Writing Activity How To Make Jam Sandwiches

This English writing activity is designed to get students to write clear and precise descriptions.  Their goal is to write explicit step by step instructions about how to make a jam sandwich. Then the teacher attempts to make the sandwich using real bread and jam in front of the class, following the students instructions. This is a common early years activity in UK schools.

For second language learners understanding the in and on prepositions correctly can be difficult. Giving a visual show of trying to make the jam sandwich from their instructions with real ingredients helps students to see their mistakes in action and cements their corrections.

As a teacher you can decide how difficult you make this activity. For lower level students using the correct verbs of cut and spread may be sufficient. For higher level students you could pretend that you don't know what bread, a knife or jam are and they would need to describe these items too. 

How to Introduce The Sandwich Technical Writing Piece

One of my favourite childhood books was the Giant Jam Sandwich in which the town makes a very large jam sandwich to trap wasps. It was published in 1972 and it's rhyming verses remain popular today. It makes a good lesson hook for this writing activity.  

Having students talk about there favourite sandwich fillings also makes a good warm up activity at the start of this lesson.

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