Cake Steps Lesson Plan Grade 1 • Writing Block • Day 1 of 2
Cake Steps Lesson Plan
Focus: Oracy, Step Sequencing & Oral Sentence Framing (45 Minutes)
Unit: How-To Writing
Cycle 2 • Week 4
Content Objectives
Identify and sequence the 5 steps needed to bake a cake.
Match picture cards to procedural sequence words (First, Next, Then, Last, Finally).
Language & Oracy Objectives
Rehearse oral sentences using the frame: "First you..., Next you..."
Use vivid baking vocabulary (batter, pour, bake, cool, frost ).
Materials & Preparation
Baking Step Slides (Day 1)
Baking Cards Activity set per pair
Chart paper for class Anchor Chart
1
Opening & Oracy Warm-Up: Chef Circle
10 Minutes
Hook & Discussion: Gather students on the rug. Show slide 2 with ingredient picture cards (eggs, flour, sugar, butter). Ask: "Have you ever baked something delicious? What ingredients do we need to bake a sweet cake?"
Table Group Oracy Talk: Place ingredient and action picture cards at each table cluster. Students turn to their shoulder partner and complete the sentence stem: "To make a cake, we need ________ and ________."
Teacher Script: "Chefs, today we are starting our recipe writer journey! Before we write, we talk like bakers. Today we will figure out the exact order to bake a yummy cake!"
2
Mini-Lesson & Think-Aloud: Building the Anchor Chart
15 Minutes
Interactive Modeling: Display the blank anchor chart. Introduce the 5 order words with hand gestures (1 finger = First, 2 fingers = Next, etc.).
Anchor Chart Sentence Frames: First , you get the ingredients and mix the batter.Next , you pour the batter into a cake pan.Then , you put the cake in the hot oven and bake it.Last , you take the cake out and let it cool.Finally , you spread sweet frosting on top!
Total Physical Response (TPR): Have students act out mixing with an imaginary spoon, pouring into a pan, sliding the pan into the oven, fanning it to cool, and swirling frosting!
Day 1 of 2: Sequencing & Oracy Foundations Page 1 of 2
Cake Steps Lesson Plan (Continued)
Guided Practice, Partner Work & Scaffolding Supports
Day 1 • 45 Min Total
3
Partner Card Sort: Baker Detectives
15 Minutes
Hands-on Task: Students work in pairs with the Baking Cards Activity mat. Each pair receives the 5 scrambled step picture cards:
Card 1 (Mix): Flour, eggs, bowl, and whisk mixing batter.Card 2 (Pour): Yellow cake batter pouring into a baking pan.Card 3 (Bake): Pan inside the warm oven baking golden.Card 4 (Cool): Fresh baked cake cooling on wire rack.Card 5 (Frost): Adding creamy white frosting and sprinkles.
Oral Rehearsal Routine: Partner A points to a card and reads the transition word: "First, you mix the batter." Partner B echoes and checks: "Yes, next you pour it in the pan!"
Teacher Check-In: Circulate with a checklist. Ensure students correctly place cards 1 through 5 in chronological order before gluing or recording.
4
Oracy Share-Out & Exit Whisper
5 Minutes
Cross-Table Oracy Share: Call 2 pairs to demonstrate their sequence to the class. Students use whisper phones or turn to their neighbor table: "Our favorite step is _______ because _______."
Day 1 Exit Ticket / Whisper Out: As students line up or transition, each student whispers their favorite transition word to the teacher: "First!", "Next!", "Finally!"
Support (ELL / Developing)
Provide numbered picture cards so students can self-check order.
Offer framed sentence starters with icon cues for transition words.
Accept 1-2 word oral labels before full sentences.
Extension (Advanced)
Encourage students to add descriptive adjectives (e.g., sweet batter, hot oven ).
Ask students to explain why steps cannot be done out of order (e.g., frost before bake).
Day 1 of 2: Sequencing & Oracy Foundations Page 2 of 2
Baking Steps Slides 1st Grade Writers • Day 1
How-To Writing
How to Bake a Cake!
Step 1: Talk like a baker. Discover the 5 steps to bake a sweet treat!
Unit: Procedural Writing Oracy & Sequencing Practice
Warm-Up
What Goes in a Cake?
Turn to your partner and name the yummy ingredients!
Flour
Soft & white
Eggs
Crack & mix
Sugar
Sweet taste
Butter
Creamy & rich
Sentence Stem: "To make a cake, we need flour and sugar ."
Sequence
The 5 Baker Steps!
Steps must go in order from start to finish.
1
MIX
the batter
2
POUR
into the pan
3
BAKE
in the oven
4
COOL
on a wire rack
5
FROST
sweet top!
Can we frost the cake before we bake it? No way! Order matters!
Order Words
Chef Transition Words
Say the magic words that tell the reader what to do next!
Step 1
First
Start here!
Step 2
Next
Keep going!
Step 3
Then
Hot oven!
Step 4
Last
Cool it down!
Step 5
Finally
Ready to eat!
Try it: "First you mix. Next you pour. Then you bake!"
Guided Practice
Build an Oral Sentence!
Let's put the transition word and the action together.
First
you get the ingredients and mix them.
Next
you pour the batter into a cake pan.
Then
you put the cake in the hot oven.
Listen to the pattern: Transition word + you + action!
Partner Work
Baker Detectives Routine
Work with your partner at your table group!
1
Look & Sort
Baking Cards Activity Hands-On Oracy Activity • Cut & Sort
Baking Step Picture Cards
Cut along dashed lines
Directions for Chefs: Cut out the 5 baking step cards below. Mix them up, then work with your partner to place them in order from 1 to 5 on your Sequencing Mat!
CARD A
Mix Batter
Stir flour, eggs & sugar
CARD B
Pour in Pan
Pour batter into cake pan
CARD C
Bake in Oven
Bake in hot oven
CARD D
Cool Down
Let the cake get cool
CARD E
Frost & Decorate
Spread sweet frosting
CHEF BADGE
Head Chef
Ready to taste test!
Table Group Ingredient Talk Cards
Flour
Eggs
Sugar
Butter
Cut-Out Page • Use with Sequencing Mat Page 1 of 2
Baker's Sequencing Mat
Place your cards in order, then say each step with your partner!
Name:
Date:
1
Transition Word:
First
Glue or Place Card 1 Here
2
Transition Word:
Next
Glue or Place Card 2 Here
3
Transition Word:
Then
Glue or Place Card 3 Here
4
Transition Word:
Last
Glue or Place Card 4 Here
5
Transition Word:
Finally
Glue or Place Card 5 Here
Baker Partner Oracy Checklist
We put cards in order (1-5)
We said: "First you..."
We took turns speaking!
Sequencing Mat • Partner Talk Routine Page 2 of 2
Cake Writing Lesson Plan Grade 1 • Writing Block • Day 2 of 2
Cake Writing Lesson Plan
Focus: Drafting, Descriptive Adjectives & Author Celebration (45 Minutes)
Unit: How-To Writing
Cycle 2 • Week 4
Writing Objectives
Draft a 5-step how-to story using First, Next, Then, Last, Finally .
Incorporate at least 2 descriptive adjectives (e.g., sweet, hot, white, golden ).
Celebration Objectives
Read completed writing aloud to a partner from another table group.
Give specific peer compliments using: "I loved how you described..."
Materials for Day 2
Cake Writing Slides (Day 2)
Cake Writer Worksheet (per student)
Classroom Baker's Anchor Chart
1
Opening: The Adjective Sprinkle Game
5 Minutes
Review & Hook: Gather students at the rug facing the Baker's Anchor Chart from Day 1. Chant the 5 transitions together: First! Next! Then! Last! Finally!
The "Sprinkle" Challenge: Say: "Bakers don't just write 'put frosting.' What kind of frosting? Sweet? Fluffy? White? Adjectives are like sprinkles—they make our writing delicious!" Call on 3 students to sprinkle an adjective on "oven" (hot oven ) and "cake" (yummy cake ).
2
Mini-Lesson: Modeling the Recipe Story
10 Minutes
Think-Aloud Script:
"Watch how I start my recipe story. Every good teacher needs an intro sentence! I will write: 'I am going to teach you how to make a cake.' Now let's write Step 1. I start with a capital First , followed by a finger space. 'First you get the ingredients and mix them to make a batter.' Notice how I named the batter! Next, I add a period so my sentence can take a breath."
Co-Constructing Step 2 & 3: Ask students: "What comes after First? Right, Next! Who can add an adjective to describe the cake pan or oven?" Guide them toward: "Next you pour the batter into a round cake pan. Then you put the cake in the hot oven."
Day 2 of 2: Drafting & Author Celebration Page 1 of 2
Cake Writing Lesson Plan (Continued)
Independent Writing, Conferencing Guide & Author Share-Out
Day 2 • 45 Min Total
3
Independent Writing Block: Becoming Recipe Authors
20 Minutes
Cake Writing Slides 1st Grade Writers • Day 2
Writing & Publishing
Write Like a Chef!
Today we write our 5 steps with transition words and yummy adjectives!
Unit: Procedural Writing Drafting & Author Celebration
Step Starters
The 5 Transition Words
Start each sentence with a capital transition word!
1
First,
mix batter
2
Next,
pour in pan
3
Then,
bake in oven
4
Last,
let it cool
5
Finally,
frost & eat
Remember the chef rule: Always follow each transition word with a comma!
Word Power
The Adjective Sprinkle Party!
Adjectives are describing words that make our writing taste sweet!
Taste Words
sweet • yummy
delicious
Touch Words
hot • warm
cool • soft
Look Words
golden • white
round • creamy
Challenge: Can you sprinkle two adjectives into your cake story?
Chef Model
Plain vs. Sparkly Sentences!
Look how adjectives make our sentences stronger and clearer.
Plain
Then you put the cake in the oven.
Sparkly!
Then you put the cake in the hot oven and bake it.
Sparkly!
Finally you put sweet white frosting on top!
Which sentence would you rather read? The sparkly one!
Check Your Work
The Baker Writer Checklist
Before you finish, check every sentence with your chef eyes!
Aa
Capital Letter
Every sentence starts with a capital.
👆
Finger Spaces
Leave space between every word.
✨
Adjectives
Use yummy describing words.
.
End Period
Stop each sentence with a period.
Take your time and do your best chef writing!
Author Share
Bakery Celebration Time!
Read your cake recipe to a partner from another table!
Author Routine
Cake Story Worksheet 1st Grade How-To Writing
How to Make a Cake!
Name:
Date:
Baker's Word Bank Pick yummy describing words!
Actions: mix pour bake cool frost
Adjectives: sweet hot white golden creamy
Introduction
I am going to teach you how to make a cake.
1 First, you
Describe mixing the ingredients
2 Next, you
Describe pouring the batter
Turn over to finish Steps 3, 4, and 5! Page 1 of 2
How to Make a Cake (Continued)
Steps 3 – 5
3 Then, you
Describe baking in the oven
4 Last, you
Describe letting it cool
5 Finally, you
Describe frosting & sprinkles!
My Delicious Finished Cake Color and add yummy decorations!
Draw your frosted cake here
Chef Writer Self-Check
Capital letters
Finger spaces
2+ Adjectives
End periods (.)
How-To Writing Block • Grade 1 Page 2 of 2
Bakers Anchor Chart Baker's Writing Toolkit
How to Make a Cake
Procedural Transition Words & Describing Sentences
Story Starter Frame
"I am going to teach you how to make a cake."
1
First, you
get the ingredients and mix them to make a batter.
2
Next, you
pour the batter into a round cake pan.
3
Then, you
put the cake in the hot oven and bake it.
4
Last, you
take the cake out and let it cool .
5
Finally, you
put beautiful sweet white frosting on top!
Juicy Adjectives Sprinkle Bank Words that describe taste, touch & look
Taste
sweet • yummy
delicious
Touch / Temp
hot • warm
cool • soft
Look
golden • white
fluffy • round
Recipe Formula: Transition + you + Action + Adjective! Grade 1 Writing Block
