undergraduate and elementary school pedagogy. She now focuses on writing and teaching through storytelling centering the Palestinian and the American Muslim communities. Hilwa’s Gifts is her first book. She lives with her family in Colorado on the homeland of the Ute Nation.
