SHOP CONTACT
Contact

Spooky Season Expository Writing Unit

This Spooky Season Expository Writing Unit transforms informational writing into something students actually look forward to. Through six engaging, Halloween-inspired lessons, students learn how to research, organize, and write clear, structured expository essays using spooky topics like haunted houses, Halloween traditions, and the psychology behind why people love being scared.

With step-by-step lessons, scaffolded writing support, and both print and digital options, you’ll help your students master the structure and purpose of expository writing—without ever needing to start from scratch.

✨ Here’s what they’ll learn:

  • Expository Writing Foundations – Purpose, structure, and elements of effective informative/explanatory writing.
  • Research & Organization – Gathering information from credible sources and organizing it logically.
  • Planning & Outlining – Turning notes into a clear five-paragraph structure with topic sentences, transitions, and supporting details.
  • Drafting & Elaboration – Writing clear, coherent essays with explanations that show true understanding—not just fact lists.
  • Presentation Skills – (Optional extension) Turning essays into short, informative presentations to share their knowledge.

💡 Why this works:
This unit doesn’t just tell students to “write an essay.” It walks them through every step—modeling research, guiding note-taking, scaffolding outlines, and providing clear examples of strong informational writing. Students get time to process, practice, and apply their learning, so they actually understand how to explain ideas clearly.

The best part? The Halloween-themed topics keep students genuinely engaged, turning informational writing into something exciting, not exhausting.

📚 Perfect for:

  • Teachers who want to make expository writing engaging and structured.

  • Students who need step-by-step scaffolds to build confidence and independence.

  • Any 6th–8th grade ELA class focusing on informational writing, organization, and elaboration.

⏱ Flexible pacing: Designed for 6 days, but can easily stretch into two weeks. Works in 45-minute or longer class periods.

What’s inside:

  • 6 detailed teacher lesson plans with pacing and teaching notes

  •  Editable teacher slides (PDF + Google Slides)

  • Student notebook pages (print + digital)

  • Research and outlining graphic organizers

  • Expository essay rubric and checklist

  • Optional presentation templates for extensions

  • 100% digital + low-prep setup

The six lessons include:

  1. Introduction to Expository Writing
  2. Modeled Practice: Collecting Notes from Sources
  3. Topic Selection & Independent Research
  4. Outlining the Essay
  5. Drafting the Expository Essay
  6. Optional Extension: Presenting & Sharing

This unit solves one of the hardest middle school ELA challenges—getting students to enjoy writing informative essays. By pairing scaffolded instruction with creative spooky-season topics, you’ll help students grow as writers and thinkers while building a classroom routine that feels focused, fun, and totally manageable.

TEACHERS LIKE YOU SAID…
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Jessica L says, "Fantastic resource! I especially loved the commercials for ethos, pathos, and logos - my 6th graders said it was "cringe" so I will now use it every year for the rest of my life. Thank you!"
 
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Ginger G. says, "My resource SPED kids loved this!! I loved the music part the best. It was clean and provided a fun way to teach the given standards."
 
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Lauren B. says, "I was going to be out of town for Valentine's Day and needed a great packet for my students to work on with their sub, this was the perfect solution!"