Our Holiday Bakery Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Children will compare and contrast five fall and winter holidays and their traditional treats.

 

Social Studies Focus:

holiday traditions

 

ELA Skills:

key details, vocabulary, opinion writing, compare/contrast

 

Page 4 Skill:

read a chart

 

Vocabulary:

celebrate, menorah, kinara

 

CCSS:

RI.2.1 key details; RI.2.2 identify the main topic; RI.2.4 determine meanings of words; RI.2.5 use text features; RI.2.9 compare/ contrast; RI.2.10 read informational texts; W.2.1 opinion writing; SL.2.1 collaborative conversations; SL.2.3 ask and answer questions

 

Guided Reading Level:

K

 

Lexile level:

560L

Download TEKS Standards
Download Common Core Standards

Provide students with some background on fall and winter holidays.

Build background knowledge (10 min.)

Watch our video “Holiday Cheer!” After children have finished watching the video, discuss the following question:

  • What do you do on your favorite holiday?

Preview vocabulary (3 min.)

Next, play the online vocabulary slideshow. This issue’s featured terms are celebrate, menorah, and kinara.

Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)

  • Pass out the issue, and discuss the cover. Explain that families celebrate different holidays, and many holidays include eating delicious foods.
  • Next, read the As You Read prompt on page 3: “Think about what the treats have in common.” Encourage children to think about this prompt as they read.

Read together (20 min.)

Pass out the Read and Think printable. Use it to check comprehension as you read the issue together, pausing to ask the questions. 

Assessment: Reading Quiz 

Pass out the Reading Quiz to review key concepts from the issue and assess students’ proficiency on key nonfiction reading skills.

  • Use the online game show to gauge comprehension and reinforce the issue’s content. Students can play by themselves or in teams. For each question they answer correctly, they win a point.

You can use our printable worksheets to focus on ELA skills. Here’s how.

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (15 min.)

  • Use the Word Work printable to deepen students’ understanding of the words celebrate, menorah, and kinara.

Editor’s Pick: My Favorite Holiday Treat (15 min.)

  • The #1 Treat skill sheet asks students to form an opinion on holiday treats. The printable provides prompts for students to discuss their reasons to create a complete writing piece.

ELA Focus: Compare/Contrast (15 min.)

  • The Holiday Treat Chart skill sheet helps students organize the information they gathered from the article into a chart. The data can be used to compare the various holiday traditions.

 Here are two past issues you can use to extend your lesson on fall and winter holidays:

You can find a higher-Lexile-level and a lower-Lexile-level version of the article online here:

  • Higher Lexile level: 570L
  • Lower Lexile level: 490L