All American Slurp Sample Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan and Questions

I can't post the actual story here, but a Google search will get you to it quick enough. It's also in the book America Street - there's a link to the Amazon page at the end of the lesson. There are also several similar lesson plans for the story online, as well.  The actual short story is All-American Slurp by Lensey Namioka

All-American Slurp Lesson (1-2 class periods)

Anticipate the short story “All-American Slurp” by Lensey Namioka by telling quick version of the time I felt completely out of place. Let a few of the students give their own quick “one time” stories. Why did we feel so uncomfortable in those situations?
Why do you think this story is titled the way it is?

During Reading Activity: Highlight, in yellow, beliefs or actions of the Lins that are different from your own. Highlight, in green, beliefs or actions of the Lins that are similar to your own. Class will intermittently discuss these differences.

Teacher reads aloud as students read along.

Guiding Questions:
Why won’t the Lins eat the dip?
Haven’t they seen celery before? Show onomatopoeia slide (the story includes onomatopoeia, so it’s a good opportunity to give the kids a little quick info)
What social norms are the Lins not aware of at the party? What do you suppose “social norm” means?
How did the Lins try to be helpful at the party?
The narrator writes at one point that she could, “almost pass for an American.” Do you think this is important to her? Why? [Show slide of Chinese dress]
How did she trick her mother into buying her jeans?
Why does she think of celery strings at this point?

Discuss/Contrast/Compare/Revisit Anticipation

Compose list of social norms. How would others react if we broke these norms? Why?

Optional Homework: Go home and break some of these norms with your family (keep it safe and fun)! How did they react?

Rules and Procedures Test

Rules and Procedures Test

A.  Respect all people and property.

B.  Follow first line of direction.

C.  Speak positively and encourage.

D.  Use appropriate language.

      E.     Take responsibility for your actions

Next to each action, write down the letter or letters of the rules violated. 

Example:  John tells Shaniqua that she should sit on his lap during class.  Rules Violated:  A, C, D

1.                  Giving someone a high five.  ______

2.                  Hugging your friend.  ______

3.                  Telling your friend about the wild party you went to last weekend.  ______

4.                  Laughing at a student’s accent.  ______

5.                  Telling the teacher “I’m about to!” and then not doing anything.  ______

6.                  Hiding a student’s backpack when he/she isn’t looking.  ______

7.                  Saying a curse word because you don’t like the grade you got on the test.  ______

8.                  Putting your head down on the table when you’re supposed to be working. ______

9.                  Laughing or making a derogatory noise when a student gets a wrong answer.  ______

10.              Gossiping.  ______

11.              Texting during class time.  ______

12.              Refusing to give you phone to the teacher when he catches you with it out.  ______

13.              Talking while the teacher is teaching.  ______

Procedures:  How would you handle these situations according to the procedures of the classroom?

1.                  You need to use Mr. Horlacher’s pencil sharpener, but he’s talking to another student at the moment.  What do you do?

2.                  You walk into Mr. Horlacher’s room at the beginning of class – what are you supposed to do at the beginning of class?

3.                  You sneak a look at your cell phone to see if you got the text you were expecting, but Mr. Horlacher catches you and asks to hold the cell phone in his pocket until the end of class.  What do you do?

4.                  The principal confuses you with another student and stops you in the hall to yell at you for something you didn’t do.  You are late to class.  How do you walk into the classroom when you’re late?

5.                  Put a proper paper heading for an assignment called “Election Essay.”

6.                  You sneak a Jolly Rancher candy into your mouth during class.  What do you do with the empty wrapper?

7.                  You walk into class and realize that you forgot to take your hoody off.  What do you do?

8.                  You had a doctor’s appointment yesterday and you want Mr. Horlacher to give you your makeup work.  What is the procedure for getting your makeup work?

9.                  You have finished your classwork early and feel like taking a nap.  What do you do?

10.              You are about to enter the classroom, but you realize that you are talking loudly and making a lot of noise.  What should you do before entering the classroom?

11.              Mr. Horlacher is talking too much and you wish that you could make laser beams shoot out of your eyes to vaporize him.  Is that really nice?

Name:
Period __
First Warm Up Activity 
Please answer each question!

What is your...
Favorite movie?

Favorite book?

Best school subject?

Worst school subject?

Favorite food?

Favorite sports team?

Best reason for coming to school?

Best reason for not coming to school?

If you could have any job that you wanted, what job would you pick?

What is your favorite thing to do on weekends?

What makes a good teacher?

What makes a class fun?

Where is the best place to eat in Baltimore?

What is the point of school?

What is your greatest talent?

A student is making fun of another student in class for being “slow.” What do you do about it?