{Crockpot Cocoa} Procedural Writing and Yummy Recipe!

If you are in search of a way to give your students a sugar buzz, I've found the perfect recipe!  :)  Okay, the sugar buzz may not be so great, but it's well worth it!  I found a recipe for Crockpot Cocoa on Pinterest last year and had been eager to try it out.  Last week, I made some for my class and they LOVED it!  It is very rich, so just be ready! Even the aide working in my classroom said, "This is like drinking cake!"  :)  The recipe is from the blog Mrs. Happy Homemaker.  I tied this tasty treat in with procedural writing.  (There are many great resources for Cocoa How-To Writing on TpT.)  The students first met in groups and brainstormed the steps they used for making hot chocolate at home.  Then, they planned out their writing and wrote a final draft of their paragraphs.  We followed up our writing with an adorable hot chocolate craft from Teri at A Cupcake For the Teacher.  She has an entire packet full of writing paper, graphic organizers, and planning options for this activity.  Be sure to check it out!  We ended the week by trying out the crockpot cocoa recipe.  I doubled the recipe (it was brimming, but it did fit in a 5 quart crockpot) and decided to make it the night before.  It turned out perfect!  I typed up the recipe into a handout that could be given to students (an co-workers).  :)  I adapted my steps to fit Christina Bainbridge's Procedural Paragraph Frame.  (This is the planner I always use for How-To Writing.)  Click the image below to download the recipe handout I created for my class {freebie}!