Recipe for Friendship: Expository Writing

What better way to teach expository writing, or procedural writing, than by writing a recipe for friendship? This post explains how my students wrote step by step directions for how to make a great recipe, all while learning about the characteristics of expository writing!

I initially blogged about this idea last year. It is one of my absolute favorite activities for a friendship/love theme- perfect for the month of February!

Do you remember these books? The Chicken Soup for the Soul series by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen?  I *LOVED* these books as  a teenager! I think I had about five different versions of the series.

While going through my a box full of old books while moving a few years ago, I dug up these books and created a reading and writing lesson on friendship to go with these short stories. This week, I read aloud a few stories every day. There were some sweet and funny stories that my kids laughed during. And then there were serious, sad stories that we read aloud. My kids were LOVING these stories and wanted more and more! Tell me that I am not the only one who tears up while reading these stories aloud!?!?! Nope!

Some of my students did, too. Four boys really connected with the “Happy Father’s Day story” and were crying as we lined up for specials. These stories provoke compassion and real emotion. After reading the passages, I asked my students to list 5 characteristics, or for the sake of this lesson, “ingredients” that we look for in a friend. I explained that chicken soup and friendships are good for the soul! (Just like the book.) We made an anchor chart with our responses. Responses include: treat each other kindly, respect each other, spend time together, stick up for each other, emphasize with each other.

And, just like there is a recipe for chicken soup (literally!) there is also a recipe for friendship, with the most important ingredient being kindness.

The students then worked with a friend to write their own version of their friendship recipe.

The students worked together to cut out all the important ingredients for their friendship recipe.

3/4 cups of laughter, a dash of patience, 1 1/2 tablespoons of loyalty were just some of the ingredients. (This was also a great way to fractions that we are learning in math!) Next, the students wrote the step-by-step directions for a great friendship.

The students glued their ingredients, the directions for the recipe, and their picture on their construction paper. I then assembled our adorable bulletin board. Goes along great with Valentine’s Day!

Made with love: a recipe for friendship!

This lesson is part of my Recipe for Friendship file on TpT. Click HERE or on the picture below if you would like more information about the file.

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What is your favorite ingredient for your friendships? I certainly value so many parts of my friendship, but I have to say that lots of laughter would be one of them. As I mentioned on my IG post, I adore my friendships that make me laugh until I cry.