narrative essays for grade 5

31 Narrative Writing Prompts For 5th Grade

Narrative writing helps students develop storytelling skills by reflecting on their own experiences, or using their imagination, and writing about a series of events.

These assignments encourage students to think about the order of events, practice some of the most important aspects of writing, and use logic to learn from their experiences.

Below, you’ll find a list of narrative writing prompts that will help your 5th graders practice their narrative writing skills.

Some are nonfiction and some are fiction—but they’re all sure to have your students writing.

Using This Guide:

Our writing prompt guides are for you to use in whatever way makes sense for your classroom. As long as your students are working through the process of narrative writing, they’re already on the right track.

But if you need a few ideas on how to help students get started, give one of these a try:

Ask the student to count the number of letters in their whole name. That number will be the prompt that they use.
Have students browse the list quickly, and use the first prompt that catches their eye.
Students can use the date of their birth to choose their prompt.
Have students pick their prompt using their favorite number.

Here are the Prompts:

Describe the best birthday you’ve ever had.
Write about the day you met your best friend. Where did you meet? Did you become friends instantly, or over time?
Write a newspaper article with the headline: BOY BECOMES PRINCIPAL FOR A DAY!
If you know the story, explain how you got your name.
Have you ever told a lie and got caught? What did you lie about? How was the issue resolved?
Write about your first day of kindergarten.
Write a story using the following words: notorious, appreciate, dialogue, participate
Tell a story about an ant who was determined to reach a piece of watermelon on a picnic blanket.
Pretend you are planning a surprise party for your best friend. Who do you invite? How do they react?
Write about the best prank you’ve ever pulled on someone.
Write a spooky story that begins with, “The cabin in the woods was never meant to be found…”
Tell a story about a time when you were afraid.
Write a story using the following words: costume, bundle, exhausted, communicate
Pretend you’re a superhero who protects your town. How did you become a hero? What do you do to protect people?
Write about a time when you helped someone without being asked.
Retell the story of the first day of this school year.
Tell the story of your favorite vacation.
Describe a time when you were in charge. What were you doing? How did you feel?
Write a fairy tale that begins with, “The princess had a cold…”
Write a story using the following words: bread, planet, yesterday, confused
Write a newspaper article with the headline: GIRL FINDS BURIED TREASURE IN HER SANDBOX!
Tell a story about a day when it felt like everything was going wrong.
Pretend you were transported into your favorite game for a day. What do you do? How do you feel?
Write a story about a dog who is trying to cheer up his person.
Retell the story of your favorite holiday memory.
Have you ever witnessed someone being bullied? What did you do?
You are at the beach when you find a message in a bottle. What does the message say? What do you do with it?
Write about how you felt at the beginning of the pandemic. How do you feel about it now?
Tell a story about a kid who always interrupts the teacher when she’s talking.
Write about a crowd of moviegoers who get transported into the movie they are watching.
There’s a loud crash, and you look out the window. A spaceship just landed on your school’s playground. Tell the story of what happens next.

Looking For More?

We have a ton of fun and engaging writing prompts and resources to keep young writers interested and help their teachers keep them on the right track.

If you’re looking for something specific and can’t find it, reach out and let us know. We love to hear all of your wonderful ideas!

Writing Prompts for 5th Grade

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By fifth grade, students are developing basic fluency as writers. In order to hone their skills, fifth graders should practice supporting claims with factual information, conveying information clearly, and writing narratives in a logical order. The following fifth-grade writing prompts encourage students to develop their skills through topics that are meaningful to them.

Narrative Essay Writing Prompts

Narrative essays tell a story based on a student’s personal experience. They encourage students to use descriptive writing to reflect on their experiences, explain them in a logical manner, and draw conclusions from them.

New Beginnings . This is your last year of elementary school. What are you most excited or most nervous about when you think of starting middle school ?
Betwixt . Students in 5th grade are often referred to as “tweens,” meaning that they are between the young child and the teen years. What is the hardest thing about being a tween in today’s society?
Besties . What is the best book you’ve ever read? What made it so special?
Reflections . Do you remember your first-ever day of school ? Describe one vivid memory from that day.
Bullies . Have you ever witnessed someone bullying another student? What happened and how did it make you feel?
Man’s Best Friend . Do you share a bond with your dog or other pet? Describe your pet, and explain what makes your relationship unique.
Families . A family isn’t always a mom, a dad, and their children. Write about the ways your family is the same as and different from other types of families and what makes your bonds so strong.
Holiday Memories . Think about one of your favorite holiday-related memories. Write an essay describing it and tell why it is so unforgettable.
Guilty . Think about a time you did something that made you feel guilty. Describe what happened.
The Ultimate Field Trip . If you could choose anywhere in the world to go on a field trip , where would you choose and why?
Family Game Night . Do you enjoy playing games with your family? Describe your favorite family game or activity.
Tasty Treats . What is your favorite food? Describe it as if you were introducing it to someone who has never seen or tasted it.
Someday . Have you thought about what you want to be when you grow up? Write an essay explaining why you think you’d like that career.

Persuasive Essay Writing Prompts

Persuasive essays are those written to convince another person to agree with the writer or take action. These persuasive essay prompts inspire 5th graders to share their passions with an audience.

Pets Day . You’ve just gone to work with your parent for “bring your child to work day.” Write an essay convincing your school to have a “bring your pet to school” day.
Yuck . What is your least-favorite cafeteria food? Give three compelling reasons why your school should quit serving it.
Let’s Trade . Your friend’s lunches from home always look better than yours. Write an essay convincing your buddy that you should start swapping meals every day. Be sure to highlight the benefits of the food you bring!
Home Alone . Write an essay convincing your parents that you are old enough and responsible enough to stay at home alone.
Sunny Day . The weather outside is beautiful for the first time in weeks. Persuade your teacher not to assign any homework so that you’ll have time to go out to play.
The Sequel . The long-awaited sequel to your favorite book or video game is now available. Convince your brother or sister to do your chores this week so that you have plenty of time for reading or gaming.
Seating Chart . Because of your teacher’s seating chart, you’re not going to be able to sit next to your friend all year! Persuade your teacher to let students choose their seats.
Birth Order . Are you an only child, the oldest sibling, the youngest, or the middle? What makes your birth order the best?
The Ultimate Game . What is the best video game on the planet? Explain why it’s better than similar games.
Life Lessons . What are the three most important lessons parents should teach their children and why?
Test Time . Do you think standardized tests are helpful or harmful? Explain your answer.
Tunes . Some studies have shown that listening to music can help students concentrate. Should students be allowed to listen to music using headphones during independent work times at school? Persuade the reader of your answer.
Catch-22 . You’re not a big fan of writing. Write an essay convincing your teacher that you shouldn’t have to write any more essays this year.

Expository Essay Writing Prompts

Expository essays are often called how-to essays. They usually teach the reader something or provide facts about a particular topic.

Let’s Play . Your family frequently attends community theater productions, but your friend has never seen one. Write an essay describing what he or she can expect during the evening.
Band . You're graduating elementary school, and a younger student is taking your spot in the school band. Explain to him or her how to clean and care for your musical instrument .
Lessons Learned . Write an essay to a younger sibling explaining two or three key strategies for having a positive 5th-grade experience.
Class Pet . You’ve cared for your class pet this week, but now it’s another classmate’s turn. Explain how to feed and care for the pet properly.
Upgrade Ahead . You have an idea to improve your school. Explain it.
Safety Zone . Explain three of the best steps kids can take to be safe online.
Family Traditions . Does your family have any customs or traditions that might be unfamiliar to a classmate? Describe them.
Pen Pal . Describe for your pen pal who lives in another state an animal native to your area, including its physical characteristics, behaviors, and any sounds that it makes.
Creepy Crawlies . Compare and contrast two insects or animals that are similar, but have different characteristics such as a bumblebee and a yellow jacket or a horse and a mule. How are they alike and how are they different?
Clean Up . Your class is going to spend a day cleaning up at a local park. You’ve done this with another group before, but some of your classmates haven’t. Explain the process.
Action . Your favorite book was made into a movie. Compare and contrast the film and book versions.
Team Players . Explain how contributing responsibly helps or how it hurts a group when someone doesn’t do his part.
Tell and Show . Your class is having a “tell and show” day. You have to describe your item in as much detail as possible without naming it. Only when the class guesses or gives up can you show your item. Write out the description of your item.

Creative Writing Essay Prompts

Creative writing allows students to engage their imaginations and story-telling skills while also practicing vital writing skills such as sequence and description.

Magic Lamp . You’ve just found a magic lamp. What happens when you rub it?
Say Cheese . You are given an exceptional camera. Everything you take a picture of becomes yours, but you can only take three pictures. Tell a story about the photos you take.
Invisible Man . One morning, you glance in the mirror and realize that you don’t have a reflection. You’ve become invisible! Write a story about your day.
Gone to the Dogs . Write a story from your pet’s point of view.
All Hail the King . Imagine that you discover an uncharted land that you claim as a new country. And, you’re the ruler! Describe your country, its people, and your newfound position of power.
Part of the Story . One night, you doze off after reading the latest book in your favorite series. When you wake, you discover that you’re in the story! Write about your adventures.
Before or After . Imagine that you live either 100 years in the past or 100 years in the future. What is your life like?
Dr. Doolittle . You’re walking through a pet store when you discover that you can talk to the animals. What happens next?
Meet and Greet . Imagine that you can meet anyone you’re studying in school right now from famous scientists to historical figures to the characters in the class read-aloud . Write a story about your meeting with that person.
Switcheroo . If you could switch lives with anyone in your school, who would it be? Write about your day in the life of that person.
Holiday Loop . Imagine you get to relive your favorite holiday every day. What’s that like?
Tall Tales . Tall tales are possibly true stories that contain highly exaggerated actions or events. Create a tall tale about something that happened in your family.
Teacher's Pet . Imagine that your teacher is actually your parent. Describe a day in class.
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100 Persuasive Essay Topics
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Narrative writing prompts for grade 5

Narrative writing starters.

This mix of writing prompts will help your students get started on writing their narratives.

The perfect pet?

My hidden talent

The transcontinental railroad

A major disappointment

Overwhelmed by joy

The secret student

The conflict

A mystery package

Musical worlds

Playing with history

The story of Apollo 11

Members only:

Careful what you wish for

An underwater kingdom

The suspicious neighbor

The Wright brothers

The underground railroad

The chocolate chip cookie

Animal courage

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Reading Worksheets, Spelling, Grammar, Comprehension, Lesson Plans

50 Narrative Essay Topics

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but a narrative essay can also tell an exciting story and create vivid pictures in the reader’s mind! We’ve got 50 narrative essay topics designed to prompt students to craft memorable written narratives. These can be modified for students in elementary, middle and high school. Feel free to print the entire narrative essay topics list for plenty of inspiration for your next narrative essay assignment!

Narrative Essay Topics

Your first day of school.
Your most exciting day of school
A field trip that your class took.
Your favorite summer vacation.
A trip that included something unexpected or surprising.
A time that you experienced something spooky.
A time that you experienced something truly frightening.
A time that you learned something new that changed you in some way.
The moment when you met someone who changed your life.
The day that you got your first pet.
A move from one place to another.
Something funny that happened to you.
Something funny that happened to one of your family members or friends.
Something embarrassing that happened to you.
Your favorite birthday party.
A birthday that was disappointing.
A big storm (rain, snow or even a tornado!).
A time that the power went out.
A summer day when the temperature got much higher than expected.
A time when you went to an amusement park.
A time when you got lost somewhere.
A memorable experience with a favorite family member.
A sad experience with someone about whom you care.
Your most exciting moment playing sports.
Your most exciting moment performing in a play, singing, playing music or dancing.
An experience that left you feeling frustrated.
An experience that was hard but ended up being worth it.
A time that you experienced rejection.
A weird encounter with a stranger.
A random act of kindness.
A time that you took a stand for someone or for an issue that you care about.
A moment when you thought you might get hurt but didn’t.
Breaking a bone (or otherwise suffering an injury).
Your first time away from home for the night (or longer).
A time when you experienced a historic event.
Where you were when a major event happened. (Note: You don’t need to have been at the site of the event; this prompt is about where you were when you found out about the event and how you reacted.)
A time when you rebelled against your parents or teacher.
A dangerous experience.
A misunderstanding between yourself and someone else.
A difficult decision that you had to make.
The end of a friendship or relationship.
The beginning of a friendship or relationship.
A time when you judged someone first and then realized that you were wrong about the person.
A time when someone judged you first and then realized that he or she was wrong about you.
A moment when you felt that you were starting to grow up.
A time when you saw one or both of your parents in a different light.
A time when you looked up to your older sibling.
A time when your younger sibling looked up to you.
A time when you were grateful to be an only child.
An experience that you think has only ever happened to you!

Looking for more essay topics? Compare and Contrast Essay Topics Descriptive Essay Topics Cause and Effect Essay Topics Persuasive Essay and Speech Topics

Narrative Essay

Narrative Essay Examples

10+ Interesting Narrative Essay Examples Plus Writing Tips!

Narrative Essay Definition

Writing a narrative essay is a unique form of storytelling that revolves around personal experiences, aiming to immerse the reader in the author's world. It's a piece of writing that delves into the depths of thoughts and feelings.

In a narrative essay, life experiences take center stage, serving as the main substance of the story. It's a powerful tool for writers to convey a personal journey, turning experiences into a captivating tale. This form of storytelling is an artful display of emotions intended to engage readers, leaving the reader feeling like they are a part of the story.

By focusing on a specific theme, event, emotions, and reflections, a narrative essay weaves a storyline that leads the reader through the author's experiences.

The Essentials of Narrative Essays

Let's start with the basics. The four types of essays are argumentative essays , descriptive essays , expository essays , and narrative essays.

The goal of a narrative essay is to tell a compelling tale from one person's perspective. A narrative essay uses all components you’d find in a typical story, such as a beginning, middle, and conclusion, as well as plot, characters, setting, and climax.

The narrative essay's goal is the plot, which should be detailed enough to reach a climax. Here's how it works:

It's usually presented in chronological order.
It has a function. This is typically evident in the thesis statement's opening paragraph.
It may include speech.
It's told with sensory details and vivid language, drawing the reader in. All of these elements are connected to the writer's major argument in some way.

Before writing your essay, make sure you go through a sufficient number of narrative essay examples. These examples will help you in knowing the dos and don’ts of a good narrative essay.

It is always a better option to have some sense of direction before you start anything. Below, you can find important details and a bunch of narrative essay examples. These examples will also help you build your content according to the format.

Here is a how to start a narrative essay example:

Sample Narrative Essay

The examples inform the readers about the writing style and structure of the narration. The essay below will help you understand how to create a story and build this type of essay in no time.

Here is another narrative essay examples 500 words:

Narrative Essay Examples for Students

Narrative essays offer students a platform to express their experiences and creativity. These examples show how to effectively structure and present personal stories for education.

Here are some helpful narrative essay examples:

Narrative Essay Examples Middle School

Narrative Essay Examples for Grade 7

Narrative Essay Examples for Grade 8

Grade 11 Narrative Essay Examples

Narrative Essay Example For High School

Narrative Essay Example For College

Personal Narrative Essay Example

Descriptive Narrative Essay Example

3rd Person Narrative Essay Example

Narrative Essay Topics

Here are some narrative essay topics to help you get started with your narrative essay writing.

When I got my first bunny
When I moved to Canada
I haven’t experienced this freezing temperature ever before
The moment I won the basketball finale
A memorable day at the museum
How I talk to my parrot
The day I saw the death
When I finally rebelled against my professor

Need more topics? Check out these extensive narrative essay topics to get creative ideas!

Narrative Essay Writing Tips

Narrative essays give you the freedom to be creative, but it can be tough to make yours special. Use these tips to make your story interesting:

Share your story from a personal viewpoint, engaging the reader with your experiences.
Use vivid descriptions to paint a clear picture of the setting, characters, and emotions involved.
Organize events in chronological order for a smooth and understandable narrative.
Bring characters to life through their actions, dialogue, and personalities.
Employ dialogue sparingly to add realism and progression to the narrative.
Engage readers by evoking emotions through your storytelling.
End with reflection or a lesson learned from the experience, providing insight.

Now you have essay examples and tips to help you get started, you have a solid starting point for crafting compelling narrative essays.

However, if storytelling isn't your forte, you can always turn to our essay service for help.

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Free Printable Narrative Writing Worksheets for 5th Grade

Narrative Writing: Discover a vast collection of free printable worksheets for Grade 5 Reading & Writing teachers, designed to enhance students' narrative writing skills and spark their creativity.

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Explore printable Narrative Writing worksheets for 5th Grade

Narrative Writing worksheets for Grade 5 are an essential tool for teachers looking to enhance their students' reading and writing skills. These worksheets provide engaging and thought-provoking prompts, allowing students to practice their narrative writing techniques while also improving their reading comprehension. As a teacher, you know the importance of incorporating various writing styles into your curriculum, and these worksheets offer a perfect opportunity to introduce nonfiction writing as well. By utilizing these Grade 5 worksheets, you can help your students develop their creativity, storytelling abilities, and understanding of different writing genres, all while meeting the necessary educational standards.

Quizizz is an excellent platform that complements the use of Narrative Writing worksheets for Grade 5, providing teachers with a variety of resources to further enhance their students' reading and writing skills. In addition to offering engaging and interactive quizzes, Quizizz also provides a wide range of nonfiction writing resources, allowing teachers to diversify their lesson plans and cater to different learning styles. By incorporating Quizizz into your teaching strategy, you can create a more dynamic and engaging learning environment for your Grade 5 students. Furthermore, the platform's user-friendly interface and customizable features make it an invaluable tool for educators looking to improve their students' overall performance in reading and writing.

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