The Smart Cookie book by Jory John is a fun read aloud with an adorable main character, a sweet and smart cookie, teaching such an important message about self-confidence. With the help of these The Smart Cookie activities ideas, your students will definitely learn anyone can be a smart cookie if you just believe in yourself!
The Smart Cookie SUMMARY
In The Smart Cookie, the cookie feels insecure about not being as smart as others in the bakery. She struggles with schoolwork and often feels frustrated. However, when her teacher, Ms. Biscotti, assigns a creative homework project, the cookie discovers her own talents and realizes there are many ways to be smart. This newfound confidence helps her embrace her strengths and feel proud of her unique abilities.
The Smart Cookie WRITING activities and DISCUSSION questions
The Smart Cookie by Jory John is a perfect read aloud to practice different writing types. First, you can practice informational writing by learning how to structure a baking recipe for a cookie. A fun idea my students loved was a ‘cookie research‘: each student had to pick their favorite cookie (what, just one option???) and learn how to bake it. Then they had to share the recipe with their classmates.
Second, a nice idea for a text-to-self connection is to describe the time when you had an ‘AHA!’ moment. The Smart Cookie discovers that she doesn’t need to have perfect grades to believe in herself and be great at poetry. Relating to the text of the book can help your students to be grateful and appreciative of their talents and strong sides. They can do so by completing a narrative writing prompt about their ‘AHA!’ moment.
Finally, practice expressing your opinion by writing about the message of the book. What are some different ways you a ‘smart cookie’? Based on the text of the book, what tips can you give to a friend, who might be struggling e.g. with studies, on how to feel like a ‘smart cookie’?
The Smart Cookie CRAFT
The main message of the book has to do with confidence. You don’t have to have good grades, there are many ways to be smart. Promote this message with the help of accomplishment certificates or affirmation messages. Don’t prepare it yourself though, gave your students prepare them for each other! Getting a message of encouragement from their peers will truly boost the confidence of your students.
In my TpT resource with the Smart Cookie read aloud activities, I offer to share affirmation messages hidden inside fortune cookie paper craft. Prepare the craft with one of the many messages and distribute the cookies to your students. Make sure to emphasize that everyone got the right message: the cookies found their owners 🙂
Some encouragement messages to help promote self confidence are:
You are a rockstar!
I am so proud of you!
You can move mountains!
You are smart in so many ways!
The Smart Cookie LESSON PLAN idea
For a single The Smart Cookie lesson, I would suggest structuring the lesson as follows:
- Objective: Students will understand the theme of growth mindset, self-confidence, and perseverance.
- Materials: The Smart Cookie by Jory John, colored paper, scizzors markers.
- Introduction: Briefly discuss what it means to be “smart” and different types of intelligence.
- Read Aloud: Read The Smart Cookie to the class, pausing to discuss the main character’s challenges and growth.
- Discussion: Talk about times students have felt frustrated but eventually succeeded.
- Activity: Students create their own “smart cookie” with a personal affirmation or strength.
- Wrap-Up: Students share their creations and reflect on how we all learn differently but can all be “smart” in our own way.
The Smart Cookie book activities to learn new VOCABULARY
The main focus of the book is on the power of self-confidence. The author teaches young readers to always believe in yourself and the things you love to do, so it is a great idea to teach growth mindset and positive reinforcement with the help of The Smart Cookie activities vocabulary unit. Here is a helpful list of words to target in The Smart Cookie vocabulary practice:
- supportive
- fantastic
- mesmerizing
- speak up
- share ideas
- cakewalk
- confident
- solve the puzzle
- original
- keep up
Unlock More Learning: Complete Book Companion for The Smart Cookie
I hope you and your students enjoy the free activities shared in this unit! If you’re looking for a low-prep option with 40+ engaging activities tailored to this book, consider purchasing the complete 5-day unit. Plus, you can save even more by grabbing the bundle that includes all the books from the Food Group series! Every unit in the series includes 5 days of detailed lesson plans and over 35+ engaging activities designed to explore the book’s key themes and lessons, as well as a variety of writing crafts.
Key Features of the Full Unit:
Focused Daily Lessons: Each day highlights a new topic such as character study, vocabulary building, story structure, and author’s message.
Creative Enrichment: Includes imaginative writing tasks, character development projects, and fun activities like the fortune cookie craft.
Challenging Activities: Keep your students actively engaged with exercises that encourage critical thinking, deep comprehension, and a growth mindset.
