Explore the effects that an invasive species can have on the environment. In this interactive lesson, students learn how Lyngbya, a destructive form of algae, is creating environmental problems for the plants and wildlife in the Crystal...

[Free Registration/Login Required] During this MEA simulation, kindergarten students will be given a set of criteria. To help the character Hopping Hippo for her TV show, students will use the criteria to select shoes. Guided reading,...

In this interactive lesson plan, students examine Thomas Edison's character traits and how they contributed to his becoming one of the greatest inventors in history. In this interactive lesson plan, students watch videos to gather...

Students join Buster Baxter on a ancient Egypt, in this geography lesson. Students learn about Cairo, ancient Egypt, the pyramids, the Nile River, and relevant vocabulary terms. Then students write about what they've learned in the form...

[Accessible by TX Educators. Free Registration/Login Required] Write an essay that uses embedded quotations to provide evidence in your response to an expository or a literary text.

This Daily Teaching Tools resource provides a graphic organizer. Students will be able to respond in writing to an explanatory writing prompt. This tool may be used as a reflective writing prompt for students who are late.

Investigate an issue related to genetic engineering, energy, working landscapes or water quality. Write several articles that define the issue, describe the different views on the issue and explain why people should be interested in this...

[Accessible by TX Educators. Free Registration/Login Required] This lesson focuses on the introduction which establishes the context for the information that will form the body of the essay, connecting the conclusion to the introduction,...

A clipart illustration by Phillip Martin titled "Expository Writing."

An literary response essay written by a tenth-grader with notes calling attention to important writing concepts evident in the essay including a well-written title and introduction, a strong thesis, supporting details including quotes...

Tremendous resource containing six lessons that use Charlotte's Web to teach various life cycles. Includes useful handouts in the appendix.

[Free Registration/Login Required] In this instructional activity, learners will use What Do You Do With A Tail Like This? by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page to identify the main topic and key details using the illustrations and text....

In this interactive lesson, young scholars will increase their understanding of the important role that freshwater mussels play in our watershed. Students will learn about freshwater mussel species, how mussels improve water quality in...

For this scaffolded lesson, 1st graders will independently gather information about elephants and then compile this information with their peers. This lesson is part of a unit that will culminate with an expository writing assignment.

This is a student led activity in which students have to accomplish the task of choosing the most entertaining way to relay written expository information. Art/self expression along with technology are utilized to develop a classroom...

Following a reading of O. Henry's "Gift of the Magi," students write an expository essay based on the connotative definition of "gift." The essay is then presented as a holiday gift. The instructional activity can be adapted to a variety...

[Accessible by TX Educators. Free Registration/Login Required] In this lesson, you will learn how to make the information in your expository essays relevant and your inferences valid.

Using a famous quote from Maya Angelou as inspiration, students learn and practice writing informative essay related to hisotric events.

By using the children's book, Squirrel's New Year's Resolution, as an example, students learn to write responses to the story and explain their own resolutions for the year. Site requires registration, but it is free.

[Accessible by TX Educators. Free Registration/Login Required] This lesson will teach you how to write and organize an essay so that it addresses different purposes, different audiences, and different contexts.

[Free Registration/Login Required] During this MEA simulation, kindergarten students will be given the power of slelecting a classroom pet. Students, working in collaborative groups, must collect data about different potential classroom...

Students meet both language arts and social studies objectives in this interdisciplinary unit on customs and cultures. In part 1 of the unit students practice research and writing skills to create a slideshow. In part 2 of the unit...

Improve understanding of expository materials by summarizing the main ideas. The summarization strategy helps students recall the main ideas and specific facts of materials they read. There are five rules for writing summaries.

"New Leadership" is Harold Washington's Acceptance Speech as Mayor of Chicago on April 12, 1983. It is followed by an assignment which requires students to provide evidence from the text; it includes comparing Washington's election as...