Gobble up a Story Sandwich!
A fourth grade language arts lesson that uses the concept of building a sandwich to teach students how to consider their experience of a book and communicate specific elements of the plot, characters and their own response to the work. This is a two unit lesson plan (with lesson periods of approximately :45). Each student will produce a final product that can be displayed and/or shared with other students.
Fourth grade students will successfully communicate their experience of a work of fiction through analysis, writing, editing and composition resulting in a creative book review "sandwich".
Unit 1:
Discuss ways that students might go about choosing a book - try to move toward the idea of the value of a friend's recommendation. Probe for why they might need recommendations soon (i.e., upcoming book fair, summer reading). Note: Mention some of your favorite recent reads that came via recommendation. (5 minutes)
Students should arrive at class having read the book they have chosen. Query which books have been selected. Discuss reasons for the students' choices. Introduce the Story Sandwich [See Book Review Sandwich in Media Support]. Show example sandwich. Announce plan to use completed works as displays in the library, hallway bulletin board, book fair. (Make sure students know that people will SEE them and their names will be on them.) Review process for completion. (15 minutes)
Hand out worksheet and pencils and review questions. Students complete worksheet. Early finishers should trade and proofread. Underline possible misspellings. Collect worksheets for review/approval before next lesson. (25 minutes)
Unit 2:
Review work of previous week and sample of Sandwich. Talk about presentation format and the need to use neatest handwriting and necessity of proofreading. Query for questions. Review the Story Sandwich. Show sample sandwich. Remind students that their project will be used for displays (i.e., people will SEE them and their names will be on them.) Review process for completion. Identify students who have not completed worksheets. Separate students with incompletes at separate table. (15 minutes)
Review steps of completing sandwich 'Bread first, write neatly!' Hand out sandwich parts. Students should write their name on back of sheets! After completing the sandwich, students should see LMS for approval of work. LMS will provide students with scissors so that they can cut out the "lettuce", "tomato" and "cheese" sheets, leaving the "bread" whole. Collect completed sandwiches. (30 minutes)
Completing project:
Teacher laminates "bread" sheets, cuts out bread, assembles five sheets, hole punches and completes sandwich by affixing metal binder ring.
Students' success will be determined through evaluation of worksheets and completed story sandwich assignment.
