"A Rice Sandwich" from A House on Mango Street

Author: Sandra Cisneros

Publisher/Date: Vintage Books; 1989

ISBN: 0-679-73477-5

Grade Levels Recommended for Use: 4-8

Brief Summary: Esperanza Cordero, a Latina growing up in Chicago, decides she wants to eat in the school lunchroom instead of going home for lunch. She finds in the end, that maybe the lunchroom is not so great and home looks better after all.

Topics: permutations; estimation; money; multiplication

Suggested Activities:

1. Sumptuous Sandwiches: You will need the following for this activity:
       Sandwich fixings chart (2 per student)
       One set of paper sandwich ingredients for each pair of students (15 pieces of white bread, 10 pieces of cheese, 10 pieces of bologna, 10 pieces of ham, 10 pickles, 10 servings of mayonnaise, 10 servings of mustard, 10 tomato slices, and 10 pieces of lettuce)

Have students help Mrs. Cordero "make" sandwiches for her children. Ask students to come up with as many combinations as possible, keeping an organized list, table, or tree diagram.

2. Research or brainstorm with students how much each of the ingredients cost at the grocery store and how much of each item needs to be purchased to pack lunches each day for Esperanza, Nenny, Carlos and Kiki for a week.

3. Estimate the cost, based on activity #2, of one sandwich.

4. Plan a sandwich party! Decide who will bring which item and in what quantity to feed the entire class.

Websites:

Counting Bynites
Permutations worksheet
Bananas in Pajamas mix and match
Dress Darcy