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When our family was #Homeschooling Charlie one of the classes Charlie took was a cooking class beginning with when he was 4. Even though Charlie has graduated finding fun #Holidays that allows us to celebrate different foods allows the learning to keep happening day after day.
September 14th is National Eat a Hoagie Day #NationalHoagieDay and as someone who can’t say they’ve actually ever had a true Hoagie I thought it would be fun to learn about Hoagies and make them for dinner once Charlie returns from his friends. Would you want to join us for dinner?
National Eat a Hoagie Day Lesson Plan gives us the opportunity to celebrate September 14th with a delicious dive into Sandwich history, creativity, and community spirit! I’ve created a fun and educational lesson plan idea tailored for upper elementary or middle school students.
Objective
When studying Hoagie students will explore the cultural and historical significance of Hoagies, practice critical thinking, and engage in creative expression through food-themed activities.
Lesson Duration
1–2 class periods (45–60 minutes each)
Learning Goals
- Understand the origin and evolution of the hoagie sandwich
- Practice reading comprehension and informational text analysis
- Apply creative thinking to design and describe their own hoagie
- Foster collaboration and presentation skills
Activities
Hoagie History Warm-Up
- Read a short passage on the origins of the hoagie (e.g., how it started at Hog Island Shipyard in Philadelphia)
- Discuss regional sandwich names: hoagie vs. sub vs. grinder vs. hero
2. Critical Thinking Challenge
- Use differentiated reading materials like the Hoagie Day Reading
- Answer comprehension questions and explore vocabulary related to food and culture
3. Design Your Dream Hoagie
- Students sketch and label their ideal hoagie using a variety of ingredients
- Write a persuasive paragraph describing why their hoagie is the best
4. Hoagie Swap & Presentation
- Host a “Hoagie Swap Meet” where students share their creations
- Optional: Dress as your favorite hoagie or host a themed photo booth
5. Community Connection
- Discuss ways to give back, like donating sandwiches to shelters or organizing a food drive
🎉 Extension Ideas
- Organize a hoagie-eating contest (with healthy options!)
- Create a class cookbook of hoagie recipes
- Explore food-related careers or local sandwich shops
Create a Hoagie to share with your friends and family. Here is a recipe you can use or create your own
Hoagie Recipe
Let’s build the ultimate hoagie—Philly-style, Italian-style, or even a chopped cheese twist. Whether you’re craving deli meats stacked high or want to master the perfect roll from scratch, I’ve got you covered with recipes and videos that walk you through every delicious step.
🥖 Step 1: Make the Hoagie Roll (Optional but game-changing)
If you want that authentic chewy-crusty roll, homemade is the way to go:
- Claire Saffitz Makes Homemade Hoagie Rolls & Chopped … Claire walks you through making New York-style hoagie rolls with a chopped cheese filling. Great for mastering dough kneading and shaping.
- How to Make Proper Hoagie Rolls at home This video dives deep into dough science—lean vs enriched, steam baking, and shaping techniques. Ideal for bread nerds and perfectionists.
- How to Make Homemade Hoagie Rolls | The Stay At Home Chef A straightforward recipe using pantry staples like milk, yeast, and flour. Perfect for beginners who want soft, bakery-style rolls.
🧀 Step 2: Assemble the Classic Italian Hoagie
Layer your ingredients in this order for the best flavor and texture:
- Provolone cheese
- Genoa salami
- Capicola or ham
- Soppressata or pepperoni
- Shredded lettuce
- Sliced tomatoes
- Thin red onion
- Pickles or banana peppers
- Olive oil + red wine vinegar
- Oregano, salt, pepper
How To make a Philly Style hoagie: A true Philly-style build with Amaroso rolls, hot capicola, and the classic oil-vinegar drizzle.
Hollow out the Bread. Then layer your choice of Meat Add Provolone Cheese Top with Shredded Lettuce, Tomatoes and Red Onion Top with Pickles or Banana Peppers or both it’s your choice. Sprinkle with Olive il + Red Vine Vinegar Top with Organo, Salt and Pepper
For more Sandwich ideas check out Happy National Hoagy Day: Delicious Recipes for National Hoagy Day: How to Build the Perfect Hoagie
Let me know if you’d like a printable version of this Lesson Plan or want to adapt this Lesson for younger students or a virtual setting! By leaving me a comment below and I will get to work on what you need.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
