Here you’ll find a variety of lesson plans, with one for each age group. Feel free to mix and match the activities that work best for your students. There’s also an alternative lesson plan at the end for even more flexibility.
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Pre-K Lesson Plan (Ages 3-4)
Learning Objectives
Identify basic shapes (circle, triangle, square, rectangle).
Develop fine motor skills through cutting and pasting.
Practice listening comprehension and following instructions.
Materials
Book and/or Read Along Video
Procedure (45 minutes)
(5 mins) Introduction: Ask students what their favorite pizza toppings are and discuss the shapes of a whole pizza vs. a slice.
(10 mins) Read-Along: Watch the read-along video of the story together. Pause to point out the samurai and the dragon.
(5 mins) Discussion: Briefly talk about how the dragon helped cook the pizza.
(20 mins) Activity: Students create their own 'Shape Pizzas'. Use a paper plate as the crust (circle). Cut 'cheese' (yellow rectangles) and 'pepperoni' (red circles) or 'veggies' (green triangles) from construction paper and glue them on.
(5 mins) Cleanup and Sharing: Students display their pizza creations to the class.
Kindergarten Lesson Plan - Age 5
Learning Objectives
Retell the main events of a story.
Identify the problem and solution in a narrative.
Understand that everyone has unique talents (like the dragon's fire).
Materials
Procedure (40 minutes + 20 minutes optional Q&A)
(5 mins) Hook: Show a picture of a samurai and a dragon. Ask students to predict how they might work together.
(10 mins) Storytime: Watch the read-along video. Focus on when the oven breaks.
(10 mins) Group Discussion: Create a 'Problem/Solution' chart on the whiteboard. Ask: 'What went wrong?' (Oven collapsed) and 'How did they fix it?' (Dragon's help).
(15 mins) Drawing Activity: Students draw a picture of a time they helped someone solve a problem, just like the dragon helped Eto and Fuji.
(20 mins) Optional Author Q&A Exploration: The teacher plays the author's Q&A video for the class. Afterward, lead a discussion prompting students to brainstorm new questions they would ask the author about dragons, samurai, or writing stories.
1st Grade Lesson Plan - Age 6
Learning Objectives
Understand basic concepts of heat energy and cooking.
Analyze character feelings and motivations.
Practice sequencing events in a story.
Materials
Book and/or Read Along Video
Sequencing Cards (Teacher created)
Procedure (40 minutes + 20 minutes optional Q&A)
(5 mins) Warm-up: Discuss how ovens work. What happens if the fire is too hot? (It burns). What if it is just right? (It cooks).
(10 mins) Read-Aloud: Watch the video. Ask students to raise their hands when the dragon's fire is 'too strong'.
(10 mins) Sequencing: Give students index cards with events from the story (Oven breaks, Dragon tries to help, Pizza burns, Success). Have them put the cards in order.
(10 mins) Science Connection: Discuss how the samurai had to find the right balance of heat. Draw a 'Heat Meter' on the board from 'Cold' to 'Burnt'.
(25 mins) Optional Author Q&A Exploration: Watch the author's Q&A video. Encourage students to listen to the questions other kids asked. Then, have the class create a list of questions for the author.
2nd Grade Lesson Plan - Age 7
Learning Objectives
Explore vocabulary related to the setting (Dojo, Samurai, Parlor).
Create a persuasive advertisement (poster) for a business.
Discuss the importance of resilience in business and life.
Materials
Procedure (40 minutes + 20 minutes optional Q&A)
(5 mins) Vocabulary Hunt: Introduce words 'Dojo', 'Samurai', 'Quest', 'Collapse'.
(10 mins) Reading: Watch the read-along video. Identify the vocabulary words in context.
(10 mins) Discussion: Eto and Fuji need customers for their grand opening. Discuss what makes a good advertisement.
(15 mins) Creative Project: Students design a 'Grand Opening' poster for The Past Pizza Parlor. It must mention the special 'Dragon-Fired Pizza'.
(20 mins) Optional Author Q&A Exploration: Watch the author's Q&A video. Discuss how an author 'markets' their book just like Eto markets pizza. Have students brainstorm questions about how the author chose the title and cover art.
Alternative Lesson Plan - Ages 3 - 7
Learning Objectives
Engage in imaginative play.
Stimulate sensory processing through tactile materials.
Express emotions through movement (Dragon Dance).
Materials
Procedure (40 minutes)
(10 mins) Story Circle: Watch the read-along video. Encourage kids to roar when the dragon roars.
(10 mins) Dragon Fire Dance: Give students sheets of red and orange tissue paper. Play fast music and have them dance and wave the paper like 'uncontrolled fire'. Then play slow music and have them move gently like 'controlled cooking fire'.
(15 mins) Sensory Dough: Provide playdough and rolling pins. Let students practice rolling out 'pizza dough' just like Eto and Fuji. This calms the body after the dance.
(5 mins) Cool Down: Gather in a circle and take three deep 'Dragon Breaths' (in through nose, out through mouth) to finish the lesson.