After reading a short biography on Kobe Bryant - whose middle name, "Bean," was inspired by his father's "Jellybean" nickname - 8th graders read and watched the animated video of Kobe Bryant's retirement letter, "Dear Basketball." Through a mimic poem writing assignment in which students wrote to their own beloved hobbies or favorite things, students reviewed friendly letter format and were introduced to the literary device of apostrophe (when a narrator/speaker addresses an abstract idea or inanimate object as if were capable of hearing, understanding, and responding).
As an tactile and sensory component to Writers' Workshop, students enjoyed some jellybeans - due to the inspiration behind Kobe "Bean" Bryant's middle name! - as they filled out a brainstorming graphic organizer and a fill-in-the-blank draft template.