Build the Burger Plan

Overview

Lesson 2 of 4 in the Ice Cream Owner Letters unit. Learners organise ideas for a persuasive, informative letter using a “burger plan”: introduction, three purposeful body sections and conclusion. They sequence details about the shop, products, customers and owner’s experiences for an intended reader.

Learning intentions

• WALT organise ideas into a clear five-part letter plan.
• WALT choose details that inform and interest the intended reader.
• WALT use linking words to make ideas flow logically.
• WALT explain the purpose of each section of a letter.

Success criteria

• I can write a clear purpose for my introduction and conclusion.
• I can organise details into three logical body sections.
• I can choose details that suit the intended reader.
• I can use linking words such as firstly, also, because and finally.

Curriculum links

• Creating and presenting written texts: planning, organising and developing ideas for a clear purpose and audience.
• Structure: using an introduction, sequenced paragraphs or sections, and a conclusion.
• Language features: selecting precise vocabulary, sentence structures and linking words.
• Key competencies: managing self, thinking, participating and contributing, and using language, symbols and texts.

Lesson structure (45 minutes)

1. 0–5 minutes – Reconnect and hook Open with the opening hook and unit recap. Show a tempting ice-cream shop image and ask: “If you had one minute to convince someone to visit this shop, what would they need to know?” Briefly revisit the purpose of the unit: writing a letter from an ice-cream shop owner to a chosen reader.

2. 5–12 minutes – Model the burger plan Use the burger plan teaching slides to introduce the five parts: top bun introduction, three body layers, and bottom bun conclusion. Model a plan on the board:

• Introduction: who the owner is and why they are writing.
• Body 1: the shop and its special features.
• Body 2: products and customer favourites.
• Body 3: customers and the owner’s experiences.
• Conclusion: a final thought, invitation or hope.

Think aloud about why each detail belongs in a particular section and how the sections connect.

3. 12–17 minutes – Shared sorting discussion Display the example details from the sorting and discussion slides. Read each detail aloud and ask students to identify its best section and explain why. Prompt with: “Does this detail tell us about the shop, the products, the customers or the owner?” and “Would this interest our intended reader?” Record useful linking words, including firstly, as well as, for example, because and finally.

4. 17–30 minutes – Individual planning Distribute the Ice Cream Owner burger plan. Students choose or confirm an intended reader, such as a local family, school community or potential customer. They complete the introduction, three body sections and conclusion, aiming for two or three specific details in each body section. Encourage students to use the sentence opener prompt cards when they need help beginning or connecting ideas. Confer with students, checking that each detail has a clear purpose and is not repeated.

5. 30–38 minutes – Partner check and improve In pairs, students read their plans aloud and use the questions on the partner-check slides:

• Can I tell who the letter is for?
• Does each body section have a different focus?
• Are the details in a sensible order?
• Does the conclusion give the reader a reason to care?

Partners give one warm comment and one helpful suggestion. Students revise at least one section or add a linking word.

6. 38–45 minutes – Share and formative assessment Invite two or three students to share one strong body section and explain its purpose. Return to the plenary and self-check slide and ask students to show fingers 1–3 for how confidently they can organise a letter plan. Collect worksheets or photograph plans for use in Lesson 3, where students will draft the letter. Ask students to underline the section they most need to develop next.

Resources

• the Ice Cream Owner Letters lesson deck
• the Ice Cream Owner burger plan
• the sentence opener prompt cards
• Whiteboard and markers
• Pencils or coloured pens
• Sample ice-cream shop image
• Student writing books or folders

Assessment

• Check worksheets for five distinct sections, logical sequencing and details suited to the intended reader.
• During conferencing, ask students to explain why a detail belongs in a particular section.
• Use partner feedback and the final self-check to identify students needing support before drafting.

Differentiation

• Provide a partially completed plan, a choice of intended readers and a small bank of ideas for students who need support.
• Scribe or conference orally with students who find writing difficult; allow them to record ideas in keywords, drawings or voice notes before drafting.
• For EAL learners, model one complete section, pair visuals with key vocabulary, and rehearse sentences orally before writing.
• Extend confident writers by asking them to vary sentence openings, include a memorable sensory detail and explain how the owner’s experience connects to the reader.