Additional Lesson Plan – Technical Directions

Hands-On Learning! Creating, Following, and Presenting Technical Directions

Common Core Standards: W. 2a Introduce a topic; organize complex ideas, concepts, and information to make important connections and distinctions; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., figures, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.W. 6 Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products, taking advantage of technology’s capacity to link to other information and to display information flexibly and dynamically. SL.1Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9–10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively. SL.5Make strategic use of digital media (e.g., textual, graphical, audio, visual, and interactive elements) in presentations to enhance understanding of findings, reasoning, and evidence and to add interest. L.1Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. CCRA.SL.2Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.CCRA.SL.5 Make strategic use of digital media and visual displays of data to express information and enhance understanding of presentations. CCRA.W.6Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others.
Introduction videos: &

Making a Japanese Delicacy with a Twist - Candy Sushi!

Students will practice their technical direction writing and teamwork skills to work in a group to figure out how to make and teach someone else to makecandysushi! Since we are currently studying Japan's geography--specifically the effects of natural resources on the country--in World Geography and analyzing/writing technical directions in Language Arts, what a perfect way to blend the curriculum and have some sweet fun too! :) Students working in teams will:

  1. Researchhistory/creation of sushi on web sites on ThinkQuest.org.
  2. Observephotos of candy sushi.
  3. Draft a planto create the candy sushi.
  4. Begin constructingthe candy sushi step-by-step.
  5. Use their electronic camera (e-cam)on their netbooks to take photos of each step. Use alternative methods such as a camera phone or digital phone if necessary.
  6. Create a PowerPoint presentationof technical directions including:Title slide,List of materials slide,Steps in order (each with a written direction and e-cam photo),Conclusion slide(s) explaining how and why Japan uses its natural resources to create sushi.
  7. Create an advertisementwith the purpose of selling the candy sushi.
  8. Reflecton this activity on online message boards (roles, what wentwell,what couldhave been improved).
  9. Enjoya sweet sushi treat! :)

Here are a few pictures of example candy sushi created:

Catch the students in action here--constructing sushi, writing technical directions, & creating advertisements:

And here are some slides from a sample student PowerPoint Presentation:

Here are some sample advertisements from the Power Points:

Here are some online reviews of the lesson plan and the process:
Rachel A

I think making the candy sushi went well because all the members were working in a team and we had no arguments about anything because we had no major problems. The sushi did come out a little messy, but we made about 13 pieces of candy sushi with Anahi and I working on the sushi as a team and Billy finishing the advertisement and Jesus working on the PowerPoint. Our sushi did taste good at the end and everyone had their share, but there was one left over (we had to decide) All in all we had a fun time making the sushi!


  • Alexandra A

I think what worked out the best in our group was that there was much communication, and hard work as well as effort from everyone in the group. Something that could have been changed was that we might have had a little too much communication.
Today

Lesson Plan written by Ms. Lukin
This lesson plan can also be found online, with additional videos and visuals at