With the Fire on High

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Family Recipes a la Emoni”

Students will bring one of their favorite recipes and rewrite it in Emoni’s style.

Emoni includes three recipes at the beginning of each section. Notice the instructions that teach the reader about Emoni, such as when she writes, “Keep on the stove for the duration of three listens to a Cardi B song.” (Emoni’s “No Use Crying Over Spilled Strawberry Milk” Recipe)

• Read one of Emoni’s recipes.
• Discuss with a partner how she writes the recipe and makes her voice clear to the reader. Consider how she explains amounts and steps. Also, discuss how she teaches the reader about cultural and familiar aspects of her life through the recipe.
• Brainstorm aspects of culture and family from your own life that you may include in your recipe. Consider music, movies, language, traditions, notable events, and family stories.
• Rewrite the recipe you brought to include the aspects of your brainstorm that teacher your reader about yourself, your family, and your culture. Try to make your voice clear to the reader.

Teaching Suggestion: Students may have an important family recipe or may bring a recipe for a meal they like.