Fish Fry Friday

by Winsome Bingham

This warm and inviting picture book follows a family preparing for their traditional Friday fish fry. It highlights the love, cooperation, and community connection found in cooking and eating together.

Big Idea

Traditions are the threads that weave families and communities together through shared effort and joy.

Discussion Questions

1.What specific traditions does your family share during the week?
2.How do the characters work together to make the fish fry a success?
3.Why is it important to have shared rituals in a family?
4.How does the setting of the kitchen contribute to the mood of the story?
5.What sensory details does the author use to make the fish fry feel real?

Lesson Plan

⏱ 50 minutes📦 Index cards, pens, crayons, construction paper.

Learning Goals

Recognize the value of traditions in building community.
Practice using descriptive language and imagery.
Identify steps in a process-based narrative.
Communicate clearly through written instructions.

Activity Steps

1.Read the book and brainstorm lists of 'traditions' seen in the story.
2.Guide students to choose one tradition of their own to focus on.
3.Ask students to write down the steps of the tradition as if it were a recipe.
4.Have students illustrate their 'recipe' card with sensory details.
5.Share the cards in a classroom 'Tradition Cookbook' display.

Standards Connections

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.1
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.2
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.1
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.2.6

Pace-Write-Read Study with Pace-Write It!

Picture books teach the art of the 'slow-down.' By focusing on the repetitive actions of the fish fry, this book teaches young writers how to use small, deliberate details to immerse the reader in the world of the story.

Element	How to notice or teach it in the novel
Pacing	Slow the reader down by spending extra sentences on sensory descriptions of the cooking process.
Plot	Use small, manageable steps to lead toward a satisfying conclusion or gathering.
Prosody	Use light, melodic sentence structures to mimic the excitement of a family celebration.
Word	Focus on verbs and adjectives related to touch, taste, and smell to make the scene vivid.
Voice & Worldview	Write with warmth and enthusiasm to convey the author's positive worldview.

Pace-Write It!

Students spend 20 minutes describing the sights, smells, and sounds of their favorite meal in as much detail as possible.

Classroom Activities

Our Family Tradition Recipe Card

Students interview a family member or think of a tradition to create a 'Recipe for Success' card describing a shared family activity.

Our Family Tradition Recipe Card

Students interview a family member or think of a tradition to create a 'Recipe for Success' card describing a shared family activity.

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Discussion questions PWR workshop PDF download