LESSON 10A: Let’s Make Cornbread

Using the book, Annie and the Wild Animals, encourage students to listen for enjoyment. The teacher and the students make cornbread to make a connection with the text. Discuss which Jan Brett book students liked best and why. Depending on time and student attention span this lesson may be divided into two sessions.

GRADE LEVEL EXPECTATIONS

R1H: Develop and demonstrate with assistance, post-reading skill after reading or read-aloud to respond to text: questions to clarify, retell, illustrate, and re-enact stories.

LS1A: Listen for enjoyment, for information, and for simple directions, with teacher assistance.

LESSON MATERIALS

§         Sources of Literature

o           Annie and the Wild Animals by Jan Brett

§         Supplies 

• Copy of the book, Annie and the Wild Animals by Jan Brett
• Ingredients to make cornbread
• Oven
• Post-it notes
• Website: www.janbrett.com

§         Handouts provided

o        None

§         Words to know

o        none

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT

Make mental notes to be recorded later of students’ participation during the activity.  At the end of this lesson, record your observations of students who shared an experience that made a connection to the book or answer questions about the book. Notes from this observation and others can be used to rate each student using the checklist at the end of this unit.

LEARNING ACTIVITIES

1.        Gather in the read-aloud area and gain attention of students by using a class signal.

2.        Read the title of the book and read and point to the author/illustrator.

3.        Discuss the story.

4.        Read the story for enjoyment.

5.        To form a connection with the text make cornbread with the students and discuss how Annie feed the animals each night with corn cakes. Note: If cooking in your classroom is not allowed, consider other options such as mixing the ingredients in class and cook the cornbread at a later time or bring in cornbread already cooked.

6.        While the cornbread is cooking or while eating the cornbread, discuss which Jan Brett book was the students’ favorite and why. Make a bar graph with the four books listed.  Students place a post-it note with their name on it beside the book title they liked the best.

7.        The class dictates a message to e-mail to Jan Brett about what they liked about her book. Visit her website and e-mail the message.  She should respond in a few weeks.

8.        Eat and enjoy the cornbread.