creative writing templates for elementary students

• Grades 6-12
• School Leaders

Creative Ways to Use Graphic Novels in the Classroom! 🎥

56 Free Printable Writing Paper Templates for Elementary School

Includes 56 free printable pages!

Is there any bigger thrill than watching elementary students grow as writers? From their first words and sentences in kindergarten to full-fledged stories and essays by fifth grade, we love the transformation students make. That’s why we’ve put together this printable writing paper template bundle containing 56 FREE writing pages.

You’ll have everything you need to teach all kinds of writing—from informative to narrative to how-to! All you have to do is submit your email here to save and print your bundle now.

You’ll get basic printable writing paper (with scaffolded support for drawing and writing)

WeAreTeachers

Whether your students can write a little or a lot, we have basic writing templates you can print, copy, and share! These include basic lined writing paper as well as dotted kindergarten writing paper, which is perfect for helping them practice letters and sight words.

You’ll also get specific writing templates to support different types of writing

The bundle includes templates for narrative writing, informative writing, and how-to writing, as well as a friendly letter template.

Narrative Writing Graphic Organizer

You’ll love these printable narrative graphic organizers whenever you need to encourage students to find key details as you guide them through the writing process.

Informational Writing Graphic Organizer

This printout will help students organize information when they work on nonfiction writing.

Hamburger Writing Graphic Organizer Template

What makes a good “hamburger”? This template provides a visual tool to help students create a juicy “paragraph hamburger” to help guide them in writing a topic sentence, detail sentences, and a closing sentence.

Opinion Writing Graphic Organizer

This great teaching tool helps students better understand topical thoughts and opinions using justifications and thorough examples.

Letter Writing Paper

With all of the texting we do, we could probably all benefit from using this letter writing paper for sending actual handwritten messages!

You’ll also receive holiday and seasonal pages in our writing template bundle

Get holiday writing templates (with varied space for writing and drawing) for back-to-school, fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving, winter, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, spring, and summer.

Free Printable Back-to-School Lined Paper

This “Welcome Back!”–themed back-to-school set includes lined paper and multiple picture boxes. It’s great for the first week together in the classroom.

Free Printable Fall Lined Paper

Encourage students to share their love for fall with this “Hello Autumn!” set that includes lined paper with and without picture boxes.

Free Printable Halloween Lined Paper

Use this “Happy Halloween!” set of lined paper for that fun, spooky time of year. Maybe your kids can use the picture boxes for a Halloween contest!

Free Printable Thanksgiving Lined Paper

The “Happy Thanksgiving!” set is perfect for encouraging students to share all of the things they’re grateful for (bonus points for drawings in the picture boxes!).

Free Printable Winter Lined Paper

It might be chilly outside but this set of “Hello Winter!” lined paper (with and without picture boxes) will help students welcome the cold season with open arms!

Free Printable Valentine’s Day Lined Paper

We L.O.V.E. this “Happy Valentine’s!” printable set. Kids can choose styles with or without picture boxes.

Free Printable St. Patrick’s Day Lined Paper

You’ll feel lucky to have this “Happy St. Patrick’s!” lined paper in the classroom—it comes with a variety of options.

Free Printable Spring Lined Paper

How cute are the bees and flowers on this “Hello Spring!” printable lined paper? Choose from plain lined paper or paper with different-size picture boxes.

Free Printable Summer Lined Paper

The adorable sun on this “Hello Summer!” lined paper (which comes with or without picture boxes) looks as excited as we are about the break!

Ready to start using this printable writing paper bundle?

Download it for free, looking for more writing resources check out our favorite writing anchor charts., have more great resources share in our weareteachers helpline group on facebook..

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ThinkWritten

300 Fun Writing Prompts for Kids: Story Starters, Journal Prompts & Ideas

Are you a parent or teacher? Here are 300 fun and creative writing prompts for kids to spark the imagination of young writers everywhere. Use these kids writing ideas as journaling prompts, story starters or just for fun!

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It’s never too early to start writing, and so we’ve created this fun list of 300 creative kids writing prompts for teacher and parents to use.

You’ll love these fun ideas for kids writing prompts to use as creative sparks to get young imaginations writing in no time!

These are perfect to use as kids journal writing prompts, as short story writing prompts, or just for exercises to help students and children of all ages tap into their creativity. Maybe your kids will write an essay, maybe a poem, or maybe even a whole book!

Whether you are a teacher or parent looking to inspire your kids to write, or maybe even an adult who would like to practice writing with a more playful and young-hearted approach, I hope you find these creative writing prompts inspiring!

Buy the Printable Cards!  We will always have this list of 300 kids writing prompts available for free, but I’m very excited to now also offer an  ad-free printable version of these prompts  in my online Etsy shop. Thank you for your support!

The Ultimate List of 300 Fun & Creative Writing Prompts for Kids

#1. Imagine a giant box is delivered to your front doorstep with your name on it. What’s inside and what happens when you open it?

#2. Write a short story about what it might be like if you woke up one morning with a mermaid tail.

#3. Which is better, winter or summer? Write about the reasons why you think winter or summer is better.

#4. Write about what would it be like if you had an alligator as a pet.

#5. If you had $1,000, what would you buy and why?

#6. Write a story using these 5 words: apple, train, elephant, paper, banjo

#7. What do you want be when you grow up and why?

#8. Who is your favorite person on the planet? What do you like most about that person?

#9. If you could have any secret super power, what would you want it to be and why?

#10. Write about 3 places you would like to travel someday. What do these three places have in common?

#11. Write about a time you felt really happy. What happened? What made you feel happy?

#12. Imagine what would happen if someone shrunk you down to be only 1″ tall. How would your life change?

#13. If you were in charge of the whole world, what would you do to make the world a happier place?

#14. Write a story about what it would be like to climb to the very top of the highest mountain in the world.

#15. If you were in charge of planning the school lunch menu, what foods would you serve each day?

#16. What are some of your favorite animals? What do you like about them?

#17. Imagine that dogs take over the world. What do they make the humans do?

#18. Write a story about flying to outer space and discovering a new planet.

#19. You are a mad scientist and have invented a new vegetable. What is it called? What does it look like? What does it taste like? Most importantly: Is it safe to eat?

#20. You go to school one morning to discover your best friend has been turned into a frog by an evil witch! How do you help your friend?

#21. Describe what it is like when trees lose all of their leaves in the autumn season.

#22. Write about your favorite sport and why you like it so much.

#23. Imagine what it might be like to live on a boat all the time and write about it.

#24. If you had one wish, what would it be?

#25. Write about what you might do if you have the super power to become invisible.

#26. You are walking through the forest when one of the trees starts talking to you. What does it say? What do you do?

#27. The weather forecast is calling for a blizzard in the middle of the summer. What do you do?

#28. What types of transportation will people have in the future?

#29. What were some of your favorite toys when you very little? Do you still enjoy playing with them?

#30. What would a day in your life be like if you were a movie star?

#31. Imagine you’ve invented a time machine! What year do you travel to?

#32. What are your favorite things to do over summer vacation?

#33. What is your favorite holiday and why?

#34. If you could meet any fictional character from a book, who would it be?

#35. You are writing a travel guide for kids visiting your city. What places do you think they should visit?

#36. What is a food you hate? Write about it!

#37. Imagine what it would be like if there was no electricity. What would be different in your daily routine?

#38. You are building a new city! What types of things do you think your city needs? How will you convince people to move to your new city?

#39. What is your favorite movie? Write your review of the movie and why you think people should watch it.

#40. Imagine you get a magic sweater for your birthday. What happens when you wear the sweater? What do you do with these new found magical powers?

#41. You are the security guard at the zoo and someone has stolen a rhinoceros! How do you track down the thief?

#42. You have been invited to have lunch with the queen. What foods do you eat and what topics do you and the queen discuss?

#43. If you could design a school uniform, what types of clothes would you suggest? What colors would they be?

#44. Imagine you are a reporter interviewing a celebrity about their life. What questions do you ask?

#45. You are running a lemonade stand. Describe the steps for how you make lemonade and the types of customers you see during the day.

#46. Write a story about being the ruler of an underwater world.

#47. Write an acrostic poem for the word “treehouse”.

#48. You decide to grow a sunflower, but the sunflower grows so tall it reaches up to the sky! Write about what happens when you decide to climb to the top. What do you discover?

#49. Imagine you look out the window and it is raining popsicles from the sky! Write a story about the experience.

#50. If you could be any animal, which one would you be and why?

#51. If you were on a spaceship, what would you be most excited about seeing?

#52. Do you have any pets at home? Write an essay about how you take care of your pets. If you do not have a pet, what type of pet might you like?

#53. Imagine you are opening a store that only sells items which are blue. What types of items do you sell?

#54. Have you ever lost something that is important to you? Were you able to find it?

#55. Write a story about a kid who is moving to a new school. How do you think they might feel?

#56. Rewrite the ending of your favorite fairy tale. For example, what would have happened if Cinderella never went to the ball?

#57. Have you ever forgotten to do your homework? What happened?

#58. Do you have a favorite song? Write about the type of music you like to listen to.

#59. Imagine your parents wake you up one morning to tell you they will take you to do anything you want to do for the whole day – you don’t even have to go to school or do your chores. What would you choose to do and why?

#60. Do you like amusement parks? What are some of your favorite rides?

#61. Write a story using these three words: detective, piano, and pizza.

#62. Have you ever been to the beach? Write about your favorite things to do. If you have never been to the beach, what would you like to do the first time you visit?

#63. Is there a favorite tv show you like to watch? Write about your favorite character and why they are your favorite.

#64. Write a poem using onomatopoeia , where the words you use are pronounced similar to the sound they make. For example, buzz, bark, sizzle, slam and pop.

#65. Have you ever had to stand in line to wait a long time for something? What did you do while you waited? How did you feel while waiting? How did you feel once the wait was over?

#66. Is it a good idea to keep ALL secrets a secret? Write about examples of when it is okay to spill a secret – and when it isn’t.

#67. Is there something you are good at doing? Write about your best strengths.

#68. What historical time period and location would you go back to live in if you could? Write about it!

#69. Write about 5 things you can do that are important for you to stay healthy and safe.

#70. Do you think thunderstorms are scary? Why or why not?

#71. What would you most like to learn over the next year? Think about things that interest you or questions you might have about the world and make a list!

#72. You are going on a trip to a jungle safari! What items do you pack in your suitcase?

#73. Imagine you are sitting at home one day and you hear someone shrieking in the living room they see a mouse in the house! Write a story about what might happen next.

#74. You are writing a letter to someone who is having a hard time making new friends at school. What do you write? What advice do you give them?

#75. Imagine you just met a magician – but their beloved rabbit who they pull out of a hat for all the tricks has been kidnapped! How do you help find the rabbit?

#76. Do you hear what I hear? Set a timer for 5 minutes and write about all of the sounds you hear in those 5 minutes.

#77. Imagine you go to get a haircut and they accidentally shave your head! How do you feel about that and what would you do?

#78. Do you find it easy to talk to people you don’t know? What are some ways you can start up a conversation with someone you have never met before?

#79. Are there any chores you have to do at home? What are they? What do you like – and not like – about each one?

#80. Open up a random book to any page. Write for 5 minutes about the first word you read.

#81. Pretend you are a writer for your city’s newspaper. Who would you like to interview for a news story and why?

#82. There are many fictional characters who live in unusual houses, such as the old woman who lived in a shoe. What kind of unusual house would you like to live in? Write about what it would be like to live in an unusual house!

#83. Write a list of 10 things you can do to practice kindness to others.

#84. Is there a homework subject you dread? Why do you not like getting homework in that subject?

#85. What is your favorite month of the year? Write about why you like it and some of your favorite things to do during that month.

#86. Imagine you are planning a surprise birthday party for someone. How do you keep it a surprise?

#87. Pretend you walked outside to find a sleeping dragon in the grass! Why is the dragon there? Is it a friendly dragon? What do you do? Write about it!

#88. What are you grateful for today and why?

#89. You were on your way to a very important event when you fell into a puddle. Now what?

#90. Have you ever watched a movie and didn’t like how it ended? Write what you think should happen instead.

#91. Can you answer this riddle from Alice in Wonderland ? How is a raven like a writing desk?

#92. Imagine you are the captain of a pirate ship. Write a diary entry for what your day was like.

#93. If you could start any type of business, what kind of business would you start? What types of products or services would you provide?

#94. Write a sequel to one of your favorite fairy tales. For example, what was Goldilocks’s next adventure after she left the bears?

#95. What is something you are afraid of? What helps you to feel less afraid of something? What would you say to a friend who feels scared to help them feel less afraid?

#96. Write a letter to your future self in 20 years.

#97. In addition to basic survival needs such as food, water, air and shelter, what are 3 things you would you need to be happy?

#98. If you could invent a robot of any type who could do anything you imagine, what types of things would you would have the robot to do?

#99. Which do like better? Apples or Oranges? How are they alike? How are they different?

#100. Why did the chicken cross the road? You are a detective and are assigned to the case. How do solve the mystery?

#101. Write instructions for how to make your favorite snack. Be sure you add your favorite tips and suggestions for how to select the best ingredients!

#102. Imagine you borrowed a friend’s favorite lucky pencil to help you pass a math test – but then it snapped in half! How will you ever tell the news to your friend?

#103. Look around the current room you are sitting in and choose 3 random objects that are nearby. Now write a story or poem that includes those three items!

#104. Write a letter to the author of a book you recently read and tell them what you liked most about the book.

#105. Ernest Hemingway is famous for writing a six word story. Can you write a story in just 6 words?

#106. What do you think will be the future for cell phones? Will people still use them in 25 years or will something else take its place?

#107. Do you want to go to college? Why or why not?

#108. Write a story or poem about a kitten who wanders off and gets lost. How does the kitten find its way home?

#109. Currently, it is required by law that kids go to school. Do you think this is a good or bad idea?

#110. If you could invent a new board game, what would it be called? How is it played? What are the rules? What makes it fun to play? Write about it!

#111. Imagine you come home to discover your entire bedroom is covered in ketchup! What on earth happened? What is your reaction? How do you clean everything up?

#112. What is something you learned today?

#113. Would you rather have a goldfish or shark as a pet?

#114. From A-Z: make a list of something for every letter of the alphabet.

#115. Have you ever gone fishing? If you have, did you like it? Why or why not? If you haven’t, do you think you might want to?

#116. What is one of the most important things you do each and every day?

#117. Write a story about Gretchen the Grouch, a girl who is always angry! Will she ever be happy? Why is she so grumpy all of the time?

#118. How do you feel when someone takes something of yours without asking? What is a good way to deal with it when that happens?

#119. Write a poem that starts with the word “if”.

#120. Write a story about a family of rabbits who live in the woods. What are some of the challenges they face?

#121. What clothes do you think are the most comfortable? What kind of clothes do you like to wear the most? What clothes do you NOT like to wear?

#122. Imagine there are no grocery stores and you must get your own food. What are some of the ways you find food? What types of things do you eat?

#123. What are 3 things you can do that are good for the environment?

#124. If you could meet any famous person today, who would you want to meet and why? What questions might you ask them?

#125. A tongue twister is a quick poem where many of the words start with the same letter and are similar in sound. For example, “Peter picked a peck of pickled peppers.” Try writing your own with this fun kids writing prompt!

#126. What is the first thing you think of when you hear or see the word green?

#127. A hero is someone who is admired for their courage and achievements. What do you think makes someone a hero? Who are some of your heroes?

#128. What did you do during summer vacation last year? What do you want to do for summer vacation this year?

#129. Write a story about a super hero dog who saves the day! Who does the dog help and why?

#130. Would you rather live somewhere that is always cold, or somewhere that is always hot? Write about which one you would rather choose.

#131. Have you ever volunteered to help a charity? If so, write about the experience! If not, what are some charities you think you might like to volunteer for?

#132. What does the word courage mean to you?

#133. What makes you unique? What are some things about you that make you an individual?

#134. Have you ever been to a museum? What is your favorite thing to look at on display?

#135. What can you do to set a good example for others to be kind?

#136. A Tall Tale is a story that exaggerates something that actually happened. Write a tall tale about something that recently happened to you.

#137. What is one of your favorite toys that you think you might still want to have and play with when you are 22 years old?

#138. Oh no! Everyone around you is sick with a nasty cold! Write a silly poem about how you try to avoid catching their germs!

#139. Personification is when a non-living object takes on human characteristics. Write a story where you personify a common electronic gadget in your house, such as the Television or toaster.

#140. Write a poem using similes, which is when you say an object is like something else. Here is an example of a simile: “Her eyes were as blue as the sky.”

#141. Have you ever read a book written by Dr. Suess? Write your own “Suess-style” story, complete with rhymes and made up words.

#142. Do you have any siblings? Think about what it might mean to be a good brother or sister and write about it!

#143. Make a list of questions to interview your parents or grandparents about what it was like when they were growing up as a kid. Then, ask them the questions and write about their answers!

#144. You are in charge of writing a new radio show just for kids! What topics will you talk about? What music do you play?

#145. What do you usually eat for breakfast every day? What, in your opinion, is the greatest breakfast food ever created? What makes it so great?

#146. Write a 12 line poem where every line is about a different month of the year.

#147. What is something you look forward to doing the most when you are an adult?

Use these prompts in your classroom!  Get the  ad-free printable version of these prompts  to inspire your students to write! Thank you for your support!

#148. Do you like to try new things? What is something new you have tried recently or would like to try?

#149. Imagine what it might be like to be alive in Egypt when the pyramids were built. Write about what it was like.

#150. A credo is a statement of personal beliefs. Try writing your own credo for things that you believe in and feel are important.

#151. The circus has come to town but they have no place to perform! How do you help the ringmaster find a place to put on a show?

#152. Do you like to act? What are some of your favorite actors or actresses? What do you think makes someone a good actor or actress?

#153. “Practice makes perfect” is a popular saying. What is something you like to practice so you can become better at it? A sport? A musical instrument? A special skill? Do you like to practice?

#154. Write about what it might be like to be water drops freezing and turning into ice.

#155. Do you think it is important to keep your room clean? What do you like about having a clean room?

#156. Imagine your parents are sending you away for a two week summer camp trip. Would you be excited? Why or why not?

#157. What are you currently learning about in history class? Write a fictional story about someone from the past you are learning about.

#158. Many wars have been fought in the past. Instead of going to war, what do you think countries could do to resolve their differences peacefully?

#159. Every year over 8 billion plastic bottles and cans are thrown away. What are some things you can do to help encourage your family and friends to recycle?

#160. Imagine if you were the principal of the school. What might you do differently? What things would you do that are the same? Write about it!

#161. Pretend that one day you are at your neighbor’s house and you notice a strange noise coming from the basement. You go downstairs to investigate to see a large machine running with many lights and buttons. Why is it there?

#162. Write an essay that starts with the line, “Tomorrow, I hope…”

#163. If you could give one thing to every child in the world, what would you want to give them?

#164. Do you have a piggy bank at home? How do you earn money to add to your savings?

#165. What qualities make a house a home? What are 3 things you think every house should have?

#166. Would you rather go scuba diving or rock climbing? Write about which one you think you would like to do more and why.

#167. Do you think it is a good idea for kids to write a daily journal? What are some of the benefits of writing every day?

#168. Do you like watching fireworks or are they too noisy? Write about a time when you saw fireworks in the sky.

#169. Oh no! Your friend has turned into a statue! How did this happen? What do you do? Does your friend ever turn back into a person again?

#170. If you could be any movie character, who would you be and why?

#171. A mysterious message appears in code on your computer screen. What could it mean?

#172. If you could go to work with one of your parents for a day, what do you think the day would be like? What types of things do your parents do at work all day long?

#173. Imagine you are the President and you are creating a new national holiday. What is your holiday about? How is it celebrated? What day of the year do you celebrate? Write about it!

#174. You won a never-ending lifetime supply of spaghetti noodles! What will you do with all of these noodles?

#175. Would you rather be a bunny rabbit or a hawk? Why did you choose the one you chose?

#176. Your teacher has been acting mysterious lately. After school one day, you notice a weird green light shining through underneath the door of your classroom. What do you do? What is happening with your teacher?

#177. Write an article about tips for how kids can be more organized and study well for tests.

#178. Look at any product in your house and read the ingredients labels. Research what each ingredient is. Do you think these ingredients are good or bad for people?

#179. If you were a doctor, what do you think would be the most important part of your job every day?

#180. The school librarian needs your help! A truck just arrived with 2,000 books and she can’t fit all the books onto the shelves! What do you do? How do you find a place to put all these books?

#181. Do you think it would be fun to plant a garden? What types of plants would you want to grow? Write about your garden ideas.

#182. What is a sport or activity you would like to try playing for the first time?

#183. Do you think kids should be allowed to do the same things as adults? What things do you think kids should be able to do that only grown-ups can?

#184. Imagine you and your parents switch places for a day. Your parents are the kids and you are now in charge! What would you do?

#185. Write a get-well letter to someone who has been sick. What can you say to make them feel better?

#186. If you could visit any planet in the solar system, which planet would you like to visit the most and why? Write about what it might be like.

#187. Have you ever been to a farm? What did you like about it? If you haven’t been to a farm, do you think you might like to visit one? Why or why not?

#188. The mayor of the city has a big problem and needs your help! What is the problem and how will you solve it?

#189. Pretend your little sister ate carrots for dinner and the next morning woke up with rabbit ears!  How did this happen? What do you do? Will she be a rabbit forever?

#190. Imagine you wake up in the morning to find out you get to relive any day of your life again for the whole day. What day would you want to experience again and why?

#191. Do you think you might like to be a firefighter? Why or why not?

#192. You are a lawyer and your client has been accused of stealing a car. How do you convince the jury your client is innocent?

#193. Think of the four elements: fire, air, earth, and water. Which of these four elements do you like the best?

#194. What would you do if you could be invisible for a whole day? Do you think you would enjoy it or be glad to be back to normal the next day? Write about it!

#195. Imagine you are a meteorologist and people are starting to get angry that your weather predictions are always wrong. What do you do?

#196. If you could create any law, what would it be? Why do you think the law is an important one to have?

#197. You are going incognito and need to hide to your identity so you aren’t recognized or discovered while you walk through the city. What type of disguise do you wear?

#198. Write a persuasive letter to your parents explaining why you should get a new pet. Make sure you provide a convincing argument they won’t be able to refuse!

#199. Your friend wants to do something dangerous. What should you do?

#200. How do you think the world would be different if there were no oceans?

#201. What do you do when someone disagrees with your opinions? Is there a better way to handle conflicting opinions?

#202. What do you think you as a kid could do to help encourage more people to read?

#203. Do you have a good luck charm? What makes this item lucky? When do you use it? How do you use it?

#204. What is at the end of a rainbow? Imagine you follow a rainbow to the end. What do you discover? Is it a pot of gold, or something else?

Use these prompts in your classroom!  Get the  ad-free printable version of these prompts  to inspire your students to write! Thank you for your support!

#205. What do you think the consequences should be for someone who is caught cheating on a test at school?

#206. Imagine you are riding your bike one day when you encounter an older kid who wants to steal your bike. What do you do?

#207. You are the lead singer and star of a famous rock and roll band, but there is one problem – your drummer is jealous of your fame! How do you solve this situation?

#208. If you could help a group of kids in any part of the world, what kids would you want to help the most and why? What are some things you think would help these kids?

#209. Everyone knows the house on the end of the street is haunted. What are some of the strange things that happen there? Why is the house haunted?

#210. You notice at school one day there is a door to a secret passage next to the janitor’s closet and decide to explore. Where does it lead? Why is it there? Do you go alone or bring a friend along?

#211. A bucket list is a list of things you want to accomplish in your lifetime. What are 5 things on your bucket list?

#212. Imagine the perfect treehouse or clubhouse for you and all of your friends as a place to hang out. Describe what it is like inside.

#213. Do you get bored easily? Make a list of things you can do whenever you feel like you are bored and there is nothing fun to do!

#214. Now vs. Then: Think about how today is different from one year ago. How have you changed? What things in your life are different?

#215. Write your autobiography about your life.

#216. It’s a heat wave! What do you do when the weather is hot? What are some of your favorite ways to stay cool?

#217. What are three important safety tips every kid should know to stay safe?

#218. What genre of books do you like to read the most? Write about the characteristics of the genre and list some of your favorite books as examples.

#219. Holiday Traditions: How does your family celebrate the different holidays and events? What are some traditions you do each and every year?

#220. Imagine one day in science class a science experiment goes terribly wrong and now you and all of your classmates have superpowers! What are your superpowers and what do you do with them?

#221. Who is favorite teacher? Why are they your favorite?

#222. You are baking a cake, but you accidentally put salt in the cake instead of sugar. Nobody will eat it! How do you feel? What will you do next time?

#223. Do you think it is important to have good table manners? What do you think some good manners to practice might be?

#224. Many schools no longer teach cursive handwriting. Do you think this is a good or bad thing? Do you know how to write cursive handwriting? Would you like to learn if you haven’t?

#225. If you were the owner of a theme park, what types of rides and attractions would have? Describe what they would be like and why people would want to visit your park.

#226. Your parents give you $100 to spend at the grocery store. What do you buy and why?

#227. Some people who are alive today grew up without computers or video games. What would you do if you didn’t have a computer or video games? How would life be different?

#228. You walk into your living room and discover there is a giant elephant standing there. How did the elephant get there? What do you do about it? How do you explain the elephant in the living room to your parents?

#229. Have you ever had a weird dream? What happened in the dream? What do you think it means?

#230. Do you like to draw or paint? Write a story inspired by a painting, doodle, or sketch.

#231. You are being sent on a mission to outer space to live in a space station for 5 years. What supplies do you pack and why?

#232. What is the scariest creature alive on earth? Describe in detail what makes it so horrifying.

#233. What do you think your pet might say if they could talk to you?

#234. Imagine your school is putting on a talent show. What act will you perform? What other acts will be in the show?

#235. If you could breathe under water, what would you do?

#236. What time of day do you think school should start? Write a convincing argument on why or why not the time of day school starts should change.

#237. If you were to start your own YouTube video channel, what would the videos on your channel be about?

#238. Do you like to cook? What are some things you like to make and eat?

#239. Your school is having a field day and you are in charge of planning the activities and games. What types of activities and games would you plan for the event?

#240. If you had a remote control drone that takes video of everything it sees from the sky and you could take it anywhere, what would you film? For example, the inside of a volcano or soar it over the plains of Africa.

#241. The Bermuda Triangle is an area of the ocean where many ships and planes have gone missing. Why do you think this could be? Write a story about what it might be like to travel there.

#242. There are 7 great wonders of the world – which one do you think is the most wonderful?

#243. If you could speak any foreign language fluently, which one would you like to speak and why?

#244. You are inventing a new flavor of ice cream! What is the new flavor called and what ingredients do you need to make it?

#245. Would you rather go to a baseball game or read a good book? What reasons do you have for your choice?

#246. You walk outside to get your mail and your mailbox starts talking to you! What does your mailbox have to say?

#247. Imagine you are a famous person. What are you most famous for? What is it like to be famous?

#248. What do you think would be the most fun job in the world to have? Give examples of why you think it would be a fun job to have.

#249. Write a poem about an object that is shiny and dazzling.

#250. Do you like to watch the Olympics? Why or why not? If yes, what is your favorite Olympic sport?

#251. What kind of car do you want to drive when you are older? Do you think learning to drive will be easy or hard?

#252. What do you think would make for a great gift to give someone on their birthday?

#253. Describe a time when you needed help and someone helped you. What did they help you with and how did it make you feel?

#254. If you could be any type of fruit or vegetable, what would you be and why?

Love these prompts?  Get the  ad-free printable version of these prompts  to use at home or in the classroom!

#255. Do you think it is more important to have a good imagination or have all the facts proven?

#256. Do you have a favorite aunt, uncle, or another relative? Write a story about their life and why you like to be with them.

#257. Think of a time you laughed really, really hard. What was so funny? Why were you laughing? Write about it!

#258. Write a poem about an emotion. For example: happy, sad, angry, embarrassed, guilty.

#259. Do you ever have a hard time falling asleep? What are some things that help you feel sleepy?

#260. If you could drive a car, where would you drive and why?

#261. Imagine you are trading places with your friend for a day. What will it be like to be at their house? What will your friend think while they are at your house? Write about it!

#262. If you could break a world record, what would it be? What do you think would be necessary to be able to break the world record?

#263. Imagine you live in Colonial times. What would it be like to grow up as a kid in Colonial America?

#264. You are building a new city. What is the name of your city? What is the weather like? What buildings will you build?

#265. What do you think it would be like to work as a sailor on big ship in the ocean each day?

#266. Imagine you are the teacher for the day. What types of activities do you make the students in the class do?

#267. How would you feel if your parents told you that you would be getting a new baby brother or sister? Write about it!

#268. Do you know any good jokes? What are some of your favorite jokes? What makes them funny? Do you think you could write your own?

#269. Imagine you are floating down a river on a raft. What types of things can you see from the river that you normally wouldn’t see from the land?

#270. You want to start a new hobby collecting something. What kinds of things would you collect and why?

#271. Your mom announces she is having a yard sale. Would you let her sell any of your things? Why or why not?

#272. Imagine you walk out your front door one morning and it is raining popcorn! What do you do?

#273.  You are camping in the woods one night and hear a scary noise. What do you do? What might be the cause?

#274. What do you think might make kids really happy to go to school? What are some things you think schools should do so that it could be more fun?

#275. Today’s lunch at the cafeteria was unusually horrible. You are a detective on the case to investigate. What do you think is the cause?

#276. If you had a tree that grows money, what would you do?

#277. What would you do if you had a unicorn as a pet?

#278. Would you rather go to the zoo or go to the aviary? Which one would you pick and why?

#279. What are some safety tips you should follow when riding a bike?

#280. You are designing the cover of a magazine. What are some of the headlines on the cover?

#281. Are you afraid of the dark? Why or why not?

#282. If you could learn to play any type of musical instrument, which one would you like to learn how to play and why?

#283. Imagine you are playing a sport that involves a ball, such as soccer, baseball or kickball. What would it be like if the ball could talk?

#284. You come home to discover a friendly alien has been living in your closet. What do you do? Why is there an alien in your closet?

#285. Is there something you are afraid of that you wish you weren’t afraid of? Write about it.

#286. Write about the best party you’ve ever been to. What made the day fun and special?

#287. What makes you feel loved and cared about? What are some ways people can show you that they love and care about you?

#288. There is a kite flying competition coming up and you are going to design your own kite. What will your kite look like? What colors will it be? Will it have any certain shape?

#289. You are given the challenge to drop an egg on the floor – without it breaking! What are some things you might try to make sure the egg won’t break?

#290. What are some of the things you can do every day to stay healthy?

#291. Do you think grown-ups are boring? Why do you think they are so boring all of the time? What is something fun that boring grown-ups could do instead of being so boring?

#292. Write a lyrical poem or song about what kids do while they are at school all day long.

#293. What are the first things you like to do when you are done with school each day? What are some of the activities you like when you are not at school?

#294. Imagine dinosaurs were still alive today. How do you think our lives would be different?

#295. Would you rather visit a volcano or a desert? Which one would you choose and why?

#296. Is there a sound you think is annoying? What types of sounds drive you crazy? Write about them!

#297. What do you think it would be like to be the size of an ant for a day? What types of things would you do?

#298. Imagine one of your stuffed animals comes to life and starts talking to you. What types of things will you talk about? What will you do?

#299. What makes you feel happiest? Write about the things in life that make you feel happy!

#300. Imagine there is no gravity. What kind of things would you do you for fun? How would some of the things you already do for fun be different?

Buy the Printable Cards!  We will always have this list of 300 kids writing prompts available for free, but I’m very excited to now also offer an  ad-free printable version of these prompts  in my online Etsy shop. Thank you for your support!

Parents and teachers, I hope you enjoyed these 300 writing prompts for kids and that you will use them to inspire your children’s creative imaginations.

These prompts of course can be used in a number of different ways and can be adapted for a variety of different styles of writing !

What do you think? Do you think these are good conversation and story starters for kids? Do you have any ideas for writing prompts you would like to share?

And of course, if you’d like to make it super fun and easy to use these prompts at home or in your classroom, be sure to get our ad-free printable version of these kids writing prompt cards now available in my Etsy shop.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on different creative writing ideas and topics for kids to write about! Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Chelle Stein wrote her first embarrassingly bad novel at the age of 14 and hasn't stopped writing since. As the founder of ThinkWritten, she enjoys encouraging writers and creatives of all types.

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Printable Creative Writing Worksheets

In this summer writing prompt worksheet, children will imagine and describe a day spent in nature.

Elementary Assessments

27 Great Writing Activities for Elementary Students

Elementary school marks the formal beginning of students’ writing journey.

During this phase, teachers have a variety of exciting and engaging writing activities at their disposal to lay a strong foundation for writing skills.

These writing activities for elementary students not only set the stage for academic success but also equip students with invaluable skills applicable throughout their educational journey and beyond.

When designing your lessons for writer’s workshops, add some fun and creativity to students’ writing journeys by blending in some of these elementary writing activities that empower students to evolve as confident and skillful writers.

Writing Activities for Elementary Students

1. create a glossary..

Have your elementary students compile glossaries for specific topics or subjects.

This activity improves vocabulary acquisition and organization skills, as students define and explain terms in a clear and concise manner.

2. Write a Book Recommendation.

As your students to become mini literary critics as they write persuasive book recommendations.

By summarizing plots, discussing characters, and sharing personal insights, students practice the art of convincing others to read their favorite texts.

3. Make a Timeline.

Prompt your students to explore sequential writing by creating timelines of historical events or personal experiences.

Doing so will strengthen their ability to present information chronologically and to organize events coherently.

See more sequencing activities .

4. Create an Affirmations Book.

This activity involves elementary students writing affirmations that promote self-confidence and growth.

By writing affirmations and compiling them into a book, students engage with positive self-talk and self-reflection.

5. Do a Class Collaborative Story.

Teach students about story structure with this activity. Initiate a story chain where each student contributes a sentence to create a collective story. 

Related Content: Writing Prompts for Elementary Students

6. Write in Nature Journals.

Take students outdoors to observe nature, and then have them write journal entries describing what they saw, heard, and felt. 

7. Draft a Research Report.

Students will explore a favorite topic and research it.

By compiling information and presenting it in an organized manner, they learn to communicate their findings effectively.

See a list of research ideas and topics for elementary students .

8. Recall a Personal Experience.

Have your elementary students tap into their own experiences and memories, sharing personal stories that develop their narrative writing skills.

By describing events, emotions, and lessons learned, your young writers will practice expressing their experiences in a relatable and engaging way.

9. Summarize the Best Things.

Ask students to list and describe the “best things” in various categories, from favorite books to cherished memories. 

They will then summarize each list into one to three paragraphs.

10. Write a Story.

Ask students to draft their own stories.

Of all the elementary writing activities, this one seems most familiar to students.

That’s why it’s a great writing activity for all ages.

From fun adventures to everyday scenarios, students will develop their creativity, character development, and plot-building skills while engaging readers with their narratives.

11. Practice Descriptive Writing With Show and Tell.

Ask students to bring in a small item and then write a paragraph describing it in detail. 

12. Write Letters.

Elementary students will express their thoughts, feelings, and ideas effectively through personal or persuasive letters.

Whether writing to a friend, family member, or fictional character, students will use the power of words to connect and communicate while practicing the conventions of letter format.

Fun Writing Activities for Elementary Students

13. write friendly letters to book characters..

Encourage conversational writing by inviting students to write letters to their favorite book characters, expressing their thoughts, asking questions, and/or giving advice. 

14. Share a Recipe.

Integrate writing with real-life skills by asking students to write recipes for their favorite dishes.

They may want to compile all of their recipes into a cookbook as a literacy keepsake.

15. Make Top 10 Lists.

Prompt students to create “Top 10” lists related to various topics, such as favorite books, places, or hobbies.

Afterward, they will summarize why these items are on their Top 10 list.

16. Create Your Own Superhero.

Ask students to invent their own superhero or character with special powers. They will write origin stories, describing their character’s background and adventures.

17. Design a Guide.

In this engaging activity that helps students practice giving clear directions and interesting facts, elementary students step into the shoes of a guide.

They will write descriptive and informative texts that lead readers through a chosen location, event, or topic.

This may be in the form of a how-to guide or manual.

18. Design a Menu.

Immerse students in the culinary world by having them design menus.

Using enticing descriptions, your elementary students will practice using descriptive language to make food options appear more attractive to consumers.

19. Create a Comic Strip Creation .

Provide templates for comic strips and encourage students to create their own stories using dialogue and illustrations.

20. Prepare Historical Character Interviews.

Assign students a historical figure to research , and then have them write interview-style conversations between themselves and the historical character.

Creative Writing Activities for Elementary Students

The following elementary writing activities stretch students’ imaginations and encourage them to think outside the box.

21. Write Using Story Stones .

Have students create a set of story stones with pictures or words on them.

They will select a few stones at random and use them as inspiration to create an original story.

22. Publish a Mini Book.

Have students write and illustrate their own mini-books on various topics.

They can bind their creations, feeling proud of their accomplishment as a book author.

23. Create Text for Wordless Picture Books.

This activity, perfect for elementary-aged students, encourages them to interpret visual cues and create their own narratives.

Provide wordless picture books and ask students to write their own stories based on the illustrations. 

24. Create a New Ending.

After reading a story or book, challenge students to come up with a different ending and explain their reasoning. 

25. Make Personal Narrative Collages.

Have students create collages using images from magazines, and then write personal narratives based on the collages. 

26. Compose Rhyming Poems.

Encourage your students to explore poetry through rhyming.

Ask them to write short poems using rhyming words to express their thoughts or tell stories in a rhythmic manner.

27. Create a Book of Poems.

This activity also invites elementary students to explore poetry.

Whether composing individual poems or a series, students will experiment with composing different poetic forms and themes, strengthening their figurative language skills. 

Consider hosting a poetry open mic day so that students can share their creations with classmates, friends, and family.

Final Thoughts On Elementary Writing Activities

Utilizing these creative and engaging writing activities for elementary students, you’ll make writing a fun and educational experience for young learners.

Creative Writing

It starts with an idea, and moves from writing words and sentences to poems, paragraphs, and stories. Here are lesson ideas, strategies, and tools to boost kids’ creative writing skills, including reading response pages, writing prompts, templates, graphic organizers, worksheets, and activities for writing narratives, poems, and collaborative books.

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Teaching Creative Writing – What is it, How to Tech it & FREE Prompts for kids!

Looking to help kids improve their writing skills? Practice is the key. Let us help take the work out of writing by giving children a plethora of fun  creative writing ideas   to make writing fun! These free printable  creative writing prompts come in the form of worksheets, monthly writing prompts, writing topic calendars, and more. Use these creative writing  topics with elementary age students from kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, and 6th grade students!

Writing prompts for kids

Welcome to the world of creative writing for kids ! Teaching creative writing   can be an exciting and rewarding experience. You have the opportunity to unlock the imagination and creativity of your children and to help them develop their language and literacy skills. This post will explore what is creative writing and the many benefits of cultivating creative writing skills . We will also provide tips and strategies for teaching this important subject plus writing prompts for kids . In fact, we have over 5000 pages of FREE writing prompts to practice.  So, whether you’re a classroom teacher or a homeschool mom, we invite you to join us on this journey of discovery and inspiration. Let’s dive into the topic of creative writing!

Creative writing for kids

Unlock the imagination of your students with the power of creative writing! Learn the many benefits of creative writing for children and get tips and strategies for teaching it. Click through to read our comprehensive guide and inspire your students’ creativity! Includes hundreds of FREE writing prompts.

Scroll to the bottom of the post so see a thumnail of our entire collection of free writing prompts for kids ! We have thousands and thousands of free printables. Click on the title or pictures to go to the post page. On that page you can easily print by scrolling to the bottom of the post, under the terms of use, and click on the text link that says >> ___________<<. The pdf  file will open in a new window for you to save your freebie. Now print off  the pages.

What is Creative Writing?

Creative writing is a form of writing that allows the writer to express their imagination, thoughts, and feelings through the written word. It can include poetry, short stories, comic strips, plays, and personal narratives. Creative writing allows young people to express their ideas in new and exciting ways while developing an understanding of language.

Creative Writing Skills

Improving language and literacy skills.

Creative writing can help children improve their language and literacy skills in a number of ways.

• Building vocabulary: As children tell their stories and write poetry, they will be exposed to new words and phrases. It is an easy way to expand vocabulary and improve their understanding of word meanings.
• Grammar: As children write, they must draw on their knowledge of grammar. Grammer is best learned by using it in writing. By experimenting with sentence structure and going through the revision process, children can improve their grammatical skills.
• Sentence Structure: Writing creatively allows children to experiment with different sentence structures. This can help them to understand how to use words to convey meaning and make their writing more interesting.

Encouraging Creativity And Self-Expression

Creative writing helps children develop their imagination and creativity. It invites children to explore new worlds and think about things in new and different ways.

Sometimes children have difficulty vocalizing their thoughts and feelings. Writing offers the opportunity for them to express these ideas in a safe and supportive environment. This kind of writing also provides the perfect avenue for exploring their inner world.

Builds Confidence

As children see their writing improve, they will feel a sense of accomplishment and pride in their work. This can lead to an increase in self-esteem and self-worth.

This kind of writing naturally encourages children to experiment and explore without worrying about making mistakes. Children who feel confident in their abilities are more likely to take creative risks and try new things.

Enhances Critical Thinking Skills

Creative writing prompts children to think critically and devise innovative solutions to problems they encounter in their writing. It also requires children to analyze and evaluate different elements of a story, such as characters, plot, and setting.

As they write, children will experiment with different forms, styles, and ideas and be encouraged to think outside the box.

Boosting Emotional Intelligence

Creative writing allows children to express and explore their emotions in a safe and supportive environment. Children can better understand and identify those emotions by writing about their character’s feelings.

It also allows children to take on different perspectives and understand the emotions of others. Children can learn to see things from other’s perspectives and develop empathy by writing from different characters’ points of view.

How to Teach Kids to Write

Starting with creative writing can be easy and fun for children at the primary school level. Here are a few steps you can take to get started:

• Give children time to write: Set aside time in your schedule for children to write, and encourage them to continue their writing outside of classroom time.
• Encourage children to brainstorm ideas: Give children the freedom to think of their own ideas and topics for writing. Ask open-ended questions and encourage them to think creatively.
• Provide a variety of writing prompts: You will find a great list of resources at the bottom of this post. Please make use of them.

• Use Visual prompts: Things like pictures, videos, and graphics can help children generate ideas and stimulate their imagination. Try this photograph , or this vintage illustration . The Graphic Fairy website has thousands of images that. Imagine what stories might come from these illustrations of children in bird’s nests .
• Use Interesting props. I once got a class of children writing by passing around an old vintage key. We talked about where it might have come from. What did it unlock? What stories could it tell? The stories that came from that key were incredible. Children have amazing imaginations. It only takes one small prop to get them working.
• Share and celebrate their writing: Share children’s writing with friends and family and celebrate their accomplishments. Encourage children to read their writing aloud and give positive feedback.
• Lastly, make it fun: Encourage children to have fun with their writing. Please encourage them to experiment with different forms of writing, such as poetry, short stories, journaling, comic strips , and plays.

How to Teach a Child to Write

Here is a step-by-step process for children to follow when engaging in creative writing:

Brainstorming and Planning

• Think of an idea: Encourage children to take some time to think about what they want to write about. Here’s where you might use writing or visual prompts. Help them brainstorm.
• Make a plan: Once they have an idea, it can be helpful to make a plan. This could include making a list of characters, settings, and events or brainstorming a list of words related to a poem. A storyboard can be a helpful tool. This post explains how to use one and provides a free template .

Writing and Editing

• Start Writing: Invite children to start writing using the plan they made. Explain that this is just a draft. No one else will see it. Encourage them not to worry about making mistakes and have fun writing.
• Take a break: After writing for a while, it can be helpful for children to take a break and come back to it later with fresh eyes.
• Revise and edit: Read through what you have written and make changes to improve it. They can add more details, change words, or delete sentences that don’t make sense.
• When they are happy with it, they can make a final draft.

Sharing Your Work

• Share the work: Encourage children to share their writing with a friend or family member.
• Keep writing: Invite children to keep writing, experimenting, and having fun with different forms and styles of writing. Explain that the more they write, the better they’ll become at it.

Creative Writing Worksheets

Teaching creative writing can unlock your child’s potential as a writer while providing them with an enjoyable learning experience. We hope this post has inspired you with fresh ideas to help unlock that creativity! Creative writing takes practice, but any student can unlock their full potential with patience and encouragement! So what are you waiting for? Download our free writing prompts today and help your child flourish as a writer!

Creative Writing Ideas

The most important thing is to give kids lots of opporunity to write, almost every day. It will strengthen their hand muscles, practice spelling, teach kids how to put words together to make sentences, paragraphs, and complete thoughts, and so much more!

Free Writing Prompts

We have TONS of free printable writing prompts for elementary age studnets to choose from! You can pick writing prompts based on type, topic, month, or seasonal holiday!

• Roll a Story Free Printable , Caption this picture writing prompts , let’s make a scene movie worksheets , and 5 W Questions Worksheet pack
• On the Farm Writing Prompts , free Farm Writing Prompts with ruled lines and pictures to color
• FREE Printable Community helpers writing activity kindergarten , Opinion Writing Kindergarten Printables Free, 100th day of school activity writing craft
• All About My Pet Free Printable Writing Activity and Dinosaur Writing Prompts
• FREE Printable kindergarten writing paper pdf , free describing words worksheet , and printable kindergarten writing prompts with pictures
• Unicorn Writing Prompts , free Lego Writing Ideas , creative FREE Printable Whale Worksheets
• Jungle Animals Creative Writing about Animals , Fairty Tale Writing Templates pdf , try Pattern Writing
• Mother’s Day Writing Prompts for Kindergarten , FREE Pineapple Writing , Pet Adoption Persuasive Writing Activity
• Star Wars Writing Prompts , Fun Writing Prompts for Kids pdf , Handy, FREE Printable COPS writing checklist

Seasonal / Monthly Writing Prompts

• ❄️️ Kindergarten Winter Writing Prompts pdf , free Winter Writing Prompts Kindergarten , Free Winter Writing Worksheets for Kindergartners, Snowman Winter Writing Prompts pdf , Handwriting Copywork with Winter Quotes .
• 💌 Valentines Day Valentine’s Day Letter Template , free February Writing Calendar , Free February Writing Prompts Kindergarten , 💋 February Writing Prompts with ruled lines
• 🍀 March Journal Prompts with ruled lines, March Writing Prompts Calendar
• 🌺 Spring Writing Prompts Calendar, Spring Kindergarten Writing Prompts , April Writing Prompts Kindergarten with ruled lines, Lego Writing Prompts for April, April Writing Prompts 3rd Grade Calendar, April Writing Prompts Calendar
• 🌳 May Writing Prompts with ruled lines, May Writing Prompts 2nd Grade Calendar
• 🔆 Summer Writing Prompts with ruled lines, Lego Build and Tell Summer Writing Prompts , June Writing Prompts Calendar, Build and Write Lego Writing Prompts for Summer
• 🍎 September Writing Prompts 3rd Grade , September Writing Prompts with ruled lines
• 🎃 Columbus Day FREE Printables with ruled lines, October Writing Prompts 2nd Grade with ruled lines, Simple Halloween Writign Prompts , October Writing Prompts Kindergarten Calendar, BINGO October Writing Prompts Challenge for Kids
• 🦃 Fall Writing Prompts with word bank, November Writing Prompts 2nd Grade with ruled lines, Thanksgiving Writing Prompts . Thanksgiving Writing Prompts
• 🎄 Christmas Writing Prompts , December Writing Prompts 2nd Grade , Christmas Elf Writing Prompts , Free Printable Christmas Stationary , December Writing Prompts 2nd Grade

225 Fun & Free Creative Writing Prompts for Kids in All Grade Levels

Written by Maria Kampen

Prodigy English is here! Get your students playing — and learning — today.

• Teacher Resources
• Prodigy English
• Elementary school writing prompts

Middle school writing prompts

High school writing prompts.

• Social emotional learning jounal prompts
• Math writing prompts

Writing prompts are meant to unlock creativity. They’re story starters designed to inspire creative thinking. They can take you to places you’ve been or recall an important time in your life. 

But mostly, they’re useful tools for teachers to inspire writing growth in students from grade school to high school.

“Once upon a time, in a land far, far away…”

It’s amazing how one simple sentence can send you on a journey to places you’ve never been, filled with untold possibilities. 

Reading is great, but you know what’s even better? Giving your students the power to write stories for themselves. 

Writing prompts for kids help students:

• Express themselves and their creativity
• Grasp lifelong literacy skills and concepts
• Tell their own stories and build self-confidence
• Develop a growth mindset when it comes to their writing skills

Writing is like a muscle — it takes practice to build up skills. Luckily, we put together a list of over 200 writing prompts to help your students get started. We’ve also organized them by middle school, high school and elementary school to help teachers decide whether these prompts are age-appropriate for their students.

Grade school writing prompts

Grade schoolers can definitely begin to address complex ideas when it comes to story writing — but you should seek to keep the prompts simple and straightforward. 

Reluctant writers might be intimidated by complicated writing ideas — and this is an age where we should be encouraging creativity.

Creative writing prompts for elementary schoolers

Whether it’s exploring the furthest reaches of outer space, traveling across the Sahara desert or sticking a little closer to home, these creative writing prompts will have students imagining endless possibilities for their writing.

• Write about what your life would be like if you turned into a squirrel. What would you do every day?
• A strange spaceship just crashed and landed in your backyard. What happens next?
• Make up a story about where thunder comes from.
• You find an old notebook hidden in an attic. What does it say? Who did it belong to?
• You have a magic garden. What magical plants do you grow? How do you take care of them?
• Write a story about running away with the circus when it comes to town.
• Rewrite “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” from the perspective of one of the dwarfs (Happy, Sleepy, Dopey, Doc, Grumpy, Sneezy and Bashful).
• There once was a little boy who ate nothing but oranges. What happened to him?
• Write a story about a magical hat. Where is it from? What does it do? What does it look like?
• You’re exploring the rainforest and come across a flower that no one’s ever seen before. Describe it!
• Tell me a story about a dinosaur living a long, long time ago.
• Tell me a story about an astronaut visiting another planet. Where are they going? How do they get there? What do they take with them?
• You discover a magic portal in the park. Where does it lead to?
• Pick a partner and write a story together! Start by writing the first sentence, then pass it to your partner to write the second sentence.
• You find buried treasure in the park, hidden in a big wooden chest. What kind of treasure is it? Who left it there?
• Write a story about a family that can travel in time. 
• Write a story without using the letter “E”.
• Write the funniest story you can think of. 
• There’s a kangaroo in your classroom. How did it get there? What happens when you find it?
• Write a story about an explorer who keeps getting lost. Where are they trying to go? What do they find along the way?
• Write a story about a wooden door, a can of soda and a blue shoe.
• If there was a magical portal in the back of your closet, where would it lead to? 
• Finish this story: There was a knock on the door. I opened it to find a dog sitting there, and…
• You come home and find that everything in your house is upside down. What happened?
• Describe the color “red” without using the word “red”.
• There’s an old, abandoned house at the end of your street that’s been empty for years. One day, someone moves in.
• Rewrite the story of Cinderella from the perspective of the stepsisters.  
• Write a backstory for Ed, the orange Prodigy mascot. 
• You wake up one morning and find a mermaid in your bathtub. How did they get there? What do you do?
• Write a story about a monster looking for some friends. 
• Oh no — your balloon blew away! Write about what happens from the balloon’s perspective. 
• You and your friends are out for a walk when, out of nowhere, your friends start disappearing! What’s going on?
• Once upon a time, an old inventor built a weather machine. It sat undiscovered for years — until you found it. What happens next?
• You just ate a cookie that turned you 15 feet tall. What do you do next?

Fun writing prompts for grade schoolers

Everyday life is full of great inspiration for writing! Get students thinking with these easy and fun writing prompts.Write about something you are good at. 

• If you could write a book about anything, what would you write about?
• If you could have any animal as a pet, what would it be and why?
• Do you have a favorite animal? Tell me all about it! Why do you like it?
• What would you do if you woke up one morning and everything was pink — including you?
• What food can you not live without? Why?
• If you could add any class to your school schedule, what would it be?
• Invent a new day of the week. What is it called? When is it? What do people usually do on that day of the week?
• If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? 
• If you could spend a Saturday doing anything you wanted, what adventures would you get up to?
• If you could have any wild animal as a pet, what would you choose? Why?
• What's your favorite, wacky food?
• Where is your favorite place to read? Why?
• What was the coolest day of school for you? What made it exciting?
• Which of your toys do you wish could talk? What would they say?
• If you could only wear one outfit for the rest of your life, what would it look like?
• Invent a machine to do a chore for you. What does the machine do? What does it look like?
• What's your favorite season? What makes it the best?
• What is your favorite math game and why?
• Describe your real-life superpower.
• Finish the story: When I'm older I want to be an expert in…
• If pets could talk to each other, what would they say?
• If you were the captain of a ship, what would you call your ship? What would it look like? Where would you go?
• If your pet could talk to you, what do you think it would say?
• If you were the only person on earth for one day, what would you do?
• Plan the perfect birthday party for yourself. 
• What is your favorite thing to do over summer break?
• Describe your ideal birthday cake. 
• If you could add any type of room to your house, what would it be?
• What’s your favorite movie and why?

Persuasive writing prompts for elementary school

Are your students’ opinions up for debate? Ask them to flex their critical thinking skills with these persuasive writing prompts. Once they’re done, get class discussion flowing with a spirited debate!

• Write a letter convincing your parents to let you get a pet dog. What arguments do you use to persuade them?
• Convince your teacher that you should be allowed an extra 15 minutes of recess.
• Convince your best friend to read your favorite book.
• How would you convince someone to do your chores for you?
• Write a commercial for your favorite breakfast food. What would convince someone else to try it?
• What flavor of chips is the best? Why?
• What would make a better pet — a monkey or a peacock?
• Do you think children should be allowed to stay up as late as they want?
• What’s your favorite holiday and why should it be everyone’s favorite? 
• Convince us that your favorite food should be a staple in everyone’s diet.

As students enter middle school, they’re starting to feel like bigger, older kids. They can start writing original short stories and abstract persuasive essays. 

It’s best to inspire creativity at this age and encourage them to explore their own voice and different writing styles. These prompts will definitely go a long way in inspiring that.

Creative Writing Prompts for Middle Schoolers

• Invent a new type of transportation for the future. Who uses it? Where does it go?
• If you had a time machine, where would you visit first — the past or the future? Why?
• You get on the bus and find a four-piece jazz band giving a concert. What do you do?
• Design and name your own Prodigy pet . What element are they? What’s their special power?
• Finish this story: “Something just touched my foot,” they shouted, swimming frantically towards the shore. 
• Write a silly or scary story to tell around a campfire. 
• Finish this story: Everything was going so well today — until I tripped and fell, right in front of…
• Throughout your adventures as a pirate on the high seas, you’ve seen lots of strange and magical creatures. Which one was the most interesting?
• Deep in the heart of a dark and mysterious cave, there lies a magic stone. Write about your quest to find it. 
• Write an acrostic poem using the word “strawberry.”
• There was an old woman who lived in a shoe. She knit and she baked, but what else did she do?
• Finish this story: “One thing I’ll never do again,” she said, “Is go on vacation with an alpaca.”
• Make up a new planet and describe it. 
• Write a story about a family of penguins living on an iceberg.
• Write a story about a girl who can walk through walls. 
• You’ve been invited to a ball at the Queen’s palace! What is it like?
• Imagine you’re exploring the Amazon jungle. Write a diary entry about your day.
• If you could invent a TV show, what would it be about?
• You discovered an underwater kingdom! What is it like there?
• A lonely trumpet player makes friends with the dancer who lives next door. What happens next?
• You go to the park to fly a kite, but get carried away by the wind! What happens next?
• Write a story about a volcano that’s about to erupt.
• Write a story about visiting an old lady who lives deep in the woods.
• Boom, you’re a superhero! Give yourself an origin story, describe your superpowers and plan what you’ll do to make the world a better place. 
• Write a story using these six words: calendar, headphones, lipstick, mug, bear.
• You wake up to find you’re invisible. How did it happen? What do you do?
• There’s been a robbery at the bank, and you’re in charge of finding the culprit. How do you solve the case?
• Finish the story: Once upon a time, there was a dragon...
• You just joined a super-secret spy organization. What’s your first mission?
• Write a story about being cold without using the word “cold.”
• You’re a scientist and you’ve just discovered a new type of bug. Describe what it looks like, where it’s from and what you’re going to call it. 
• Imagine a world where all the birds can talk. What would they say?
• Write about what happens after the end of your favorite book or movie.
• Finish the story: She sprinted down the driveway to the mailbox. The package was here!
• You’re on a hike and a bird starts talking to you. What do you do? What does it say?
• Write a story using these five words: bubblegum, stapler, spoon, lightbulb, strawberry.
• You ate a magical carrot and your skin turned orange! What happens next?
• Write about what it would be like if you had an elephant for a pet.

Fun Writing Prompts for Middle Schoolers

• If you were in charge of the classroom for a day, what would your class do?
• Tell me about the last dream you had.
• You’re trapped on a desert island. What three things did you bring with you and why?
• What mythical creature would you like to have as a pet? Why?
• Invent a new type of pasta. What does it look like? What does it taste like?
• If you could go on vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go? Make a plan and tell the story of your dream vacation.
• Plan the perfect picnic. Where would it be? What food would you have?
• If you could decorate your bedroom any way you wanted, what would it look like?
• Write a story that sounds loud, using onomatopoeia (words that sound like their meaning, like crash, snort, bang and boom.)
• Invent a new type of cookie. What does it taste like?
• Invent a new sport. What is it called? What are the rules?
• How would you disguise yourself to blend in with a forest?
• You just won a special award from the president. What did you do to earn that award?
• Do you collect anything? What is it and why? If not, what would you like to collect?
• You just found a genie in a bottle. What three things would you wish for? (Remember, no wishing for extra wishes!
• Explain how to play your favorite sport or do your favorite hobby. Make it as exciting as possible!
• Describe the most beautiful sunrise or sunset you’ve ever seen.
• If you could live in any book or movie, which one would you choose and why?
• Imagine that you’re going on a camping trip. What do you pack to make sure the trip is fun?
• If you could invent a robot to do any chore, what chore would it be? How would the robot do it?
• Would you rather it was always raining, or always snowing?
• Imagine you’re a toy inventor. What will you create?
• Would you rather climb to the top of a mountain or go scuba diving?
• Interview a family member about their childhood, then write it as a story.
• What was your favorite toy growing up — why was it so special to you?

Persuasive Writing Prompts for Middle School

• If you could change one thing about your school, what would it be and why?
• Is it better to read the book before you watch the movie, or watch the movie before you read the book?
• Persuade someone to try out your favorite hobby or sport.
• What’s the best way to try and persuade a friend to do what you want to do?
• When is peer pressure good? When is peer pressure bad?
• Is it better to have lots of friends, or just a few really good friends?
• Should students be in charge of what they learn in school?

High school students can either be tasked with more complex writing prompts or breathe nuance into simple story ideas. Students can drive these prompts in a million different ways.

So while not necessarily more complicated than middle school, these prompts can be tweaked, either by the student or teacher, to encourage thought-provoking output.

Creative Writing Prompts for High Schoolers

• Write a story about someone your age who lives on the other side of the world. 
• Pick up the nearest book and turn to page 7. Close your eyes and point to a random word on the page, then write a story about that word.
• Write a story in ten words or less.
• You fell asleep for 100 years. What does the world look like when you wake up?
• Finish the story: “This isn’t what I hoped would happen,” she said….
• You’re walking down the street when you see someone who looks exactly like you.
• Write a story where the main character learns something new about themselves.
• Write a story that takes place in the desert. 
• Write a story about a day where everything seems to go wrong. 
• Write a poem about the color blue.
• How would your life be different if you didn’t have access to a computer, video games or your phone?

Fun writing prompts for high schoolers

• You win a million dollars, but there’s a catch — you have to spend it all in 24 hours, or you lose all the money. What do you do?
• Write about something you or your family does from the perspective of someone from another country.
• If you could make up a new holiday, when would it be and what would it celebrate?
• Go out on a nature walk and find a tree. Write the story of that tree, from the time it was a seed until now.
• What’s the most boring superpower you can think of? How would it be useful?
• If you could pass any law, what would it be?
• You meet yourself in the future, as a grown-up at age 35 — what do you talk about? 
• If you had to show aliens the most important/best things in the world, what would you show them?
• Who is your hero and why?
• Write about the best surprise you ever got. 
• What are three good things you can do for the environment? How can you encourage the people around you to do good things for the environment?
• What is your earliest memory? Write down as many details as you can remember.
• If you could take two people – real or fictional – on a cross-country road trip, who would you take? Where would you go?
• If you could have any job in the world tomorrow, what would you do?
• What is the best thing about living in your city or neighbourhood?
• Write a letter to your 30-year-old self. What do you think you’ll accomplish by then?
• Teach me how to make your favorite recipe.
• Describe the sound of your favorite song using descriptive words.

Persuasive writing prompts for high school

• Should kids be allowed to use social media unsupervised? Why or why not?
• Persuade someone to start a healthy habit, or get rid of a bad one.
• Should all single-use plastics be outlawed? Why or why not?
• Should our school have a dress code? Why or why not?
• Is it more important to be right or to not hurt someone else’s feelings?
• What important historical figure do you think belongs on the ten-dollar bill?
• Do you think you’re born with your personality traits, or do you gain them as you grow up?
• Should mobile apps be responsible for protecting your privacy — why or why not?

Social emotional learning journal prompts

School is about more than just books and quizzes — it’s about preparing students for the rest of their lives. Social emotional learning teaches them how to build good relationships with peers, understand and control their emotions and make healthy life decisions.

Journaling is a great way for students to reflect on their feelings in a safe, private space. Use these journaling prompts as thought starters for more social emotional learning!

Check out our list of the 25 best social emotional learning activities for students here. 

• Tell me about a tradition you have with your family or friends. 
• What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?
• Have you ever found something that you lost? How did you feel when you found it?
• What is something you haven’t learned this school year that you’re still wondering about?
• What do you do when you’re angry? Write about three ways you calm yourself down.
• Where do you feel the safest? Why do you feel safe there?
• Write a poem to make a friend happy.
• When was the last time you were kind to someone? How can you be kind to someone today?
• How are you feeling today? Are you happy, sad, excited or anxious?
• If you could give your best friend a present, what would it be?
• What are the qualities you look for in a friend? Why is it important to be a good friend?
• What does responsibility mean to you?
• Who do you talk to when you’re worried about something? How do they make you feel better?
• If you could make a card for anyone in your life, who would it be for and what would it say?
• What’s your favorite thing about yourself?
• Write about a time you had to make a hard decision. How did you make your decision?
• What do you do to make yourself happy when you’re sad?
• Write about a time you were disappointed. 
• What are three things that make your best friend awesome?
• What do you think empathy means? Why is it important?
• How can you cheer up a friend who is sad?
• What makes you a good friend? How can you be a better friend?
• What’s the best piece of advice a friend, parent or teacher has ever given you?
• Write three goals for the rest of the school year. How are you going to accomplish them?
• What does responsibility mean to you? What are you responsible for at school and at home?
• What person in your life makes you feel confident?
• What scares you? How can you overcome your fears?
• Tell me about a time when you tried something new. How did it feel? Did you do it again?

Math writing prompts for kids

Whether it’s tackling word problems or explaining a new concept, writing is a surprisingly good tool for the math classroom. 

A math journal can help you understand what students already know, while giving them space to work through tricky concepts on their own. Use these writing prompts to promote literacy in every subject — and help students avoid math anxiety .

• Tell me everything you know about ________.
• Explain, in words, how to solve this problem.
• What is and isn’t true about this situation?
• What is _______?
• Explain two different ways to solve this problem. Which one is better?
• What did you get correct in this problem?
• What mistakes did you make while solving this problem?
• What do you not understand about _____?
• Write a word problem using the concept we’re learning about. 
• What did you learn today?
• How do you use math in your everyday life?
• What is the easiest/hardest part of math class?
• What discoveries did you make in math class today?

Final thoughts on writing prompts for kids

Writing prompts aren’t the end of the story — they’re just the beginning. Encourage your students to build a regular writing practice, and soon you’ll see the benefits in every class. 

Where will your students’ imaginations take them?

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Eight Free Creative Writing Lessons

February 17, 2012 by Ami 17 Comments

I know I throw around the word favorite all the time. But this is the truth: teaching creative writing lessons is my favorite. 

I have taught creative writing enrichment for summer school students. I have taught creative writing in various homeschool settings and co-ops. I have taught big students and little students. And I love it. 

Since I love to share homeschool co-op class ideas , I have compiled the creative writing lessons from a co-op class that I taught. 

Creative Writing Lessons for a Homeschool Co-op Class

First, please remember that any teacher can use these creative writing lessons. You don’t need to be teaching homeschoolers. You can be a classroom teacher or a homeschool teacher at home with one student. You can even be a librarian who needs a fun program series.

Second, I used these creative writing lesson plans with upper elementary students (with maybe a few 7th graders thrown in). However, you can adapt and use them for older students or younger students!

Creative Writing Lesson Plans

Creative writing lesson one.

The first lesson focuses on cliché and metaphor. It prompts students to consider how words matter.

Grab lesson one here .

Creative Writing Lesson Two

The second lesson teaches students about sensory details: why they are important and how to include them in their writing. Students will begin using sensory details to evoke smells and sounds and sights.

Grab lesson two here.

Creative Writing Lesson Three

The third lesson introduces showing vs. telling. Students learn how to recognize authors who utilize showing, and students are able to articulate the difference between showing and telling.

Grab lesson three here.

Creative Writing Lesson Four

The fourth lesson teaches students how to capture images. We use examples of poetry and prose to discuss this important writing skill.

Grab lesson four here.

Creative Writing Lesson Five

The fifth lesson introduces the story elements of character and conflict.

Note: You may choose to split this lesson into two lessons since it covers two big elements. I only had nine weeks with my students, so I had to jam character and conflict together.

Grab lesson five here.

Creative Writing Lesson Six

The sixth lesson introduces the students to point of view and perspective. We have fun reading poems and using pictures to write descriptions from different points of view.

Grab lesson six here.

Creative Writing Lesson Seven

The seventh lesson puts everything we’ve learned together. I read the students some fractured fairy tales, and we watch some, too. Students then use the prewriting activities and their imaginations to begin drafting their own fractured fairy tales.

Grab lesson seven here.

Creative Writing Lesson Eight

The eighth lesson focuses on revision. After a mini-lesson, students partner up for peer editing.

Grab lesson eight here .

For our final class day, students bring revised work, and I host coffee shop readings. This is a memorable experience for students (and their teacher).

Creative Writing Lessons FAQ

Since posting these creative writing lessons, I have had lots of questions. I decided to compile them here in case you have the same question.

Q: What are copywork quotes? A: Copywork quotes are simply great quotes that students copy as part of their homework assignments. You can use any quotes about writing. I’ve included my favorites throughout the printable packs.

Q: Can I use this with a younger or older student? A: Absolutely! Just adapt it to meet the needs of your student.

Q: Can I use this for my library’s programming or my homeschool co-op class? A: Yes! I just ask that it not be used for profit.

Do you have any questions about teaching creative writing? What’s your biggest hang-up when it comes to teaching creative writing? I’d love to hear from you and help you solve the issue.

January 7, 2016 at 1:57 pm

Hi Theresa,

As long as you are not profitting from using them, they are yours to use! Enjoy! Wish I could be there to help facilitate all those young writers! 

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Creative Writing Worksheets

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55 Creative Writing Activities and Exercises

Have you ever heard these questions or statements from your students?

• I don’t know where to begin.
• How can I make my story interesting?
• I’m just not creative.
• What should my story be about?

If so, you won’t want to miss these creative writing activities. 

What Are Creative Writing Activities?

Activities that teach creative writing serve as drills to exercise your student’s writing muscle. When used effectively, they help reluctant writers get past that intimidating blank paper and encourage the words to flow. 

When I think of creative writing exercises , writing prompts immediately come to mind. And, yes, writing from a prompt is certainly an example of a creative writing activity (a highly effective one). 

However, writing prompts are only one way to teach creative writing. Other types of activities include games, collaboration with others, sensory activities, and comic strip creation to name a few.

Unlike writing assignments, creative writing activities aren’t necessarily meant to create a perfectly polished finished project. 

Instead, they serve as more of a warmup and imagination boost.

Picture-based writing exercises are especially fun. You can download one for free below!

get this picture prompt printable for free!

How to use creative writing exercises effectively.

When teaching creative writing , the most effective exercises inspire and engage the student. 

Remember that worn-out prompt your teacher probably hauled out every year? 

“What I Did This Summer…” 

Cue the groaning. 

Instead of presenting your student with lackluster topics like that one, let’s talk about ways to engage and excite them. 

For Kids or Beginners

Early writers tend to possess misconceptions about writing. Many picture sitting down for hours straight, polishing a story from beginning to end. 

Even for experienced writers, this is next-to-impossible to do. It’s preconceived ideas like these that overwhelm and discourage students before they’ve even started. 

Instead of assigning an essay to complete, start with simple, short writing exercises for elementary students such as:

• Creating comic strips using a template
• Talking out loud about a recent dream
• Writing a poem using rhyming words you provide
• Creating an acrostic from a special word

Creative writing exercises don’t have to end in a finished piece of work. If the exercise encouraged creative thinking and helped the student put pen to paper, it’s done its job. 

For Middle School

Creative writing activities for middle school can be a little more inventive. They now have the fundamental reading and writing skills to wield their words properly. 

Here are some ideas for middle school writing exercises you can try at home:

• Creating Mad Lib-style stories by changing out nouns, verbs, and adjectives in their favorite tales
• Storyboarding a short film
• Writing a family newsletter
• Creating crossword puzzles

For High School 

Your high school student may be starting to prepare for college essays and other important creative writing assignments. 

It’s more critical than ever for her to exercise her writing skills on a regular basis. 

One great way to keep your high schooler’s mind thinking creatively is to have her make “listicles” of tips or facts about something she’s interested in already. 

Another fun and effective creative writing exercise for high school is to have your student retell classic stories with a twist. 

List of 55 Creative Writing Activities for Students of All Ages

No matter what age range your students may be, I think you’ll find something that suits their personality and interests in this list of creative writing ideas. Enjoy! 

• Using only the sense of hearing, describe your surroundings. 
• Write a paragraph from your shoes’ point of view. How do they view the world? What does a “day in the life of a shoe” look like?
• Imagine what the world will be like in 200 years. Describe it. 
• Write a letter to someone you know who moved away. What has he or she missed? Should he or she move back? Why? 
• Make up an imaginary friend. What does he or she look like? What does he or she like to do?
• Create a story about a person you know. Use as many details as possible.
• Write a poem that describes a place you have been.
• Soak up the season you’re in with seasonal creative writing prompts. Here are some ideas for fall and winter .
• Write a song where each line starts with the next letter in the alphabet. 
• Create a list of words related to something you love.
• Write a short story based on a true event in your life.
• Rewrite a chapter of your favorite book from the antagonist’s point of view. 
• Write a letter to your future self. What do you want to make sure you remember?
• Go on a five-senses scavenger hunt. Find three items for each sense. Create a story using the items you found. 
• Create a story around an interesting picture ( try these fun picture writing prompts! )
• Find an ad in a magazine or elsewhere and rewrite the description to convince people NOT to buy the advertised item.
• Write a story using the last word of each sentence as the first word of the next.
• Describe everything you’re sensing right now, using all five senses.
• Write a list of animals A to Z with a one-sentence description of each one. Feel free to include imaginary animals.
• Design your dream room in detail.
• Write a script of yourself interviewing a famous person. Include his or her answers.
• Describe what high school would be like if you lived on the moon. What would you be learning about? How would you be learning it?
• Describe a day in the life of a famous person in history. Include both mundane and exciting details of things they may have experienced on a normal day.
• Pick up something on a bookshelf or end table nearby. Now write a commercial script for it to convince your audience that they absolutely must own this thing.
• Plan a birthday party for your best friend. Describe the decorations, food, and everything else.
• Write a very short story about three siblings fighting over a toy. Now rewrite it twice, each time from a different character’s perspective.
• Tell a story from the point of view of a pigeon on a city street.
• Create a menu for a deli you’ll be opening soon. Name each sandwich after something or someone in real life and list the fillings and type of bread.
• Pretend you just became famous for something. Write 3 exciting newspaper headlines about the topic or reason behind your newfound fame.
• Keep a one-line-a-day journal. Every day, write down one thought or sentence about something that happened that day or how you felt about the day.
• Have you ever had a nightmare? Write what happened but with a new ending where everything turns out okay (perhaps the monster was your dad in a costume, preparing to surprise you at your birthday party).
• Write a “tweet” about something that happened to you recently, using only 140 characters. 
• Take an important event in your life or the life of someone in your family. Write one sentence answering each of the 6 journalistic questions: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How.
• Set a timer for 5 minutes and write nonstop, starting with the words “I remember.” If you get stuck, write “I remember” again until you get unstuck.
• Pick something you use often (a toothbrush, your desk, etc). Then tell the story of how it was invented. If you don’t know, make something up.
• Choose a princess or hero and write a one-paragraph story about him or her traveling to a distant land.
• Pretend you are a tour guide for a local attraction. It can be a library, a park, or a museum, but it could also be a place that wouldn’t normally hold tours (such as an arcade). Write a speech about what you tell your tour group as you walk around the attraction.
• Create a marketing brochure for your favorite activity or fun place to go.
• Make a list of 10 future story settings. Write one sentence describing each. For example, “ in the dark, musty cellar of my grandmother’s house, surrounded by dried-up jars of canned peaches… ”
• Make a list of foods included in a dinner party catered by the world’s worst cook, describing how each course looks, smells, and tastes. Include your reactions while eating it.
• Write out your own version of instructions for playing your favorite game.
• Pretend you’ve lost your sight for one night. Describe going out to eat at a restaurant, using smells, textures, and sounds to tell your story.
• Write a script for an interesting phone conversation in which the reader can only hear one side. 
• Tell the story of an object someone threw away from the perspective of the person who tossed it out. Then tell the story of that same object from the perspective of a person who finds it and deems it a treasure.
• List your 3 least favorite chores. Pick one and write a one paragraph detailing why you can’t possibly complete that chore ever again.
• Write an excerpt from your dog’s diary (pretend he keeps one).
• Write the script for a movie trailer—real or imagined.
• Create an acrostic for a holiday of your choice. 
• Pretend you’re the master of a role-playing game, describing a sticky situation in which the other players now find themselves. Describe the scenario in writing.
• Compose a funny or dramatic caption for a photo.
• Parents, place a textured object in a box without letting your student see it. Have him or her reach in, touch the object, and then describe how it feels.
• Write lyrics for a parody of a song.
• Make a list of 10-20 songs that would be played if a movie was made about your life.
• Describe the sounds, smells, sights, and textures you’d experience if you went to the beach for the day.
• Write an election speech with ludicrous and impossible campaign promises.

One of the best ways to encourage students to write regularly is by providing fun creative writing activities . 

They serve to encourage both the habit and mindset of writing with imagination. If you need extra help with that, check out Creative Freewriting Adventure :

bring excitement into your student’s writing – no prep required!

About the author.

Jordan Mitchell

Writing Prompts for Elementary School Students

Tim Platt/Getty Images

• M.S., Education, Buffalo State College
• B.S., Education, Buffalo State College

Writing is an essential skill and an important part of elementary school studies. However, writing inspiration does not come easily to every student. Like adults, many children experience writer's block , particularly when an assignment is extremely open-ended.

Good writing prompts get students' creative juices flowing , help them write more freely, and ease any anxiety they may feel about the writing process. To integrate writing prompts into your lessons, ask students to choose one writing prompt each day or week. To make the activity more challenging, encourage them to write without stopping for at least five minutes, increasing the number of minutes that they devote to writing over time.

Remind your students that there is no wrong way to respond to the prompts and that they should simply have fun and let their creative minds wander. After all, just as athletes need to warm up their muscles, writers need to warm up their minds.

Elementary School Writing Prompts

• My biggest goal in life is...
• The best book I ever read was...
• The happiest moment in my life was when...
• When I grow up, I want to...
• The most interesting place I have ever been to was...
• Name three things you don't like about school and why.
• The strangest dream I ever had was...
• The person I admire most is...
• When I turn 16, I will...
• Who is the funniest member of your family and why?
• I get scared when...
• Five things I would do if I had more money are...
• What is your favorite sport and why?
• What would you do if you could change the world?
• Dear teacher, I would like to know...
• Dear President Washington, what was it like to be the first president?
• My happiest day was...
• My saddest day was...
• If I had three wishes, I would wish for...
• Describe your best friend, how you met, and why you are friends.
• Describe your favorite animal and why.
• Three things I like to do with my pet elephant are...
• The time a bat was in my house...
• When I become an adult, the first thing I want to do is...
• My best vacation was when I went to...
• The top three reasons that people argue are...
• Describe five reasons that going to school is important.
• What is your favorite television show and why?
• The time I found a dinosaur in my backyard...
• Describe the best present you ever received.
• Describe your most unusual talent.
• My most embarrassing moment was when...
• Describe your favorite food and why.
• Describe your least favorite food and why.
• The top three qualities of a best friend are...
• Write about what you would cook for an enemy.
• Use these words in a story: scared, angry, Sunday, bugs.
• What's your idea of a perfect vacation?
• Write about why someone might be afraid of snakes.
• List five rules that you have broken and why you broke them.
• What is your favorite video game and why?
• I wish someone had told me that...
• Describe the hottest day you can remember.
• Write about the best decision you've ever made.
• I opened the door, saw a clown, and then...
• The last time the power went out, I...
• Write about five things you can do if the power goes out.
• If I were president, I would...
• Create a poem using the words: l o ve, happy, smart, sunny.
• The time my teacher forgot to wear shoes...
• For prompts that ask students to write about a person, encourage them to write two responses—one response about a friend or family member, and another about someone they don't know personally. This exercise encourages children to think outside the box.
• Remind students that their responses can be fantastical. When the confines of realism are eliminated, students are free to think more creatively, which often inspires greater engagement in the project.

If you're looking for more writing ideas, try our lists of journal prompts  or ideas for writing about important people in history like Martin Luther King Jr .

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200+ Printable Writing Prompts for Kids

I had a fortunate conversation with a teacher friend many years ago who told me that she was always looking for interesting printable writing prompts (or story starters) for her students. Ever since then, we’ve added writing prompt worksheets for nearly every holiday and season of the year! It was high time we put up a post that made it easy to find them all in one place. And below all the links to the themed worksheets, there’s 21 new generic writing prompts you can use at any time of the year!

Writing prompts are great creativity and imagination starters for students, giving them a framework and starting point to writing something interesting, funny, or to help them practice formulating a point of view. These simple worksheets are only one page each, so they aren’t too intimidating for kids with limited writing skills.

All of Our Printable Writing Prompts for Kids

General Printable Writing Prompts / Story Starters for Any Day of the Year

If it’s in between holidays, use one of these worksheets on any day of the year!

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Founder and CEO of Woo! Jr. Kids Activities, Wendy loves creating crafts, activities and printables that help teachers educate and give parents creative ways to spend time with their children.

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10 Fun Writing Activities for Kids to Improve Writing Skills

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Do your students grumble when it’s time to practice writing? Is getting them to write an essay about as much fun as getting grapefruit juice in your eye? Maybe it’s time to try some fun writing activities instead. Here are ten of our favorite fun writing activities for kids.  

Breaking Kids out of a Writing Rut

We’ve been through so many stages of learning to write in our homeschool: reluctant writers, frustrated writers, bored writers, curious writers, and obsessive writers (my favorite!).

Over the years, we’ve tried countless writing programs and curricula in a constant effort to keep writing fun and interesting. While we’ve had success stories with a few programs, I find one of the best ways to keep kids engaged with writing is to integrate a fun activity alongside our regular curriculum.

When kids are having fun, they want to write more, which helps them develop stronger creative writing skills and become better writers. Introducing them to different ways of generating creative writing ideas and thinking about writing turns a once-stressful activity into a much-loved pastime.

Here are ten of our favorite ways to make writing fun for kids.

10 Fun Writing Activities for Kids

1. write a comic book/graphic novel.

Using a template, students create their own comic strip or graphic novel complete with speech bubbles and annotations.

First, you’ll need a comic strip template. You can draw your own or allow kids to do so if they choose. Or, download the companion files at the end of this post to grab some pre-formatted templates.

The amount of guidance each student needs will vary depending on their age and ability.  By design, comics and graphic novels are straight to the point. They don’t have room for any superfluous content.  

Therefore, it’s a good idea to take time beforehand and plan what’s going to happen in the short story, either using a story planner or just jotting down a quick storyboard sketch. They’ll want to have a sense of what’s going to go in each square before they start drawing the pictures in earnest. 

Have them draw the pictures first and then add speech and thought bubbles and annotations. If possible, display the finished works so everyone can enjoy them.

Kids are naturally drawn to the comic book or graphic novel format. It’s fun it’s engaging, it moves quickly, and there are lots of pictures.  

But the space constraints make it necessary for them to think through their story before they start writing and this is such an important skill to develop. Usually, when we’re writing an essay or a short story , we just write whatever comes into our minds without editing as we go. Often, we write way more than we need to and when we go back to read it later, we find we haven’t even made our point.  

Learning how to outline and determine in advance the best way to get a point across is an important skill and creating comic strips is a great way to learn it. 

This writing activity can be adapted for any age range, from kindergarten to grade 12. Younger kids may need assistance with printing small letters. 

2. Write a Story Together

What it is:.

Students work in pairs or groups or with a parent or writing coach to write a short story together.

There are many ways that two or more people can work together to write a short story. The method you choose will depend on who you’re working with, how much time you have, and what your goals are for the activity.  Here are a couple of options:

• Writing together: Kids work in pairs or groups (with or without a parent, teacher, or writing coach) to collaborate on each part of the story. Everybody pitches ideas and the group comes to a consensus about them. Kids can take turns acting as the scribe for the group (an adult can do the writing for younger children). 

Agree in advance about how you’ll know when the project is finished. Are you aiming for a certain number of words or pages? Or do you just want to see a story with a beginning, middle, and end? Perhaps you want them to practice a specific concept, like seeing how many similes and metaphors they can use. 

Determining and articulating the goal ahead of time ensures everyone knows what they’re working towards. 

• Writing consecutively.  Students take turns writing sections of the story. For example, they might alternate paragraphs or pages, depending on how long it is. 

You can either have them agree in advance about the topic and plot points or you could add a twist by not letting them talk about it in advance and having them improvise.  

Another variation is to have a group of students working together and have each of them write a sentence or a paragraph of a story and then pass their story on to the person beside them. That person then continues on with that story while the one who started it is continuing on with another person’s story themselves. Continue passing them around in a circle until everyone has added to each story and then can share them with each other.

• Write concurrently: Kids decide on a plot for a story and then divide and conquer. For example, they might come up with a story that has multiple perspectives and have each person can write scenes from a different perspective. After, they can integrate them into a cohesive, well-rounded story.

In my experience, kids love creating stories much more than they actually love writing them, especially when they’re younger.  The physical act of getting their thoughts onto paper is time-consuming and because their hands can’t move as fast as their thoughts, kids often get discouraged.  

Collaborating with a sibling, a friend, classmates, or adults gives them the immediate reward of progressing in a story without necessarily having to bear the burden of doing all the work themselves.

This writing activity can be adapted for any age range, from kindergarten to grade 12. Lower elementary students should work with a parent, teacher, or writing coach who can guide the collaboration and record the story for them. 

For ideas to get you going on your collaborative writing project, check out this huge list of story starters and writing prompts .

3. Retelling a Favorite Story

Reading or listening to a favorite story and retelling it or rewriting it in their own words.

Ask a student to choose one of their favorite books.  For younger kids, this would ideally be a board book or a picture book, while older students might like a chapter book or novel. If choosing a novel, make sure it’s one they’re very familiar with so they don’t need to re-read the whole thing. 

(For inspiration on this, or to build out a mini-unit on the topic of retellings, check out this list of Peter Pan retellings ).

If it’s a shorter book, read it together. Then, ask the student to either narrate or write down the major parts of the story in their own words. 

Another variation: if you have more time, get a big piece of paper or poster board and ask the kids to draw a map of the story. Then, have them draw and cut out pictures of the story’s characters and move them around the map as they tell the story.

Writers learn to write by imitating other writers. Reading a favorite story with the goal of committing its key points to memory is an important step toward becoming a better storyteller. By telling and retelling popular tales, students learn to intuit the elements of a great story and will naturally include those aspects in their own writing. 

This writing activity can be adapted for any age range, from kindergarten to grade 12. Students who are not yet reading or writing will need someone to read the story and transcribe their words. 

4. The End. Or, The New Beginning.

Students choose a book they love and give it a new ending or a sequel.

Have students choose a favorite book and decide whether they’re going to rewrite the ending or write a sequel. 

Ask them questions to help them give structure to their writing and get their creative juices flowing. Here are some examples:

If re-writing the ending:

• What did you like about the current ending?
• What didn’t you like?
• What questions did you have at the end of the book?
• What event in the story, if changed, would have resulted in a completely different outcome?
• Did the main character get what they wanted or not? What would have happened if they didn’t (or did)?

If writing a sequel:

• Which character(s) in this story did you wish had bigger roles? What else might you have liked to know about their sides of the story?
• What do you think happened after the last chapter of the story?
• What other threats or enemies might still be waiting for the main character?
• Think about the life of the book’s characters at the end of the story. What new character or event might completely topple the balance they’ve found?

Asking students to write a new ending or sequel takes away the pressure of having to come up with an idea from scratch, while still giving them a valuable opportunity to improve their writing skills. 

Also, it helps them hone in on the skill of writing endings, which are often the hardest part of the story to write. 

This writing activity can be adapted for grades 4 to 12.

5. Dictating a Story

Dictating a story using voice typing and then editing it

Using a Google Doc, click on the Tools menu and select Voice typing (or press CTRL+Shift+S). Click on the microphone icon and have the student start dictating. 

When they’re done, click the microphone again. They can even make changes or fix punctuation as they go without disabling the microphone. 

Again, people think much faster than they write or even type. 

For emerging writers especially, printing each letter takes so long that by the time they’ve gotten a full sentence down, they may have lost their steam. Being able to dictate the story at the speed they think and talk is highly motivating and puts the focus on idea generation and plot progression, not on the physical act of writing. 

Also, this activity gives kids a wonderful opportunity to practice their editing skills. 

This writing activity can be adapted for any age range, from kindergarten to grade 12. Younger kids will need help with editing. 

6. Create Mad Libs

Students design Mad Libs for you or for each other

If your students have never played Mad Libs, you will first need to explain this writing game to them and maybe have them do a practice round to get used to the concept. Here’s a sample Mad Lib you can use. It’s also included in the companion files download at the bottom of this post.

Then have them prepare the story. They can either create it from scratch or use an existing text. For example, they might copy out the first paragraph or two of a book. Have them write it on lined paper, double spaced. 

Next, they can choose some words to remove from the story. Once they’ve erased the words they want to remove, they should draw a line for the blank word and write a hint under the line to indicate what kind of word is needed. 

It’s helpful if they have an understanding of nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. If they don’t, this is a great time to introduce these concepts. They might also use qualifiers such as ‘something you wear,’ or ‘a job people do.’

Here’s how a finished Mad Lib might look:

When they’re done preparing the story, someone else (a friend, parent, teacher, etc.) gives them the words needed to fill in the blanks. As the respondent gives their answers, the student writes them in the blanks. When all the blanks are filled, the student reads the finished work aloud. 

I’ve yet to meet a kid who doesn’t love Mad Libs. They’re such a fun way to approach word choice and sentence structure! Kids get a kick out of making up a really silly story while subtly learning the differences between the various types of words. 

This writing activity can be adapted for grades 3-12. Young learners can also enjoy and benefit from Mad Libs, but they aren’t likely to be ready to create their own. Instead, just ask them to provide words for the blank spaces.

7. Custom Printing Pages

Creating custom writing worksheets for younger kids who are learning to print

I know….I promised fun writing activities . And usually, worksheets are not fun. But I think these ones are different. 

My five-year-old doesn’t enjoy practicing her letters and she puts up a huge fight when I ask her to copy things out. Fair enough—learning a challenging new skill is frustrating, even for adults. 

But then I discovered this resource . Among the many cool custom worksheets this site can generate, I discovered the customizable printing pages. You can choose the line size, the style of writing, whether you want students to trace or copy, and—most importantly—the text they’ll be copying. 

For my daughter, I wrote out a really fun story based on her life but with lots of embellishments and twists. She is the star of the story and she wants to know what happens to her. It took me about five to ten minutes to come up with enough content to fill 27 pages of writing practice sheets (about a month’s worth). I give her one page per day to copy. I haven’t heard a single complaint. 

Give it a try. Pick the settings that suit your student(s) best and write a few paragraphs that they won’t be able to stop reading. Then have them trace or copy a small amount each day. 

Young learners tend to engage more with the learning process if they think it’s a game rather than a lesson. Who wouldn’t want to read a story starring themselves? (I still have a customized Christmas book my dad ordered for me when I was three!)

It incentivizes them to practice their printing or cursive handwriting by giving them a delightful reward. This is the perfect exercise to do when you’re teaching handwriting .

This writing activity can be adapted for kindergarten to grade 6. For younger learners who need more extensive writing practice, I’m in love with these free printable alphabet worksheets for preschool . This is such a great resource for helping young kids master their letter formation skills.

8. Photographic Writing Prompts

Writing a story based on an image.

A picture is worth a thousand words, right? And nobody wants to read a thousand-word writing prompt , so why not try photographic writing prompts? This fun story writing activity is simple and can be pulled off with almost no prep time. 

First, choose an image you want to display. Then, set a timer. Have everyone (even you) write a story inspired by the picture for fifteen minutes. No planning for this one; this time we’re writing by the seat of our pants. When the timer ends, stop writing. Give students an opportunity to share their stories if they like. 

The companion files document at the bottom of this post includes ten fun images you can use as creative writing prompts.

Images are often more inspiring than words and leave more room for interpretation. This, combined with the focus on writing, rather than planning, encourages kids to simply write, rather than fretting about ideas or structure. 

Because of the timed and independent nature of this writing activity, it’s best for older children in grades 5 to 12. 

9. Convince Me

Using a creative piece of writing to influence someone’s opinion.

In this writing activity, students create a persuasive piece of writing aimed at convincing you that their favorite thing is the best, i.e. Why Wings of Fire is the Best Dragon Series You’ll Ever Read, or Why Strawberries are the One Fruit We Could All Live On. 

Offer suggestions on what format they might choose, but leave the decision up to them. They might write a short essay, a poem , a song, or a rap. Maybe they’ll even decide to create a brochure. Put as few limitations on this final product as possible to encourage maximum creativity. 

When they’re done, have them read what they’ve written to try to persuade an audience.  

Kids can be highly persuasive, but adults often shut them down when they’re trying to make an argument. For example, every time my daughter says she has a compelling list of reasons why we should let her get a hedgehog, I typically say no immediately without giving her a chance to share her list. 

Giving them the opportunity to persuade you about something that matters to them, and to do it in a format they feel comfortable with is an opportunity they won’t want to miss. This fun writing activity also helps them develop their persuasive writing skills. In your feedback, you might offer points on how they can enhance their argument even more. 

This writing activity can be adapted for grades 2 to 12. 

10. A is for Author

Using photos or drawings, along with original writing, to create a new alphabet book. 

If possible, go on a nature walk or at least go to a yard or a field. For this writing activity, it’s important that students have many things to observe. Bring notepads and pens or pencils. 

Have them try to find one thing for each letter of the alphabet. Allow them to be creative here: ‘eXcess dandelions’ might be a perfect choice to represent X. Have them use their notepads to keep a list of what they’ve found.

Then, set them to work. Let them choose how they will lay their book out. They might use a full page for each letter, a half-page, or a quarter-page. (I’ve included templates for half- and quarter-page layouts) below. 

For each letter, they should include a drawing or photograph and a small amount of writing. The writing can be as simple as ‘C is for Crane,’ or it could be more creative, such as a short poem or a paragraph about that thing. Determine how much leeway you’ll give them with the writing component based on their ages and ability. 

Have them add a cover page and then assemble their book with staples or by punching holes along the side and tying ribbon or string through each hole. 

This fun writing activity works well for both reluctant and eager writers. It takes the focus of writing by including other activities such as walking outside and drawing, while also giving ample opportunity to practice printing (for younger kids) and composition (for older kids). 

Eager writers will enjoy the opportunity to add prose or facts to their pages and appreciate the challenge of coming up with something creative for each page. 

For this activity, kids may work independently or together, depending on time and preferences. Our family worked together on a single book and it turned out great. 

Like most of the creative writing exercises here, this one can be adapted for any age range, from kindergarten to grade 12. 

Get the Companion Files

Use the form below to download everything you need to start teaching with these fun creative writing activities for kids today!

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Thursday 18th of April 2024

Love these!

Monday 20th of May 2024

Monday 2nd of October 2023

Well, can't access anything.... disappointing. I subscribed like 4 times already.

Thursday 12th of October 2023

can you please email hello @ storywritingacademy.com (remove spaces) and let us know which download you're trying to access? We will send it over to you directly.

Thursday 22nd of June 2023

Very innovative ideas inculcate an interest in writing and then working on honing their writing skills

Shruti Shah

Sunday 28th of May 2023

Hi I can't see any form to fill up nor am I getting any access though I have already subscribed Pls help

Thursday 21st of September 2023

The form is at the end of this post, just above where you posted this comment. Thanks.

Friday 21st of April 2023

where the heck are the comic strip templates. I signed up 3 times!!!!!

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Journal Buddies Jill | June 7, 2023 February 8, 2010 | Journal Prompts & Writing Ideas

Elementary Writing Prompts (49 Ideas!)

Elementary Writing Prompts: 49 Story Starters & Writing Ideas for Elementary Kids— Writing skills are so important—and yet so often go overlooked in the classroom, particularly when students are young.  That’s why we believe it’s never too early to get kids interested in writing… or to show them what a fun, rewarding activity it can be!

One of the best ways to show kids how enjoyable writing can be is to encourage them to use their imaginations to tell their own stories. With that in mind, we’ve put together 49 fresh story starters and elementary writing prompts that are sure to get young minds turning! 

As they imagine make-believe worlds and reflect on their own viewpoints, kids will learn how valuable their own thoughts and feelings truly are.  And most importantly, they’ll develop their writing and communication skills as they commit these feelings to the pages of their journals.

These elementary writing prompts are perfect for young writers who may be just learning about things like structuring paragraphs and conveying ideas in a logical manner.  They’re also great fun for students who are still warming up to the idea of regular writing practice, as they offer plenty of room for their imaginations to shine!

Elementary Writing Prompts and Story Starters for Kids

Enjoy these fun creative writing prompts and story starters for elementary school kids—and the joy of watching your students’ creativity come to life!

• Imagine that you can become invisible whenever you wanted to. What are some of the things you would do?
• I am very proud because…
• If I were President, I would…
• If I were a turtle living in a pond, I would…
• I am afraid to __________, because…
• Name one thing you do really well. Give lots of details telling why.
• What is your favorite room in your home and why?
• Describe what it means to be a good neighbor.
• What is your favorite time of day? Why?
• Describe your best day ever.
• How do you deal with people who bug you?
• What excites you?
• Describe your favorite hobby.
• What is your favorite quote by a famous person? Why?
• What is your favorite song and why?
• Climbing trees is…
• I wish trees could __________ because…
• I want to be a __________ when I grow up. Then I will…
• I wish there were a law that said…
• I wish I could forget the time I __________ because…
• I wish I could do __________ because…
• Older people are…

• The most perfect place in the whole wide world is __________ because…
• What makes you feel sad? Why?
• What makes you feel happy? Why?
• What can you do to help yourself feel better when you’re feeling blue?
• Name your favorite book and why?
• If I were a raindrop, I’d…
• What I know about rabbits is that…
• If I were an Easter egg…
• For lunch today…
• Pretend that you can fly whenever you want. Where would you go?
• Pretend that there is no such thing as television, the Internet, or video games. What do you do with all your time?
• My favorite stuffed animal or toy is…
• Imagine if cows gave green juice instead of milk! What would the world look like?
• Imagine that all the streets are rivers. How do you get around?
• What would happen if it really did rain cats and dogs?
• If I were a snake, I’d…
• Use descriptive words like amazing, incredible, outrageous, super-fun, or mind-blowing in your journal entry.
• If I could choose a different name, I would choose…
• Let’s go __________. Describe your adventure.
• Write a letter to your mom, dad, friend, cousin, or classmate.
• What would happen if animals could talk?
• What questions would you like to ask animals and what would their answers be?
• What would you do if you were in the middle of the lake and your boat springs a leak?
• What would you do if you suddenly woke up in another country and no one could understand a word you said?
• Write a poem about your favorite person, animal, or place.
• What is your dream vacation?

More Elementary Writing Resources

• 53 Writing for Fun Journal Prompts
• Writing Prompts for Elementary Kids
• 60 Fictional Story Ideas to Spark Your Imagination
• 16 Visual Writing Prompts

I am always looking to expand my listing of journaling prompts and would love to hear your ideas.  I invite you to contact me you have ideas you’d like me to add to this list of elementary writing prompts.

May your student’s journaling adventure be filled with joy, fun, and creativity.

Until next time, write on…

If you enjoyed these Elementary Writing Prompts, please share them on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Pinterest. I appreciate it!

Sincerely, Jill journalbuddies.com creator and curator

Tap to See Prompts 48 Incredible Imaginative Writing Prompts 57 Fun Journal Prompts for Kids Writing Prompts for Elementary Kids ------------Start of Om Added --------- @media (min-width: 320px) and (max-width: 767px) { .inside-right-sidebar { display: none !important; } } Search Now Offering You 18,000+ Prompts!

Tap to See Prompts 48 Incredible Imaginative Writing Prompts 57 Fun Journal Prompts for Kids Writing Prompts for Elementary Kids Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7-8 Grade 9-12 All Ages ------------End of Om Added --------- Tags Elementary , elementary classroom , elementary kids , elementary prompts , elementary school student writing , Elementary School Students , elementary students , elementary writing , elementary writing prompts , elementary writing skills , Grade 1 , Grade 2 , Grade 3 , Grade 4 , Grade 5 , journal prompts , journal writing prompts , journaling prompts , prompts for elementary school students , prompts for elementary students , writing ideas , writing prompts , Writing Prompts Elementary Kids div#postbottom { margin-top: 12px; } 21 thoughts on “Elementary Writing Prompts (49 Ideas!)”

I’ve been using your journal prompts as I tutor two third grade students. These prompts are motivating for them and encourage writing. They’re a great aid for me as a tutor inspiring methods to help my girls. Thank you!

Hi Michelle,

Thank you! It is so wonderful for me to hear positive feedback, and I appreciate it so very much.

Sincerely, Jill

PS… that is not my picture and will have to get fixed 🙂

working on a list of writing prompts, just sharing… scroll down. 🙂

What’s the most important thing you would like to do this summer?

Go for a walk. Right a sentence about the walk you went on.

Write about a trick you would like to play on your mom.

What is your favorite thing to do when you play outside?

What is your favorite thing to do when you play inside?

Tell about you will be when you grow up.

Write about what you would like to do for your next birthday.

If you could go on a vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Make a list of groceries that you think mom or dad should buy for you from the store.

Tell about an animal you would like to have for a pet.

What would you do if there was a dragon stuck under your bed?

What is the funniest thing that you have ever seen?

What did you do today?

What is something you would like to learn more about?

What kind of pet do you think a teacher should get for their classroom?

What is the best movie you have ever seen?

Tell about your most favorite book.

Tell about your favorite holiday. Tell why it is your favorite.

Tell about your favorite restaurant. Tell why it is your favorite.

Write a poem about what you think first grade will be like.

Do you think you will get married?? Write about what you think it will be like.

What is something you love about yourself?

If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be?

Make a list of the things you are most thankful for in your life.

Which season do you like the most?? Why??

Which season do you like the least, why????

You just won $1,000,000. What are you going to do first?

Tell about a time when you were kind to someone.

Tell about your favorite song.

Write a story about the mysterious zizzybaloobuh that you just found in your bathtub.

What is something that makes you ANGRY!!!!!

Tell about your favorite sport.

Tell about the last time you cried.

What are you scared of?

You found a magic wand! What would you do with it?

Tell about your favorite food and why it is so good.

Have a family member write something about you in here today.

What would happen to you if you never went to school?

In first grade, I want to learn about…

My favorite animal is a….

This is a list of things I like to do when I can’t watch television or play video games.

What would you like to say to President Obama?

What is something you are really good at?

What should you do if there is a bully on your bus?

When I’m 100 years old…

If a cat could talk, what would they say?

i was thinking and i thought of a good journal prompt-

one day i was at school. i wasn’t feeling very well so i went home.i went to my room to take a nap. When i woke up i was …

Being the mother of twin boys, I’m always on the look out for writing prompts for our daily “Mama’s Summer School” writing session – that’s how I found your website 🙂

An idea that I use for my silly boys is: Creating Headlines that they choose, then they write the “story” like a newspaper article. One of the most recent “titles” we came up with is: “Dog suspected of shooting hunting Master” The stories my two boys wrote were hilarious! 🙂

Hi Trina! Thanks for sharing all of the wonderful prompts. 😀

Hi Vonna, I love your idea to have your boys create headlines and a story. How fun!!!!! 😀

thanks for the good ideas i home school my boys,i’m always looking for some good ideas

Hi Sharon, I’m so glad you enjoyed the writing prompts! Check back often as I’m always adding new resources to the site. Sincerely, Jill

I am so glad that you enjoy them Keep coming back as I will continue to add new middle school writing prompts regularly! 🙂

I love these prompts and here are some of my own:

1. If you could wear one color for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

2. If it were the same season every month which one would you want it to be?

3. What color would make the most interesting sky color and why?

4. What’s your favorite thing about yourself and why?

5. If you could travel through time, would you rather visit your past or peer into the future and why?

Hello Amy!!! I LOVE your prompts… thank you for sharing them and please feel free to do so any time.

Happy writing!

Kindly, Jill Journal Buddies author and creator

Imagine you just met an alien what would you do

My brother thought of a prompt and told me to post it on your website so here it is:

Imagine having a monkey in your attic what would you do?

Hello Brittany!

I LOVE your prompt and your brother’s. How imaginative. 😀

Personally, I think it would a blast to meet an alien and believe that a monkey would cause a lot of mischief in an attic. Imagine if you met an alien who acted like a monkey. Then what would you do?

Write on…

Most kindly, Jill Schoenberg, Journal Buddies creator and author

This is so encouraging! Writing is not one of our 8 yo sons favorite thing to do! He’s in 2nd grade. He can write, his penmanship is great, and he reads well. However, is written expression and vocabulary is something that needs to be nurtured… in a creative way. This looks like something that could be a fun summer project to build his confidence in writing.

Thank you!! If you can think of other ideas… we are open to hear them! :o)

Kindly, Darcy

It sounds as though Journal Buddies for boys is perfect for your precious son. I hope you get a copy for him. Recently I had a mom tell me that her and her son regained a powerful and potent relationship from their shared journaling experiences. They even made a game of it by hiding the journal in fun places for the other to find (i.e. mom put the journal in the son’s underwear drawer; the son placed the book by the coffee pot).

Fun, creativity, connection and expression… these are just some of the fabulous benefits of this style of journal keeping. 🙂

I would LOVE to hear about your experiences, so please, please, please email me!!

Most sincerely, Jill Author & Creator of “Journal Buddies”

Hi, I’m a mother of a 4th grade student who loves writing. She comes on this website every afternoon looking for prompts. Keep up the hard work.

Wonderful! I’m so glad your daughter visits my site and hopefully she if finding lots and lots of great writing and journal keeping prompts. 🙂

Ever so kindly, Jill Journal Buddies author and creator

Thank you so much for the prompts. You have such wonderful ideas!! :0)

You are so welcome, Natalie. And thank you for your kind words! 😀

Comments are closed.

Free Story Writing & Book Report Printables

Looking for some help teaching writing to elementary aged students? Looking for some creative writing pages , editing checklists , and story planners ? Look no further!

This year I thought I’d get a head start on our writing process and created some helpful printables to help make writing a little easier and a little more fun!

–> Download the Writing Pages Printables <–

One of the things we need to work on this year is our writing skills. Writing isn’t Turbo’s favorite subject and I found out that he does much better if he has a way to plan out stories or letters prior to working on them.

So this year I created a bunch of different writing pages to help make the process a little less painful.

What’s Included?

(not all worksheets shown)

Editing Checklists: (These are small 2×3 sized cards that can be laminated then hole punched. Store them on a keyring for quick access to help students edit and proof their writing! (See above photo)

• Editing Checklist
• Proofing Marks
• Capitalization Checklist
• Grammar Review
• Punctuation Listing

Writing Pages:

• My Story Plan Web
• Writing Structure Outline
• My Story Writing Pages (3 different line heights)
• My Book Report Outline
• My Report Writing Pages (3 different line heights)
• Friendly Letter Template (2 different line heights)
• Thank You Letter Template (2 different line heights)
• Vocabulary Word Template

I hope this blesses you in some way and makes writing a little bit more fun! For some great writing prompts to go along with these printables check out the Writeshop StoryBuilders ! They have several different options, themes, and ideas to help reluctant readers be successful with creative writing!

59 Comments

Thank you so much for such helpful, beautiful resources. God Bless you and your family.

Thanks a bunches for this. I’m a new teacher and can use all the help I can get. Thanks again!!!!

Thanks so much for these printables!! I’m a student teacher, just learning the ropes. The worksheets are adorable! You are amazing 🙂

Hello – I really want to download this, it looks great – but it won’t load. Can you please email it to me, I would be so so grateful : )

HI Anna, the file is too large to email, but if you right click on the download link, then select ‘save as’ it should download to your computer.

Your worksheets are amazing, I use the to assist me in teaching SEN children.

Thank you! I love the cards!! They are amazing the kids will love the support!!

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Reading Worksheets, Spelling, Grammar, Comprehension, Lesson Plans

Writing Worksheets

Writing can be one of the most daunting skills for some students to learn. Over time, however, students of any skill level can learn to write effectively with the right practice and instruction. We've developed a set of different writing worksheets around specific areas like editing and proofing, writing conclusions, choosing topic sentences, and how to use transition words.  We've also included some helpful writing worksheets for writing prompts and some fun lined paper themes. Each worksheet we create is aligned to common core standards and designed for different grade levels from kindergarten to high school.

Editing and Proofing Worksheets

Students practice recognizing errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, and word usage and making corrections.

Handwriting Worksheets

Below you’ll find a full set of printable print handwriting and cursive handwriting worksheets on lined paper. Check out all of our writing worksheets !

Lined Writing Paper

Here we’ve included several different styles of lined paper writing templates for kids. You’ll find standard lined paper and ones with graphic themes like Christmas and Valentine’s Day!

Sentence Patterns

Help your students develop stronger writing skills, by understanding how to vary sentence patterns to engage readers. Here you’ll find helpful worksheets that you can use in class or at home.

Sentence Starters

Topic Sentences Worksheets

Topic sentences state the central focus of the paragraph and provide cohesion for the paragraph. These activities help students learn to write clear and concise topic sentences.

Transition Words

Transition words, such as “although,” “however,” and “for example,” play an important role in writing. They tie two thoughts together and add fluency to writing.

Writing Conclusions Worksheets

How to Write an Introduction

Here you’ll find writing worksheets to help your students write great essay introductions.

Writing Poetry

Writing Prompts

How to Set Up EVERYTHING in Your Writing Classroom To Make Life Easier

Teaching writing can seem daunting. It can be hard to tell where to start and what to do. What if I told you that setting up your elementary writing centers and your writing block could be easy peasy lemon squeezey? Read on to discover EVERYTHING you need to know about setting up a writing block that ACTUALLY WORKS for you, your students and your classroom.

The biggest struggle that comes with elementary writing centers is the limited time during the day that we get to actually teach writing. I have worked with a LARGE array of time slots anywhere from 20 minutes a day… YES 20 minutes to teach a WHOLE CLASS writing… all the way to 90 minutes! If you get to choose, 60 minutes is ideal, 45 minutes is workable, and 20 minutes is tough.. but we can do it.

You will want to break your writing block up the same way you’d break up any other content. Times will vary based on your overall content block allotment:

• Warm Up (5-10 minutes)
• Mini Lesson (5-10 minutes – shorter than other subjects, so students have the most time to write)
• Small Groups / Independent Work Time (anywhere from 5 minutes each to 20 minutes each)
• Closing (5 minutes or less)

If your writing block is limited, you can get creative with your writing timing. Perhaps instead of doing your writing warm up during your writing block, you can do it as morning work. If you don’t have time to do all of the writing centers that you’d like, embed those into your reading centers and call it ELA time. The core components you will not want to miss out on during writing are your mini lesson, meeting with small groups, independent work time and a closing.

My FAVORITE type of writing warm up is to simply let students use a digital or handwritten writing journal each day. Students can either use a whole group topic, or write about anything that they want. This writing is typically ungraded, and helps students build up writing fluency.

Another great writing warm up is having students work on grammar topics. Students might identify parts of speech, work on using different parts of speech, or can do grammatical editing each day. This helps students know how to properly use English in their formal writing pieces.

Additionally, students can do weekly letter writing, including Friday Letters, as a warm up.

Whole Group Mini Lesson – A Journey Through the Writing Process

After the warm up, a whole group mini lesson is the natural next step. This lesson can and should be brief, to provide the most amount of time for students to actually be writing during their writing block. Each week, we produce one formal piece of writing that gets added to their year long writing portfolio. I follow the same lesson plan for my mini lessons every week that guides students through the writing process :

• Monday : Mentor Text & Writing Plan
• Tuesday : Model using a plan to write half of a draft including a topic sentence (or paragraph) and two body paragraphs (either events, reasons, facts, or steps depending on the genre). This is when I will also focus on any new grammatical skill or writing skill I want them to add to their writing including quotation marks, using verbs, adding details, adding different types of sentences, etc. into their writing.
• Wednesday : Review the skill from yesterday and then continue using a plan to write half of a draft including two body paragraphs (either events, reasons, facts, or steps depending on the genre) and a closing sentence (or paragraph).
• Thursday : Revise and edit writing with their peers. Sometimes I will begin grading at this time.
• Friday : Give students time to publish, craft and share while the teacher grades papers.

During the mini lesson, students are NOT actually writing. This is when we have an open class dialogue and I am modeling at the white board or on chart paper for the class. Most of the time we write the sentences together so that students can show ownership of our shared writing. However, if you are crunched for time, it can save a lot of time to have your teacher model on display already.

Small Groups

Students do the bulk of their actual writing during small group time . I passionately believe that you should meet with every student in a small group every day if time allows . Typically, this means that I group students based on ability and I differentiate how much they write and what writing strategies they are using during the small group periods.

I meet with groups from anywhere between 7 to 20 minutes. During this time, students get started on their writing at my back table. When they either finish or seem like they are on track to finish, then I allow students to be released from my back table to go work around the room. Students always show me their completed work for the day before starting on their fun centers.

I usually start with my most struggling writers who need the most time, and then work my way through the class. The more students struggle with writing, the longer I like to give them at my back table. These students might need additional support such as sentence stems, model sentences, additional time, voice to text aides and other accommodations. For students who are struggling greatly, it can also be beneficial to start the year by having them all write the same story. This gets them used to the writing process and various writing strategies.

For students who seem to be getting it and can write fluently already, you can have them start their writing not at your back table. Then, when they get to your back table, you can have them work on adding more complex writing strategies into their pieces. This can include things like dialogue, paragraph writing, adding problems and solutions, or more.

I set a timer so that my groups don’t go too far over. Students are usually doing whatever we just modeled, but with their own thoughts and ideas. The whole class will be working on the same topic at the same time. For example, if I modeled writing a story about summer, then the whole class is writing a narrative story about summer.

Writing centers can be set up in many different ways and it very much depends on the amount of time you are given. For me, the most important part of writing is for students to complete our weekly project. Therefore, I typically allow students to do must dos/may dos or “ dinner and dessert ” style centers in writing.

You can also do traditional center rotations , and have your students travel from center to center as a group.

Some FUN ideas to embed into your writing centers are:

• Daily Writing Journals
• Silly Stories
• Roll a Story
• Creating Digital Stories or Books
• Daily Grammar Practice
• Spelling Practice
• Monthly Crafts
• Friday Letters

Usually for our writing closing I allow students to share their work with a peer. We quickly review the skill we were focused on, we find a buddy, and we share our work from the day. Then we allow our buddy time to share their work. This keeps it quick, but is important so students feel like they accomplished the daily learning goal.

Using Mentor Texts

Mentor texts for writing are SO fun and important. First of all, it models daily language to students. Second, it is a GREAT way to get students engaged in genres of writing. This can be especially important towards the end of a learning unit when students are starting to feel a bit burnt out on informative topics or narrative ideas.

I use a large variety of mentor texts throughout the year but you can find some of my favorites for each genre below:

• Narrative Writing Mentor Texts
• Informative Writing Mentor Texts
• Opinion Writing Mentor Texts
• How To Writing Mentor Texts

Embedding Technology

You may love or hate using technology in your classroom, but it is a vital skill that is not going away.

There are some great ways to embed technology into your elementary writing centers , including:

• Creating digital books
• Allowing students to publish pieces digitally
• Using digital tools to edit
• Using digital dictionaries
• Recording students reading their writing aloud
• Using technology for research projects
• Letting students use a digital writing journal

There are also a variety of great writing projects that can be done digitally. I would teach this very differently IN PERSON or as a DIGITAL TEACHER . Here is a roundup of digital activities for each genre:

• Digital Narrative Writing Activities
• Digital Informative Writing Activities
• Digital Opinion Writing Activities

Assessments

There are many types of formal, informal and self assessments that can be used in writing blocks.

Typically, I test formally students at the beginning and end of each writing unit. This is done by genre. I have them do a “quick write” using the same prompt (or a very similar prompt) and then we see how they have grown throughout the unit.

My informal assessments are typically done daily during my small groups. I simply use a checklist to keep track of if students utilized our daily skill during practice or not. I also use this time to quickly help students who are not achieving mastery learn to use the skill appropriately.

Students also work on creating a writing portfolio throughout the year. This is an assessment portfolio that can show their growth throughout the year and makes a great talking piece during parent-teacher conferences .

I also believe greatly in self assessment. During writing, I love to do this by using peer editing techniques and explicitly guiding those conversations to be as productive as possible. Students use checklists and sentence stems to know exactly how to grade their own writing and to help assess peer writing. It is important to set this up correctly so students know how to help each other rather than to come across punitively.

Genres: Scope & Sequence

There are two different ways to set up your year long writing scope and sequence. You can either constantly spiral between genres, or focus on one genre until mastery is achieved. While sometimes your hands are tied by district norms, I strongly urge you to focus on one genre at a time. Typically, I focus on one per quarter:

• Quarter One: Teaching Narrative Writing Unit and Activity Idea Roundup
• Quarter Two: Teaching Opinion Writing Unit and Activity Idea Roundup
• Quarter Three: Teaching Informative Writing Unit , Animal Adaptation Project , Animal Research Project and other Informative Activity Idea Roundup
• Quarter Four: Teaching How To Writing Unit , Poetry Writing , Magazine Writing , Living Wax Museum Biography Project & Other Cumulative Writing Projects

The order does not matter, but I find that above order the easiest to teach. While I do teach explicitly one genre at a time, I also am spiral reviewing the other genres during center work and warm up activities including daily writing journals and by providing fun writing prompts.

Spiral Review

As stated above, you ALWAYS want to be spiral reviewing both writing genres and writing strategies throughout the year. Just because we have moved onto informative writing, doesn’t mean you want students to forget about strategies from the narrative writing unit such as how to use dialogue.

This is where setting up meaningful elementary writing centers is really effective. Try to vary your activities over time so students don’t get burnt out, but provide FUN and meaningful ways for your students to practice genres each day – definitely easier said than done.

While I am not a wild homework pusher, in some districts homework can be a necessary evil. Typically, I try to make writing homework something easy and fun. A few ideas could be:

• A daily journal of things done at school
• Practicing spelling words
• Grammar practice
• An at home journal
• Writing a letter to the teacher

Another unique way to get students writing at home is having a class mascot . The mascot travels home with one student each weekend and they spend time writing about what they did. This a great way to build classroom community while also allowing students to write about something meaningful.

In addition to a class mascot, having students be the star student of the week is another great way to link writing at home and school. This allows you to highlight a different student each week throughout the year.

Year Long Resources

If you are looking for some great resources for your elementary writing centers and block, you can find some of my favorites to use ALL YEAR LONG below:

• Year of Writing Lessons & Crafts (Spiral scope and sequence) – Great for CENTERS or INSTRUCTION
• Year of Writing Lessons & Projects (Quarterly scope and sequence) – Great for CENTERS or INSTRUCTION
• Year of DIGITAL Writing Projects (instructional videos included)
• Printable Writing Journal for a Notebook
• Digital Writing Journal
• Monthly Themed Daily Writing Prompts (Digital or Printable)
• How To Projects
• Informative Writing Projects
• Narrative Writing Projects
• Opinion Writing Projects

Cumulative Projects:

• Magazine Writing – Printable or Digital With Videos
• Animal Research Report – Printable or Digital With Videos
• What If You Had Animal _____ Project
• Poetry Writing – Printable or Digital With Videos
• End of Year Memory Book

Final Thoughts

Setting up your elementary writing centers and writing block can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be. Remember to do your best to keep writing fun to prevent burn out and to keep engagement high.

Let me know what questions I can answer about elementary writing centers below!

Emily - The Mountain Teacher

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• An In-Depth Look at How Writing Skills Develop in Elementary Students

by Studentreasures | Jun. 28, 2024 | Writing Skill-Building Activity

Writing is not just about putting words on paper; it’s a crucial skill that aids communication, critical thinking and creativity.

Developing writing skills in elementary students is a fundamental part of education. By understanding how writing skills for students develop, you can tailor your teaching and assignments so they are beneficial and fun for everyone.

A great way to encourage writing skills development is by having your students author their own classbook. With your FREE classbook publishing kit from Studentreasures, you can teach your students about the writing process and instill confidence that will last a lifetime!

As educators, it’s essential to foster writing skills early on. You’ll want to provide your students with the tools they need to succeed in the classroom and throughout their lives. Let’s explore how writing skills develop in elementary students and how specific activities can enhance this development.

The Importance of Writing Skills for Students

Writing skills for students are a necessity. They help students express ideas, structure thoughts and enhance vocabulary. Strong writing skills also correlate with better reading comprehension and overall academic performance. Writing is an integral part of the Common Core Standards , emphasizing the need for students to develop these skills from an early age.

Activities such as argumentative writing, research projects and explanatory writing are essential parts of the curriculum to meet Common Core Standards. By integrating these standards into classroom activities, teachers ensure that students develop the necessary skills to meet academic benchmarks.

Stages of Writing Development

Let’s look at the stages of writing development. By understanding each stage, educators can better plan curriculums and activities and meet students where they are at.

Pre-Writing Stage

This is the stage where students learn the basics. They start with scribbles and drawings. However, make no mistake, early marks like these are the foundation of writing, as they learn that symbols represent meanings.

Early Writing Stage

During the early writing stage, students start to form letters and understand that they correspond to sounds. This is where the fun begins because they start to write simple words and sentences.

Developing Writing Stage

Now let’s take it to the next level of learning - the developing writing stage. At this stage, students write more complex sentences and begin to use proper punctuation and grammar. They can express their thoughts more clearly and with far greater feeling. When you reach this point, your students can start to tap into their feelings and imagination.

Fluent Writing Stage

When your students enter the fluent writing stage they can write essays, stories and reports with a clear structure. Their schoolwork becomes a pleasure to read. They can even edit and revise their work. With practice, their writing continues to improve and the sky becomes the limit.

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Five activities for writing skills in the classroom.

To develop your students’ writing skills, you’ll want to look at incorporating engaging writing activities in the classroom.

Below are a few effective activities to develop writing skills for elementary students.

1. Journal Writing

Journals are not only fun but a great way to learn. Encourage students to keep a daily journal.

Keeping a journal helps your students express their thoughts and ideas freely. It further enhances their ability to write coherently. Journaling can be personal or themed based on classroom topics.

Let each student decide how they want to write in their journal. Remember, no two journals should be exactly alike. It’s best to encourage individuality!

2. Story Starters

As a teacher, you know that the hardest part of writing is the beginning. You need a hook to grab the reader’s attention. Your students might struggle with story starters and could end up wasting time they could have spent writing.

There is nothing wrong with giving your students a nudge to get their creativity flowing so they can start the story with a bang. Provide students with prompts or story starters as these can spark their imagination and help them develop narrative skills. For example, “Imagine you found a secret door in your school. What happens next?”

3. Peer Review Sessions

Many students find it challenging to open up and share in a classroom setting, but it can be highly beneficial. Have students share their work with classmates and provide constructive feedback.

Peer review sessions will improve their writing and teach them how to critique each other’s work positively.

4. Writing Workshops

Organize classroom workshops where students can focus on different aspects of writing, such as poetry , fiction or non-fiction.

These workshops can include brainstorming sessions, writing drafts and sharing their work with the class.

A writing workshop can be complex or something simple depending on abilities and grade level.

5. Classbook Projects

Creating a classbook is an exciting and special project. Each student contributes a unique piece of writing and illustrations that are then compiled into a published book that they can have for years to come. This not only improves student writing skills but also instills excitement by giving them the experience of becoming published authors.

Classbook kits are FREE, making it easy for teachers to start this project!

Creative Ways to Improve Writing Skills 

Now let’s look at activities to improve writing skills . If your students are already writing, you’ll want to focus on a curriculum to improve their skills and take them to the next level.

Writing Games

Who doesn’t love games? Elementary schoolers especially adore games and they can learn a lot from even a simple challenge.

Incorporate fun writing games like “word scrambles” or “story cubes.” These games can make learning to write enjoyable and less intimidating for students.

Letter Writing

Does it feel like letter writing has become an obsolete activity? It’s true, not many people write old-school, classic letters anymore. However, this doesn’t mean that letter writing is dead. In fact, it can actually be beneficial to students.

Teach your students the art of letter writing. Whether it’s writing to a pen pal, a thank you note or a letter to a historical figure, this activity helps them understand different writing formats and purposes.

Writing Challenges

Students excel when given a challenge. Why not focus on a writing challenge for the entire class?

Set up challenges like writing a story in 100 words or creating a piece that includes specific words. These challenges push students to think creatively and work within constraints.

Creative Writing Prompts

Give your students a prompt to fuel their creativity.

Use creative prompts to stimulate students’ imagination. Prompts like, “Write about a day in the life of your favorite toy,” can encourage students to think creatively and write engaging stories.

How to Develop Writing Skills

Below are a few activities to develop writing skills :

Graphic Organizers

With the right tools, the sky’s the limit when helping your students develop their writing skills.

Use graphic organizers like story maps and Venn diagrams to help students plan their writing. These tools can help them structure their thoughts and create cohesive pieces.

Click here to see our library of writing graphic organizers for all elementary grade levels.

Sentence Building

Simple exercises can help improve a student’s writing substantially. Start with a simple sentence and gradually add adjectives, adverbs and clauses to make it more complex. This helps students understand sentence structure and grammar.

Read and Write

Reading and writing go hand-in-hand. You can use reading activities to inspire writing.

After reading a story, ask students to write an alternative ending or a sequel. This not only improves comprehension but also stimulates creative thinking.

Publishing Opportunities

Why not go public with your students’ writing skills? Yes, there are publishing opportunities out there for the entire classroom and your students will have a blast participating.

Encourage students to participate in writing contests or submit their work to school newspapers. This provides real-world motivation and a sense of achievement.

The Role of Technology in Writing

In today’s digital age, technology plays a significant role in developing writing skills. Tools like word processors, writing apps and educational software can enhance the writing process.

For instance:

• Word Processors: Programs like Microsoft Word or Google Docs help students with editing and formatting their work.
• Writing Apps: Apps like Grammarly or Hemingway can help students improve their grammar and writing style.
• Educational Software: Programs like Storybird or BoomWriter can make writing more interactive and fun.

Encouraging a Love for Writing

Creating a positive and supportive environment is key to encouraging a love for writing.

Here are some tips for teachers:

• Display students’ work on bulletin boards or create a classbook. Recognizing their efforts boosts confidence.
• Allow students to choose their writing topics whenever possible. This increases engagement and ownership of their work.
• Share your writing process with students. Demonstrating how to brainstorm, draft and revise can clarify the process for them.
• Give constructive feedback that focuses on strengths as well as areas for improvement. Positive reinforcement is crucial for developing confidence.

Classbook Ideas for Your Classroom

Creating a classbook can be a fantastic project that combines creativity, collaboration and writing skills. It will also bring students together in a positive way. They are creating something that they can take pride in.

A classbook offers a wealth of benefits for students and educators alike. As students work together to contribute their unique pieces, they learn the importance of teamwork and creativity.  They can give each other the encouragement and support needed to truly build something positive and wonderful.

Seeing their work published boosts their confidence and motivation, turning them into budding authors.

Another perk is that classbooks provide a tangible keepsake that students and their families can cherish for years to come. The book captures a genuine snapshot of the classroom’s academic growth.

Building a classbook with students lets educators seamlessly integrate writing activities into their curriculum, meeting educational standards while inspiring a love for writing. It’s a win-win for students, educators and parents.

Here are some classbook ideas:

• Each student writes a short story and the collection is compiled into a classbook.
• Gather poems written by students throughout the year into a beautiful poetry book.
• Compile students’ science experiments, observations and reports into a classbook.
• Have students write diary entries from the perspective of historical figures or during significant events.
• Create a classbook that serves as a travel guide to your local area or imaginary destinations created by the students.

The experience of becoming a published author can be incredibly motivating for students. When they see their work in a professionally bound classbook, it instills a sense of pride and accomplishment. This can encourage them to take their writing more seriously and strive to improve their skills.

Developing writing skills in elementary students is a multifaceted process that requires creativity, patience and a variety of engaging activities. By incorporating journal writing, story starters, peer reviews and classbook projects into the classroom, educators can nurture a love for writing and help students become confident, competent writers.

With the right support and encouragement, students can become writers and published authors, ready to share their stories with the world.

Help Your Students Become Published Authors!

A fantastic and engaging way to build writing skills in your classroom is by publishing a book with your class through one of our free classbook publishing kits!  

Use the activities mentioned in this article as a starting point for brainstorming your classbook project. Each student will contribute their writing and illustrations, creating a collective work that is more than the sum of its parts.

For more writing activities, lesson plans and teaching strategies, visit our blog and online Teacher’s Lounge . With these resources and the activities you’ve gathered, you’ll be well-equipped to help your students achieve their educational milestones and become published authors!

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• By Studentreasures

We provide teachers and schools with a FREE hands-on writing activity that motivates students to write and inspires students to learn by turning their stories into professionally bound books. Learn More

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• Lesson Plans & Writing Worksheets

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• How Social-Emotional Learning Benefits Elementary Students
• Creative Activities to Develop Writing Skills for Students
• Unleashing the Power of Words: Vocabulary Building Activities for Elementary Classrooms
• Creative Storytelling Writing Activities for Elementary Classrooms

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• Virtual workshops take place every Saturday (excluding long weekends) from 1:00 pm or 2:00 pm for 1 hour
• Lesson plans are developed by an educator with over 20 years of teaching experience
• Free writing worksheets for download
• Participants will have a chance to win a kids’ ebook. These Canadian children’s books were written by winners of our nationwide Kids Write 4 Kids annual writing competition.

There are five workshops in this series. Can’t make it on these dates? Get notified on upcoming dates.

• Jun 8 – Brainstorm Bonanza
• Jun 15 – Mixed Bag Mayhem
• Jun 22 – Plotline Play-by-Play
• Jul 6 – Details! Details!
• Jul 13 – Stay On Track
• Jul 20 – Brainstorm Bonanza
• Jul 27 – Mixed Bag Mayhem
• Aug 10 – Plotline Play-by-Play
• Aug 17 – Details! Details!
• Aug 24 – Stay On Track

Brainstorm Bonanza

The purpose of this workshop is to teach participants how to brainstorm story ideas effectively.

Mixed Bag Mayhem

The purpose of this workshop is to teach participants about the importance of characters and character development in storylines.

Plotline Play-by-Play

The purpose of this workshop is to teach participants about the role of plot structure in stories.

Details! Details!

The purpose of this workshop is to show participants how descriptive details enhance stories and engage readers through elements that stimulate the senses and add interest.

Stay On Track

The purpose of this workshop is to show participants how an effective story has the main idea that readers can follow from the beginning through to its conclusion.