Published: 2026-04-26
Life Around a Table
Learners create a visual representation of a tablescape or sofra, drawing the foods they might eat, the objects that might be strewn on their table, and adding dialogue that is commonly heard.
SUBJECTEnglish Language Arts
GRADE3rd Grade
Learning Objectives
- I understand that inspiration for stories can be found anywhere, even in the smallest moments.
- I can tell my story using drawings, descriptive details and dialogue.
Essential Questions
- What makes you a storyteller?
- Where can we find inspiration for stories?
Lesson Plan
After exploring the wordless picture book Birthday Kunafa and practicing narrating their own memory-based stories, learners will create a visual story based on the image they brought in of a moment they shared around a table with their families.
Show your learners the same picture of you around a table from the last lesson and tell your own story using the photograph as inspiration. Below is an example:
With their previously gathered photographs in hand, learners will practice telling their own stories.
Materials
INCLUDED MATERIALS
NEEDED MATERIALS
- Photographs of each learner at a table (see teacher note in this lesson)
- Paper
- Colored pencils / crayons
- Pencils
- Sticky notes
- A folder per learner for their work portfolio
- Arabic classrooms — كعكة لماما and العمة فوزية, Taghreed Najjar
- English classrooms — This Table, Alex Killian
Food & Stories · 10 lessons
Continue toHow Can I Bring My Stories to Life?- 01Can a Picture Tell a Thousand Words?
- 02You are hereLife Around a Table
- 03How Can I Bring My Stories to Life?
- 04Preparing for Interviews
- 05Family Interview Connections
- 06Creating Recipe Stories
- 07Oral Storytelling
- 08Passing Down Stories
- 09Preparing for Final Presentations Day 1
- 10Preparing for Final Presentations Day 2