How I Use Pizza Day Inside My Literacy Block Without Losing Instructional Time
As classrooms across the country gear up to celebrate National Pizza Day on February 9th, it's the perfect opportunity to infuse some.
Step 1: Start With a Shared Text
We begin with a familiar, engaging read-aloud. For Pizza Day, I use A Pizza with Everything on It because it’s playful, accessible, and rich enough for real discussion.
During the first read, I model how readers think:
noticing details
tracking ideas
making sense of the text
This isn’t about rushing to activities. It’s about grounding everything in the text first..
Step 2: Revisit the Text and Talk About Meaning
On the second pass, we slow down.
Students revisit ideas from the story and discuss their meanings using academic language. They clarify misunderstandings, explain their thinking, and build on each other’s ideas.
Because the text is familiar, students feel confident participating. That confidence matters.
Step 3: Write From the Same Text
Instead of introducing a brand-new prompt, students write from the same story context.
This keeps the focus on:
sentence structure
idea development
clarity
Not on figuring out what to write about.
Pizza Day becomes the vehicle, not the objective.
Step 4: Extend Learning With Purposeful Engagement
This is where the theme comes in.
Students extend their learning through low-prep activities that still connect back to reading, writing, and discussion. Nothing feels random. Nothing feels like filler.
The engagement is intentional and instructional.
Step 5: Celebrate Without Losing Structure
Yes, Pizza Day can still feel fun.
Bulletin boards, simple celebrations, and class activities can coexist with strong instruction when they’re built into the plan instead of layered on top of it.
That balance is the goal.
Your students will love the playful theme, and you'll create lasting memories together.
Want Everything Ready to Go?
If you want this entire flow already planned and printable, I created a Pizza Day Classroom Theme Kit that includes:
A Pizza Day bulletin board that transitions into Valentine’s Day
A book companion for A Pizza with Everything on It
A student activity pack
A Class Party in a Bag
Everything is low-prep and designed for real classrooms.
👉🏽 Grab the Pizza Day Classroom Theme Kit here
Pizza Day doesn’t have to interrupt instruction.
It can support it—when it’s planned with intention.
Don't forget to share your pizza-themed classroom photos on social media using the hashtag #PizzaDayClassroom for a chance to inspire fellow teachers around the globe.
