The Cool Bean, written by Jory John, is by far my favorite read-aloud in my classroom. If you haven’t read it yet, I’m just going to say, “What the heck are you waiting for?”
The Cool Bean Synopsis
Let me tell you why I feel this is a must-read for all elementary classrooms. Jory Johns is genuinely able to give a clear, meaningful message that applies to all of our young students. In The Cool Bean, students relate to a character who ultimately feels dissed by his long-time friends because the friends are now the “cool beans.” Undoubtedly, the main character is anything but “cool.”
If you don’t already own your own copy, you can pick one up here with my Amazon Affiliate Link. Thanks:)
(It’s one of those books you’ll want to hold onto.)
Throughout the book, students join the main character to resolve his conflicting emotions and deal with not being a “cool bean.”
The Cool Bean Book Companion Elements
Once I read this story, I knew I could milk it for endless writing prompts. So, along with the usual vocabulary instruction, grammar activities, and text structure, I included a handful of prompts that genuinely engage the students. In case you’re interested, my Cool Bean Book Companion Activities and all of their glory are in my TPT shop.
Writing Prompts
Not only are readers introduced to the emotions of the main character throughout this troubling experience, but you also get to analyze the “cool beans” as well. This is where you may be surprised. Jory Johns creates a unique side to the opposition. Because the “cool beans” behave nicely, it leads the reader to focus on the main character and the actions needed to internally resolve the conflict. This is where the writing prompts can dig deeper. Here are a few of the prompts I posted to my students:
- Write about a time when a small gesture or action made a big difference in your day.
- What is the “coolest” thing about yourself?
- What are some things a “cool” person says to another person to lift them?
- Write part 2 of The Cool Bean story.
- In your opinion, what makes someone “cool”?
While we are on the subject of writing, make sure your students have a solid grasp of paragraph writing. Check out my FREE Structured Paragraph Handbook, which will guide you and your students through the steps needed to create the perfect paragraph.
The Cool Bean is one of three read-aloud books that I have created for book companion activities. You can read more about The Bad Seed and The Good Egg here on my blog.
Also, check out my Jory John Book Companion Activities Bundle to view all three of the Book Companions. (You may want to use Jory John for an author study.)
I’m confident your students will enjoy all three stories as much as my students do.
If you’re looking for more ideas on creating a writing routine that works for your elementary-aged students, be sure to check out my Sentences, Paragraphs, and Essays: Oh, my! E-book. You’ll love the tips, tricks, and activities to excite your students about writing!
Happy reading,
-Melissa
