Pizza with a Twist SUMMARY This is a fantasy about how a group of children learns about different cultures when they magically travel around the world to buy ingredients for a popular meal—pizza. This story also shows how different people can have things in common. LESSON VOCABULARY awnings confused ingredients vendors bazaar garlic oregano INTRODUCE THE BOOK INTRODUCE THE TITLE AND AUTHOR Discuss with students the title and the author of Pizza with a Twist. Based on the cover and the title, have students speculate what this book will be about. BUILD BACKGROUND Discuss with students what it means to give something a “twist.” Make sure students understand how the figurative meaning of twist is related to its literal meaning. Ask: What kinds of things can you twist literally (for real)? What kinds of things can you twist figuratively (in a manner of speaking)? Explain that many foods that we eat in the United States originated in other countries, and invite students to compare and contrast how their family’s version of a common meal like pasta might differ from someone else’s. How might different spices or ingredients add a “twist” to the meal? PREVIEW/USE ILLUSTRATIONS Invite students to look at the illustrations and see if they can gain clues as to what this story might be about and where it might take place. Ask students what details help them with their answers. 28 3.1.5 CHARACTER AND SETTING STORY STRUCTURE READ THE BOOK SET PURPOSE Have students set a purpose for reading Pizza with a Twist. Students’ interest in pizza and their natural curiosity about what the “twist” in the story might be should guide this purpose. Suggest that students think about how changing, or “twisting,” things can make them more interesting. STRATEGY SUPPORT: STORY STRUCTURE As students read the story, suggest that they make notes about the sequence of events in the story. Ask them to consider whether any of the events could happen in any other order and how that might change