Image from www.amazon.com/Houghton Mifflin
I think one of my favorite parts about teaching English language arts classes is the simple fact that I really have the freedom to pick, choose, and design materials that my students or I find interesting. With language arts classes, especially in middle school, you have resources available, but no one is standing over you saying that you HAVE to teach this book or that book. You DO have to teach certain concepts and elements, but the resources you choose are up to you. These topics, resources, and texts can cover anything because the main focus is creating better readers and writers. This gives lots of freedom. This is also where student surveys and brainstorming can give you a window into your students' interests. Highly recommend that. And while I do want my students to have choice and voice in the classroom, I also think it's great for teachers to share texts that they are passionate about: enter Chew on This.
I read this book about 10 years ago, and hadn't really stopped thinking about it since. It's a great expository/literary nonfiction/persuasive book that informs the reader on fast food. Its subtitle says, "Everything you don't want to know about fast food." Needless to say, that's a pretty popular topic with junior high students. So, a few years ago, my co-workers and I decided to purchase it for our 7th grade classes. It's been pretty engaging ever since.
You can teach so many things with this text: types of nonfiction, vocabulary, critical thinking, persuasive techniques, media, reliable sources, and tons of other literary elements.
If you're looking for an expository book that will engage students, I highly recommend this book. Here's a list of resources or ideas we tie-in.
- Teachers Pay Teachers Pack
- My YouTube Playlist
- TeachingBooks.net Resources
- We also start the study by buying a Happy Meal from McDonald's and keeping it in a plastic pet cage for the duration of our reading. It's based off this idea.
- Chew on This Playlist
- We do several activities including: an assembly line activity and class taste test.
- Lastly, we're tying it into grammar and a class challenge this year as well!
These are just a few ways we use Chew on This to teach critical thinking. If this book sounds like something you or your students might seem interested in, go for it!
Let me know how it goes!
Megan Gordon
7th Grade ELA
I read this book about 10 years ago, and hadn't really stopped thinking about it since. It's a great expository/literary nonfiction/persuasive book that informs the reader on fast food. Its subtitle says, "Everything you don't want to know about fast food." Needless to say, that's a pretty popular topic with junior high students. So, a few years ago, my co-workers and I decided to purchase it for our 7th grade classes. It's been pretty engaging ever since.
You can teach so many things with this text: types of nonfiction, vocabulary, critical thinking, persuasive techniques, media, reliable sources, and tons of other literary elements.
If you're looking for an expository book that will engage students, I highly recommend this book. Here's a list of resources or ideas we tie-in.
- Teachers Pay Teachers Pack
- My YouTube Playlist
- TeachingBooks.net Resources
- We also start the study by buying a Happy Meal from McDonald's and keeping it in a plastic pet cage for the duration of our reading. It's based off this idea.
- Chew on This Playlist
- We do several activities including: an assembly line activity and class taste test.
- Lastly, we're tying it into grammar and a class challenge this year as well!
These are just a few ways we use Chew on This to teach critical thinking. If this book sounds like something you or your students might seem interested in, go for it!
Let me know how it goes!
Megan Gordon
7th Grade ELA