1. Google Expeditions Lesson Plan
LESSON TITLE
Descriptive Writing
Google Expedition: Underwater Galapagos (XL Catlin Seaview Survey)
LESSON BACKGROUND
Age(s): 14-16
Subject(s): English Language
Number of Students: 30 students (approx.)
Objectives:
● Identify a range of descriptive techniques.
● Explore the ‘Underwater Galapagos’ Expedition for source material.
● Extend our ability to describe.
● Create a piece of descriptive writing.
Standards:
● Use of a range of techniques to describe, including descriptive phrases, nouns, adjectives,
similes, metaphors, sensory language.
Essential Question:What can I describe from the ‘Underwater Galapagos’ scene and how can I do it
effectively?
Guiding Questions:
● What are the features of good descriptive writing?
● How can you add to a description of something?
● How much detail can you create when describing the Underwater Galapagos scenes?
Vocabulary: descriptive phrases, nouns, adjectives, similes, metaphors, sensory language, range of
punctuation.
Place in Unit of Study: Beginning / Middle / End
Grouping: Whole Class / Small Group
EXPEDITION PREP CHECKLIST - Things the teacher needs to do before the lesson.
● Download the Google Expeditions App on all devices & select the expedition Underwater
Galapagos.
● Check list of vocabulary words and refresh understanding if needed.
● Explore the expedition, review descriptions and questions and identify points of interest.
BEFORE THE EXPEDITION - Things that students need to do before the expedition.
Students work in pairs and walk freely around the classroom for 1 minute (or perhaps the playground
or another area of the school), and point and name everything that catches their attention.
Teacher guides students to repeat the exercise but this time one student asks and one answers the
following questions:
● What do you see?
● What color is it?
● What shape would you say it is?
● How would you describe its size?

2. ● Does it have a smell?
● Does it make a noise?
● How does it feel?
After each item, add the phrase ‘is like a…’ For example: ‘The ceiling is like a cloudy sky’.
Students complete the ‘how I describe’ resource (see Google Expeditions Descriptive Writing Student
Sheet https://goo.gl/K3H7y6).
DURING THE EXPEDITION - Students are guided through the expedition by the teacher.
Students work in pairs and visit each scene. Student A identifies an item. Student B must then find
what they are looking at and add to the description of it. Students should be challenged to go back and
forth for as long as they can, adding in as much detail.
Example:
Student A: I see a sea lion.
Student B: I see a grey sea lion.
Student A: I see a small grey sea lion.
Student B: I see a small, grey sea lion, swimming swiftly.
Teacher guides students towards a particular style of description, e.g.:
● How can you describe the scene to show your excitement?
● What descriptions would make the sea seem pleasant and relaxing to be in?
● How could the structure of your writing show the playfulness of the sea lions?
AFTER THE EXPEDITION - Students synthesize and analyze what they’ve learned from the
expedition.
Teacher poses the following questions to the class:
● What have you listed on your ‘how to describe’ resource?
● What will you choose to focus on in your writing?
● What three techniques will you ensure are in your work?
Students write a descriptive paragraph about the Expedition using the ‘how to describe’ resource as a
prompt.
Teacher tailors ‘success criteria’ to the group’s ability; it may be more challenging for students to
describe a single aspect of one of the scenes than describing the whole scene for example, or students
might be asked to only describe the visual aspects of the scene and ignore the other senses.
EXTENSION IDEAS - Additional learning & inquiry inspired by the expedition.
Students choose another Expedition and describe the scene.
Students write a poem using the Expedition as a stimulus.
Groups design a display with drawings of the Expedition labeled with their best descriptions, with the
techniques also labeled, e.g. ‘The shimmering sea lion swims swiftly’ – alliteration.