Attention Getter: How to Make a Sandwich!
Place bread, jam, butter or peanut butter or almond butter (if allergies), a plate and a knife in front of the class. Then ask, “I wonder what these items are for?” Guide the children to discover that they are to make a sandwich! Let the children give you directions. Try to follow them exactly. When a child says, “Put the peanut butter on the bread” literally put the jar of peanut butter on the bread! The children will discover that they will have to be very specific about their directions and that giving directions can be a little tricky and funny!
Activity 1: The Origins of Sandwiches
Show a picture of John Montagu. Here is the link we used: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_Montagu,_4th_Earl_of_Sandwich_by_Johann_Zoffany.jpg
He is considered the inventor of the sandwich! He liked to play cards and he didn’t want to have to leave the card table to eat, so he asked that his food be put between some bread so that he could just eat it with one hand.
Then show a variety of pictures of sandwiches from all over the world. Talk about the different things that people put on their sandwiches. Here is the link we used: http://intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com/2010/11/03/beyond_pbjs_15_sandwiches_arou/
Book: Peanut Butter And Jelly or Sam's Sandwich
Read, Sam’s Sandwich by David Pelham or Peanut Butter and Jelly by Nadine Bernard Westcott. Sam’s Sandwich is a small book, but the children love it. It is about a boy who makes a sandwich for his sister, but he sneaks in all kind of crazy things like: worms, ants, and etc. is a simple singing book. It has a predictable rhythm and repetition and goes through the sequence of making a peanut butter sandwich.
Another great book that can be used is The Bear Ate Your Sandwich. It is a story about a bear who leaves the forest and smells and finally eats a delicious picnic sandwich.
Activity 2: Sandwich Smorgasbord Graph
Before class, make a sample plate of bite-size sandwiches for the children to taste (honey, tuna, ham and cheese, jam.) Also make a paper picture that represents each type of sandwich.
Take the plates of sandwiches out and place them in front of the group. Ask, “Who likes sandwiches?” Let children tell you some of their favorite kinds. Tell the class that they will get to taste each kind of sandwich and decide which is their favorite.
After they have tasted the sandwiches, let each child come up and place a small sticky note on the kind that they liked best. Count the votes to determine which sandwich got the most votes and which got the least.
Such great ideas! These tips and activities will make circle time much more engaging and fun! Thank you for sharing!