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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
• 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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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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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 .

• Writing Prompts for 5th Grade
• Writing Prompts for 7th Grade
• Second Grade Writing Prompts
• 24 Journal Prompts for Creative Writing in the Elementary Classroom
• 40 "Back From Christmas Break" Writing Prompts
• November Writing and Journal Prompts
• First Grade Writing Prompts
• Christmas Journal Writing Prompts
• 4th Grade Writing Prompts
• September Writing Prompts
• Engaging Writing Prompts for 3rd Graders
• December Writing Prompts
• October Writing Prompts
• Journal Writing Prompts for Easter
• February Writing Prompts
• 49 Opinion Writing Prompts for Students

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 57 fun creative writing prompts for kids.

General Education

With many kids learning from home due to Covid-19, easy-to-organize educational activities for students are more important than ever. Writing helps improve students' creativity, communication skills, and ability to focus, among other benefits.

Whether you're a teacher, a parent now homeschooling, or a student looking for something new and interesting to write about, these writing prompts are for you. We've collected 57 writing prompts for students of various ages, from elementary school through high school. From spooky story writing prompts to debating how to improve schools, this article has writing prompts that will appeal to all students.

Tips for Using These Writing Prompts

What's the best way to use these creative writing prompts for kids? It depends on a lot of factors, including the student's age, current schooling structure, and their own interests and abilities. Here are some suggestions:

Use as a daily writing prompts exercise. You can assign one of these prompts at the beginning or end of the school day, as a way to prepare for the rest of the day or unwind after schoolwork.

Set up a quiet space to write. Many people have a hard enough time writing even with no distractions, and it can be nearly impossible to respond thoughtfully to a prompt if there's a television on, people talking, etc. Having a distraction-free space can help your student focus on the work at hand and produce their best writing.

Suggest an estimated writing length. Most of these journal writing prompts are designed to be answered both briefly or much more in depth. By giving a number of words/pages to aim for, you'll give your student a better idea of how detailed their response should be.

Consider having students handwrite their responses. Writing by hand can help students be more thoughtful about their responses because they'll typically write slower than they can type. It can also help students improve their handwriting skills.

57 Fun Writing Prompts for Kids

Below are over 50 journal topics for kids, organized into three categories: narrative writing prompts, fiction/creative writing prompts, and argumentative writing prompts for kids.

Narrative Writing Prompts for Kids

#1: What is your favorite holiday or holiday tradition?

#2: If you could go back in time for one day, which time period would you choose?

#3: If you could learn one thing about your future, what would it be? Or, if you prefer not to know anything, why would you make that choice?

#4: Pretend you're writing an autobiography and need to create a table of contents. What would you name each chapter?

#5: What is your earliest memory? Write every detail you can remember about it.

#6: If you had the power to change one thing about school, what would you change and why?

#7: Describe three goals you have for yourself.

#8: Imagine you are creating your dream restaurant. What kind of food would you serve, what would the menu look like, and how would the restaurant be decorated?

#9: If you could build your dream house, what would it look like? What rooms would it have? What would the yard be like?

#10: What is the bravest thing you've done in your life? Why did you make the choice you did? How did you feel during and after the situation?

#11: What is the funniest thing you've ever seen?

#12: What is your dream job?

#13: What is one thing you're really good at?

#14: Pretend you are a professional reviewer and write a review of a book you recently read or a TV show/movie you recently watched. How many stars would you give it? What did you like about it, and what didn't you like?

#15: Write about a time you did something kind for someone else. What did you do, how did it make you feel, and how did it make the person you helped feel?

#16: Imagine your life in ten years. What do you think you will be like? What will you be doing?

#17: Write about the craziest dream you've ever had.

#18: What would your perfect weekend look like? What things would you do? Who would you see? What would you eat?

#19: Do you like your name? If so, why? If not, what would you change it to?

#20: Make a list of your favorite activities for each season.

#21: Write about your least favorite chore. What don't you like about it? What would you invent to make the chore easier?   

#22: What three pieces of advice would you give to your younger self?

#23: If you could be famous for anything, what would it be? 

#24: If you could create a new law, what would it be? Do you think it would be hard to enforce?

#25: Write about a time you think one or both of your parents made a mistake. What did they do, and what do you think they should have done? Did they admit their mistake?

#26: How would your best friend describe you? How would you describe your best friend? (You can also have your friend do this prompt and read each other's responses.)

Fiction and Creative Writing Prompts for Kids

#27: Write a story about a character taking a submarine ride under the sea. What sort of things do you think they would see there? Would they be afraid or excited?

#28: Write a new chapter for your favorite book or new scene for your favorite movie. Which characters would be there, and what would they be doing?

#29: Invent a new pet. What would it look like, and what would you call it? What would it eat, and how would you care for it?

#30: Start a story with a lyric from a song.

#31: Pick something nearby (toy, pet, flower, etc.) and write a haiku about it. Bonus points if it rhymes!

#32: Write a story about a character who gets lost in the woods and discovers a mysterious person there.

#33: Write your own silly internet quiz.

#34: Choose an object in the house and describe it in as much detail as you can without saying what it is. Then, have a parent or sibling try to guess what you described.

#35: Write a scary story that includes: a spooky pumpkin patch, a vampire afraid of garlic, and a black cat.

#36: Do some people watching out your window. Write a story using one or more of them as the characters. Make up backstories and imagine what they're doing.

#37: Write a story about what you think your parents were like when they were younger.

#38: Your character survives a shipwreck and washes up on a mysterious island. What is on the island and how does (s)he get back home?

#39: Imagine you can choose to be any animal for a day. Which animal would you choose? What would you do?

#40: Write a poem about your favorite season.

#41: Imagine you are chosen for the first mission to Mars. What would you bring with you, and what do you think exploring the planet would be like?

#42: Write a sympathetic story from the point of view of the "bad guy." (Think fractured fairy tales like Wicked or The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! , although the story doesn't have to be a fairy tale.)

#43: Imagine your pet gets a day to roam free before returning home. Where would it go, and what would it see?

#44: If you could have dinner with any three people (real or fictional), who would you choose and what would you talk about? What would you eat?

#45: Look through photographs, drawings, and paintings. Choose one and write a story about it, imagining where it is and the types of people/things there.

#46: Imagine aliens landed on earth. What would they look like, and how would they act? Would they be friendly or not?

Argumentative Writing Prompts for Kids

#47: Are there dangers of teenagers spending too much time on social media?

#48: Does homework actually help students learn?

#49: Should students doing e-learning this year get letter grades, pass/fail, or no grades?

#50: At what age should children get their own cell phone?

#51: Which is best: ebooks, audiobooks, or traditional print books?

#52: What's more important, PE classes or art classes?

#53: Which celebrity is the best role model for kids? Which is the worst?

#54: Should parents or teachers be able to ban certain books from schools?

#55: Which season is the best?

#56: Should students recite the Pledge of Allegiance in school?

#57: Should students go to school year-round and have shorter breaks throughout the year rather than one long summer vacation?

What's Next?

Also looking for science activities for kids?  Check out our 37 science experiments for kids that you can do at home!

Want to make some slime? We tell you how to make slimes without borax and without glue as well as how to craft the ultimate super slime .

Pipe cleaners can provide endless craft ideas. Read our guide for simple instructions for 31 fun pipe cleaner crafts for kids.

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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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 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.

52 Creative Writing Prompts for Kids to Let Their Imagination Fly

• November 9, 2022

Creative writing has many benefits for kids. They learn to appreciate how stories work, they hear the wonderful way sounds can match with rhymes, and their love of reading grows as they become writers. Some children may be so inspired that they dream of being authors when they grow up! Creative writing helps children develop :

• Imagination and creativity
• Self-expression
• Self-confidence
• Communication and persuasion skills

Also, it’s just plain fun!

What exactly is creative writing? It’s writing where you can just let your imagination fly. Your child can make up a story, a poem, or a song to explore their feelings or to simply tell a good story.

Here are 52 of the best creative and fiction writing prompts for children. These creative writing prompts are one way to help your child dream up something new every time they pick up a pencil. Encourage your child to write the story they would want to read.

52 of the Best Fiction Writing Prompts for Kids

Your children can use these ideas as creative inspiration as they practice writing words and sentences. PreK and early elementary-aged children who haven’t learned to write yet might enjoy drawing pictures to tell their stories, or they could tell a story out loud to their family.

Creative Writing Prompts for PreK Children

1. Young readers can use these Rusty and Rosy printable coloring pages to create their own stories by filling in the blanks.

2. Use this sentence starter activity as a prompt for beginning writers to craft their own sentences.

3. Imagine it snowed overnight. How would you spend the next day having fun in the snow?

4. Write a poem about your family. What are some words to describe your loved ones?

5. You wake up with the ability to talk to animals. What do the birds outside your window have to say?

6. There’s a dolphin in your bathtub. How did it get there and how will you get it back home to the ocean?

7. You’re president for a day. What do you do?

8. You’re a veterinarian for a dragon who has a sore throat. How will you help them?

Creative Writing Prompts For Elementary-Aged Children

9. Suddenly you’re nocturnal and stay awake all night long. What happens late at night that’s different from daytime?

10. Write a superhero story where the villain wants to become good. How do they convince the superheroes to trust them?

11. It’s the first day of school for robots. What do you learn at robot school?

12. You get to make a new national holiday. What is it about and how do you celebrate?

13. You get $100 but you have to spend it by the end of the day. What do you do with it?

14. You are an inventor whose job is to create the best toys. What will you make?

15. Suddenly ducks don’t like you. They quack at you and chase you away at the park. How do you get them to like you again?

16. Oh, no! Suddenly ducks love you and won’t leave you alone! How do you get them to let you be?

17. You go back in time and meet your parents when they were your age. What do you tell them?

18. You’ve just won the world championship. What did you win it in? Describe the competition.

19. You’re the world’s greatest detective. Describe your favorite unusual case. Did you solve it or is it still a mystery?

20. Write a story about a superhero who loses their powers but still has to find a way to be a hero.

21. You trade places with your parents for a day. What would you do?

22. Rewrite the ending of your favorite book. Will it be happy or sad?

23. One morning, the world doesn’t have electricity any more. What are your days like now?

24. Space aliens land and it’s your lucky job to show them around. Where will you take them?

25. The chicken finally tells you why it crossed the road. What is the secret?

26. You’re the mayor. What will you do to make your community better?

27. Tonight you cook dinner for your family. What interesting food is on the menu that will surprise them?

28. You wake up stuck in the last movie you watched. What is it, and what do you do?

29. Write about the best magic trick you can imagine.

31. Write a letter to your favorite author telling them what you like about their books! Use this free printable template .

32. There’s a light switch in your home but nobody knows what it’s for. One day, you discover the secret. What does it light up?

33. You have a pet dinosaur. What’s your dinosaur’s name? What’s your day together like?

34. You can fly like a bird. What kind of fun would you have soaring in the clouds?

35. Describe yourself with rhyming words!

36. Your family takes a big road trip that goes wrong in the funniest way possible. What happens?

37. You discover an island no one has ever seen before. Describe what it’s like.

38. Rewrite the ending of your favorite movie the way you want it to be.

39. You show up to the first day of school and discover that your new teacher is a wizard or a witch. What will they teach in class?

40. You find a mysterious treasure map. How would you start your treasure hunt?

41. You’re a paleontologist and find a new type of dinosaur. What did it look like, and what did it do back in the past?

42. Your favorite superhero needs your help! What can you do to save the day?

43. You’re the world’s youngest astronaut and get to fly to the moon. Describe your space trip.

45. One night, you discover that garden gnomes come to life until the sun rises. What fun do they have all night long?

46. Practice writing letters with this printout . Imagine you’re living on a moon base. Write a letter to your cousin on Earth describing how things are going.

47. You get to go shopping at a magical grocery store with your family. What special treats would you buy?

48. You have a magic wand. What spells will you cast?

49. What does your shadow do when you’re not around?

50. You can have the powers of any animal in the world. What animal is it? What would your powers be?

51. Write a journal entry from the point of view of a time traveler who visits 100 years into the future. What surprises them in that different world?

52. You get to spend the night in a museum. What kind of museum? How will you have fun?

Creative writing is just one kind of writing exercise. You can also find a great list of journal prompts for kids , one for each week of the year, to help kids practice writing while learning to express their ideas and opinions.

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365 Fun and Creative Writing Prompts For Kids – One Writing Prompt For Children For Each Day Of The Year

Creative writing prompts for kids stimulate innovative minds and imaginations. Anyone who loves to write, not just fiction authors, experiences times when they can’t write a thing. Writing prompts help children, and adults overcome writer’s block. Teachers use interesting writing prompts to stimulate students’ thoughts in various ways, for example, when writing scholastic essays, stories, and “imagine that” scenarios; it inspires imagination and critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovative ideas, and is fun.

We created a list of creative writing prompts for kids to improve different writing styles and multiple topics that will resonate with a child in elementary school to a teen in high school; we’ve also included kids writing prompts for preschool-aged children. With 365 ideas, there is a writing prompt for kids for each day of the year, enough to create writing ideas and resources teachers can use throughout the school year in class or distance learning.

Table of Contents

If you could… writing prompts for kids, creative writing prompts that focus on friends, writing prompts for kids focusing on family, creative writing prompts focusing on the person, social-emotional writing prompts for kids, would you rather… writing prompts for kids, what would you do if… creative writing prompts for kids, argumentative writing prompts for kids, descriptive writing prompts for kids, persuasive writing prompts for kids, write a story writing prompts for kids, mystery writing prompts for kids, write a letter/ email creative writing prompts for kids, point of view creative writing prompts for kids, animal themed writing prompts for kids, house/dream house themed writing prompts for kids, funny writing prompts for elementary school adventures, journal prompts for middle school, historical writing prompts for kids, math writing prompts for children, science essay writing prompts for kids, journal prompts for kids in high school, digital and social media-themed practice writing prompts for kids, children’s story writing prompts bonus for leap year:, great writing prompts for children and students to encourage awesome writing ideas.

One way to get a child’s creative juices flowing is to empower them!

If you could design the school uniform, what would it look like? What colors and fabric would you use? Would the clothing pieces be the same for boys and girls or different?

If you could change the school education system, how would you change it?

If you could go to any country in the world, where would you go?

If you could change places with someone for a year, who would it be and why?

If you could live anywhere in the universe, where would it be?

If you could organize a field trip for the class, where would you go?

If you could travel back in time to ask someone a question, who would it be, and what is the question?

If you could talk to a wild animal, what would you talk about?

If you could have any animal as a pet, what would you choose, and how will it live in your home?

If you could only wear one set of clothes for a whole year, what would it be and why?

If you could pick a vegetable or fruit, what would you be, and what would it be like?

If you could live in a submarine and breathe underwater, where would you explore, and what would you find?

If you could meet one of the ten most famous writers of all time, what would you ask them?

If you could be invisible for a day, what would you do? Consider that whatever you do has consequences, and you could stay invisible forever.

If you could change something in your past that would affect someone’s future, what would it be?

If you could drive any vehicle in the world, real or imaginative, what would it be?

If you could replace something you broke or something stolen, what would it be, and who does it belong to?

If you could read minds, name one person whose mind you don’t want to read and why.

If you could read five people’s minds and whatever you see or hear appear on the news the next day, inside whose minds would you be and why?

Fun Writing Prompts For Children To Write About Family And Friendships

What do you like about your best friend?

How would you describe your best friend in a few sentences?

If you could go on an adventure with your best friend, what would it be?

How would you react if you discovered your best friend is royalty?

How would you make your enemy your best friend?

What would you do if you visited your best friend’s house and found out your friend had turned into a snail?

Would you rather have a best friend or no enemies?

How many friends would you like to have and why?

What is the nicest thing you can do for your best friend?

How would your best friend describe you?

What kind of birthday party would you plan for a friend who has never had a birthday party?

List three things you never want your best friend to say. What will happen if they do say it?

Creative writing prompts about family are familiar topics kids can associate with. Whether they like or dislike the current situation or family members, there is always something to write about your family.

You woke up in the morning as a parent, and your parents are the children. Describe your day.

If money, time, or obligations weren’t a factor, describe the perfect family summer vacation.

Parents should be more lenient with rules. Do you agree or not?

Would you rather be your parents’ only child or have nine siblings?

What advice would you give parents on rewarding and chastising their kids?

Should one or both parents help with your homework? If so, how much and what kind of help should they offer?

Do you want your parents to ask you, “How was school today? Or do you prefer them not to? Explain why.

Would you rather eat dinner with your family at the table or in your room watching TV? Explain the benefits of both options and conclude why you prefer one to the other.

Your mom left her journal on the kitchen table. Would you read it or not? Explain why.

If you were a parent, what would you never allow your child to do?

If you had kids, how would you discipline them?

If you were the ruler of the world of parents and teachers, what would you insist they do at the beginning of every day?

What are two things your parents do or say that you hope you will do or say to your children one day?

If your family were superheroes, what special skills would each member have?

What is the most embarrassing moment in your life concerning your parents or sibling?

What is your earliest childhood memory that made you laugh or cry?

If each member in the family was a food, what would they be and why?

What is the best gift your parents gave you? A gift can be anything you treasure; it doesn’t have to be a tangible gift.

If you could organize a camping trip for the family, where would you go and what would you do?

Would you rather text siblings and parents or talk to them face to face?

What would happen if you took a parent to the class, and the parent behaved at school the way you do at home?

Name two books you would recommend parents to read and give your reasons.

Your family is going away for an exciting weekend. Each person can take only one item, and you must decide what they take.

Writing Prompts For Children’s Self-Discovery And Expressing Emotions And Feelings

What is the funniest thing you’ve ever done?

How would you describe yourself?

If you could look back from the future, what advice would you give yourself today?

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be and why?

Who is your favorite person in the universe?

Which animal is your favorite and why?

If you could do anything in the future, what would it be?

If you couldn’t talk, how would you communicate?

What is the one thing you are truly good at?

What is your happiest memory?

What kindness would you want people to do for you that you will also do for others?

What is your favorite activity in spring, summer, winter, and fall?

What chore do you like the least to do? Would you rather do that chore or eat a grasshopper?

Describe an event that changed your life.

Describe three skills you are good at and three skills you would like to improve or have.

What is your favorite place in the world? What is your least favorite place?

What is the one thing you can’t do but wish you could?

Life at school is busy, and teachers have to teach students many things in a short time. A writing prompt for children is one way to strengthen social-emotional learning; instead of silence, kids write about their emotions. Creative writing prompts for kids help students express and discuss these vital concepts.

How do you feel about yourself and your abilities? Do you believe in your abilities? If not, how can you improve?

Are you self-confident? What gives you self-confidence? If you don’t feel self-confident, what can you do to become more confident?

What should you do, and what should you avoid doing when you are angry or upset?

How do you cope with stress? What can you do to relax and feel peaceful again?

Describe a situation where you had to make a tough choice, and you made the right choice.

What would you do if you were at the mall and you saw someone stealing something?

A new student came to school. Will you introduce yourself, ignore them, or make fun of them? Describe your actions.

How would you empathize with a student feeling sad?

It’s not always easy to ask for help. Discuss ways to ask for help and the advantages of asking and giving support.

What does responsibility mean to you?

Tell about an incident where you were kind to someone and when someone was kind to you.

What scares you? How can you overcome your fear?

How do you feel about a change in your life? Do you like it or do you prefer things to stay the same?

Interesting Writing Prompts For Children’s Creative Thinking Process – Would You Rather…What Would You …

“Would you rather” questions are fun and creative writing prompts for kids. These writing prompts offer choices that will make a child laugh or contemplate the best option; it may even change their outlook on some things in life.

Would you rather live on Mars or under the sea?

Would you rather be a frog or a rat?

Would you rather be a king or queen of a kingdom or a president of a country?

Would you rather write stories or poetry for the rest of your life?

Would you rather be a movie star or an astronaut?

Would you rather survive a shipwreck or a plane crash?

Would you rather live underground or in the sky?

Would you rather go without food or sleep?

Would you rather skip a grade and repeat the next grade for two years or go back to first grade for a year?

Would you rather travel back in time or into the future with a time machine that goes only in one direction?

Would you rather be a pet at home or a bird in the sky?

Would you rather be a newborn baby or a grandparent?

Would you rather have winter with snow or summer with flowers?

Would you rather be your parents or your grandparents?

Would you rather be four hands or four feet?

Would you rather go on an adventure in the desert or the ocean?

Would you rather communicate in 10 different languages and help a nation or be able to speak to animals and help prevent the extinction of an animal?

Would you rather pay someone to do your chores or get paid to do theirs?

Much the same as the previous section, except a little bit more open-ended by design. Use these prompts to drag out some entertaining, interesting stories from your students.

What would you do if you woke up one morning and you discovered you were on Mars?

What would you do if you woke up one morning and you had shrunk to the size of an ant?

What would you do if you were the school principal?

What would you do if you woke one morning and you were exploring Antarctica?

What would you wake up one morning and you are the house pet?

What would you do if you try to throw the ball forward, but it goes backward?

What would you do if you came to school but no one recognized you?

What would you do if you woke up in a strange land where no one looks like you or speaks your language?

What would you do if the character in a book jumped out into your world?

What would you do if a famous inventor from the past sat next to you in class? Who would you like the person to be?

What would you do if your favorite superhero came to visit?

What would you do if your handwriting became invisible and you had to write a test?

What would you do if all your favorite movie characters came to your school at once?

What would you do if you found someone living in your attic?

What would you do if you woke up on a boat on an island?

What would you do if the kids became adults overnight and your teacher became a child?

Outline Description Kids’ Writing Prompts To Inspire Imaginations And Critical Thinking For Articles And Essays

Kids must know what they believe about the topic before they can write their arguments. Argumentative writing tries to convince the reader that the writer’s ideas are valid and want to change someone’s opinion. The writer presents both sides of the argument and then forms their opinion based on the facts.

How does history help our future?

At what age should a child get a smartphone, and why?

Which cartoon character is an excellent example to follow and why?

Which celebrity is a fantastic role model for kids and why?

What is the best way to communicate?

What is better, reading books online, printed books, or audiobooks?

Why is it essential to go to school? If you disagree, what would you recommend as an alternative to education?

All sports should be banned at school. Explain why you agree or disagree with the statement.

Should or shouldn’t the school have a dress code?

Kids should be able to use social media supervised or unsupervised. Why?

Kids should go camping or hiking with family regularly.

Creative writing prompts for kids stimulate kids to write more engaging and creatively. Do you agree or not, and why? If you disagree, what alternatives do you suggest?

Writing is old-fashioned and will be obsolete soon. If you agree, explain the alternatives. If you disagree, describe the uses for writing in the future.

Reading and writing are essential even with modern technology.

A child won’t have to learn to write if they can verbally communicate. True or false. Explain.

Descriptive writing aims to describe a place, thing, or event so that the reader forms a picture in their mind. Details are essential, and consider all five senses when describing something. The reader should be able to visualize and experience what the writer describes.

Describe a life without electronics – no smartphones, tablets, laptops…

Describe a hole in the garden. What would happen if you fell to the bottom of the earth?

Describe A Day in the Life of your parents when they were your age.

Describe what it would be like to be a pretend character in a sibling’s favorite video game.

Describe what an eagle sees when flying over your favorite place.

Imagine a time machine that takes you back or forward in time. Describe what school, education, or lack thereof, would be like in that era.

Describe what it would be like to be a pair of shoes, any footwear a parent wears.

Describe the perfect classroom setup and decor for an elementary, middle school, or high school student.

Describe your favorite food to someone who has never tasted it.

Describe your favorite color to someone who cannot see.

Describe the worst place on earth you never want to go to.

Pretend you’re a king or a queen; describe your kingdom.

Persuasive writing helps students think about important topics and allows them to persuade others to their way of thinking. The goal is to have the reader agree with the writer’s opinion. Persuasive writing is often used to convince someone to buy an item.

Which is best, to be popular at school, top in your class, or the best in sports?

As a child, I should be allowed to know…

The best way to commute to school is…

Which is more critical for earth’s survival, the sun or the moon?

Everyone should journal daily because…

Video games influence a person’s behavior negatively and should be banned.

Computers are making kids less creative and lazy to think.

Modern music today is not of the same quality as the music was 100 years ago.

Boys or girls should only play certain sports.

Social media creates fake relationships and opinions.

Persuade your parent about a skill you need for the future.

Persuade your principal that the school should introduce a particular sport or exercise not currently available at the school.

All children should have a pet. Explain why and how the child will benefit.

A child should be allowed to practice the same privileges as a parent.

A child should have the freedom to choose if he or she wants to go to school or not.

Lying is never good, not even a white lie.

Story Prompts To Inspire Poems And Fiction Writing Romance, Fantasy, And Mysterious Adventures

Using your imagination to write a story is fun and stimulates creative writing. These story starters help younger kids be innovative when writing stories.

Write a story about a supposedly extinct animal found alive outside in your backyard.

Write a story about your favorite day as the president of…

Write a story about a strange land you discovered.

Write a story about visiting and exploring Mars.

Write a story about spending a day with a robot, a dog, and a cow.

Write a story about discovering a broken time machine that doesn’t use electricity.

Write a story about you invented something that changed the working world.

Write another chapter of your favorite book.

Write another ending to your favorite movie.

Write a story where the chief character faces their greatest fear. What do they do when?

Write a story where you wake up in a bully’s home, and they wake up in your home.

Write a story about a lost city deep in a mine.

Write a story about going to school on another planet in September.

Write a story about an invention that cured all diseases.

Write a story about discovering a gratitude journal in the attic.

Write a story about a kid who gave back to the community.

Write a story about a cartoon character knocking at your bedroom window with an eraser.

Write a story using these words in the narrative: “Send the menu, it is blue” or “The spoon has lots.”

Write a story about a child growing up among wild animals or dinosaurs.

Everyone likes a good mystery, especially if you are the one that solves it! The five essentials for a mystery are the characters, the plot, the setting, the problem, and the solution.

You are particularly bored, so you page through your mom’s recipe book. You come across a recipe that has really nothing to do with food or cookies. What happens next?

Your dad has a new job, and he doesn’t want to take about it. You follow him to work and discover he goes to a red door in a wall. You…

The local pizza owner calls you, the local detective, to solve a mystery. The cook makes the pizza, but when it reaches the customer, some toppings are missing. It only happens to pizzas made for younger kids.

One day, you and your best friend were walking in the woods when you heard someone calling for help.

Something or someone is hiding in the barn. You go to investigate and find a kid who can’t remember anything and a talking dog. You must help them get back home.

A kid in school asks you to write this amazing story, but after the first interview, the child disappears.

You go to school, as usual, only to find out it is two weeks later, the principal is missing, and you were the last person who saw him.

Someone is stealing the library books and leaving your name written in strange handwriting in its place. The principal gives you the weekend to prove your innocence.

A kid waves to you and beckons you to follow on your bike. He leads you down the wrong road to an abandoned mine and disappears into the mine.

Lost in the woods, you see a wolf lurking behind a tree as Red Riding Hood walks past. You know it is a fairy tale, but what are you doing there?

The school replaced the janitor with a basic robot. The way the teachers and principal ignore the robot makes you wonder if there is more to the robot than meets the eye.

You come home from school, and the basement door is open. You hear a humming sound, and you go downstairs to investigate. A man climbs out of a time machine. “Just in time, I was looking for you,” he says to you.

Your family returns from a vacation in a foreign country. The airport official tells your dad your country no longer exists; it has disappeared under the sea as Atlantis did.

You find journal pages scattered in the backyard. When you read a page, it refers to a family secret.

A letter or email comprises unique elements. A person usually writes a letter or email to someone for a specific reason and expects the person to respond.

Write a letter to your parents telling them why you are glad they are your parents.

Write a letter to your teacher explaining why all students should read your favorite book.

Write a letter to a new kid in class telling them what to expect at school.

Write a letter to a new kid who moved in, telling them about your favorite place in town.

Write a letter to a celebrity explaining why they should visit your town for the holidays.

Write a letter to your favorite cartoon character telling them why you should be in their next cartoon story.

Write a letter to your superhero telling them why spending the summer vacation with your family is a good idea.

Write a letter to your favorite pet.

Write a letter to a person who can help you develop a skill you aren’t good at.

Write a letter to yourself from a teacher.

Write a letter to someone from outer space explaining to them what a tree is.

Write a letter to the music teacher explaining why the school should create a unique band, the instruments they should play, who should be in the band, and the type of music.

Write a letter to a season explaining why it is better than the other seasons.

Write a letter to the mayor persuading him/her about something the town needs.

Write a letter to the principal explaining why all kids at school must move from classroom to classroom on skateboards or rollerblades.

Write a letter to the prom king or queen explaining why they should wear a similar outfit to the school’s mascot to the prom.

We all have our perspectives, but when we place ourselves in the other person’s shoes, we see the situation from their perspective. If we do that more often, there would be fewer misunderstandings in the world.

You are called to the principal’s office because of an incident. Tell it from the principal’s point of view.

Describe your town from an outer space point of view.

You argued with a parent. Explain what happened from their point of view.

Someone tore two pages out of your favorite book. Explain the reason from their point of view.

Rewrite a fairy tale from the villain’s perspective, being sympathetic towards the villain.

Your sibling suggests a movie genre you hate. Explain from their perspective why watching the movie with them is more important than watching your favorite TV show.

Children’s Writing Prompts With Fun Animals And Dream House Themes

Kids like animals and pets. Animals play important roles in stories and their lives. Most kids can easily associate with an animal or a pet. Animal-themed writing prompts are creative writing ideas that young children and older kids can write about; even those who think they aren’t creative will surprise themselves.

Write a conversation between a cat and a dog.

Write a conversation a parent has with a hamster, frog, or skunk.

If you could invent a new pet, describe what it would look like, its favorite food, what superpower it has, and how you would take care of it.

If you were the pet and your pet you, what would you want them to do for you?

What is your favorite animal, and which is your least favorite? Explain why.

What would the world be like if lions and deer and wolves and lambs were friends?

If you were a fish, what fish would you like to be?

If you were a wild animal or bird, describe your habitat, food, favorite season, and three interesting facts or something unique to that animal.

Write a letter to your teacher persuading them you can bring a wild animal to school.

What animal is the best pet in the universe?

Describe the best day with your pet. If you don’t have a pet, write about a dream pet.

If you were a bird that could fly anywhere, where would you go, and how long will it take?

Would you rather be a crocodile or a tiger?

Describe three animals, birds, fish, or insects that start with the letter b. Which one would you like as a pet?

If you could spend a day in the jungle with an animal, what would it be and what would you do?

One day, while swimming in the river, a fish swam toward me and…

Everyone knows the lion is the king of the jungle, but describe another animal (actual or fictitious) that you think should be king of the jungle.

Tell a story about why the ostrich stuck its head in the sand.

If you were trapped in a cage with a circus animal, what would happen?

Describe your dream house and which room would be your favorite.

Explain how you would get an elephant into your house.

Would you try to discover what is in a locked room in your house?

If you hear a sound in the attic that sounds like a call for help, what would you do?

If you had to remove one room from the house, which room would it be and why? Would you replace it with something else?

You sneak into the kitchen for a piece of birthday cake, but in its place is a plate of broccoli. What happened?

How would you build a shelter if shipwrecked on an island?

If you had all the money in the world, how would you decorate your dream house?

If you could build three things for three kids, a doll’s house, a treehouse, and a hideaway. What would it look like, and who are the kids you build it for?

Describe your dream house living in a strange land.

Journal Prompts For Elementary School And Middle School Learners

Children in elementary school have a unique sense of humor stimulated by the absurd. Creative writing prompts that make them laugh could also help them improve their writing skills.

A lobster is your substitute teacher; tell the story about what happens next.

You walk in the park and see two cows in a tree; what are they doing?

Someone replaced your favorite lunch with the most disgusting lunch, which they dare you to eat. Describe the food, and will you eat it?

It’s the national opposite day, and you have to say everything as an opposite. Describe your least favorite food.

Your teacher walks into the classroom with feathers like a duck and the head of a chimpanzee. You may not laugh; if you do, you will be sent to the principal’s office. What do you do to avoid laughing?

You wake up one morning, and your room is upside down. Your bed is on the ceiling. What will you do?

You wake up one morning with ears and a tail like a donkey. What happens next?

You walk in the woods, and a skunk sees you and invites you to a party. What happens next?

The teacher welcomes a new student into the class. Every time you look at the new student, they make a funny animal noise. Describe the noise and what happens next.

You are the only one that can smell outer space. Describe the smell to your best friend.

The teacher announces that you are going to learn new communication skills using your toes. Explain how it works.

Suppose you were a plant in your mom’s garden that could talk. Describe A Day in the plant’s life.

Write a thank-you letter to your best friend who gave you a piece of gum that smelled like trash and tasted like Brussel sprouts.

A gratitude journal or a journal writing prompt can be a statement or question that inspires the student to write about something. Middle school students practice their writing skills, and creative writing prompts for kids are excellent starting points.

You were traveling through a mountain pass in the 19th century. Something or someone is coming fast from the opposite direction. What happens next?

Write a story about a student who ran away and returns ten years later to find the hometown deserted except for one person. What happened, and who is that person?

What is your favorite hobby, and why?

If you lived underwater, what games would you play with friends?

A strange sound wakes you up one morning…

Describe your dream vacation with your best friend.

If you could climb any mountain in the world, who would you take with you and why?

If you received a large sum of money, what would you do with it?

If you could help someone from the past, who would it be, and how would you help them?

Would you rather be your favorite food or your least favorite?

You are an astronaut. Where would you go, and what happens on the way to your destination?

Elementary Writing Prompts For Scholastic Curriculum

One way to learn history is to write about it. Teachers can use history writing prompts to help students understand historical facts in a fun way.

If you could spend a day at the playground with one person from the past, who would it be, and what would you do?

If you could ask Abraham Lincoln one question, what would it be, and what do you think would be his answer?

If you could change any part of history, what would it be and why?

A famous historical figure from the past visits your parents. What happens next?

Describe A Day in the Life of children living during the early settlement years in the US.

Imagine you discovered gold in the California gold rush; what happens next?

Someone steals the Declaration of Independence, and you have to find it. Where will you look, and who stole it?

You are one of the daring riders during the Pony Express; describe your day.

If you had a visitor from outer space, how would you explain the Bill of Rights?

Write a mock interview with a child who joined their parent in an archaeology expedition in Egypt.

If you could interview anyone from the first century, who would it be, and what will you talk about?

Math writing prompts can help a child work through a math problem in a more relaxed way. How students explain their understanding of a word problem or new concept shows teachers where kids need help.

Rephrase this word problem in your words.

What mistakes did you make while solving this problem?

Explain the process steps to solve this kind of problem.

What is your favorite part of math class?

What is the most challenging part of math class?

Give an everyday example using math.

Describe a world without math.

What is true, and what is not true in this statement? How do you know what is true?

How would you explain this concept to a fellow student?

Write a word problem using these concepts.

Make notes during the lesson and then explain how the new math concept connects with previously learned concepts.

Tell me everything you know about…?

Explain two different ways to solve this math problem. Which is the most efficient way?

Change a value in this problem and explain how it changes the problem and solution.

How are these graphs or solutions similar or different?

Scientific experiments are fun, but writing about science could be as much fun. Science is part of our daily lives and our future; creative writing about science could make kids more aware of the practical application of science. It may even stimulate a child to explore a STEM-related career.

If you could choose any STEM career, what would you choose? How would you go about achieving your goal?

Choose a hobby or interest you like and explain how science is involved.

Is there a future on Mars? Should we colonize Mars, and if so, would you like to live on Mars?

Describe what your life would be like if the telephone was never invented.

Name a scientist from this century you admire. Explain what you admire and what you can learn from that person.

Your best friend hates science. How would you convince them science is fun and essential to our future?

If you could invent something, would you rather invent something to help planet Earth or improve space travel?

Are all inventions good for humanity? Explain your answer with an example of an invention.

How do you think science is going to change the world in the next 30 years?

Volcanoes erupt differently. Explain what causes some volcanoes to erupt with slow lava flow and others with explosive smoke and ashes.

The Earth has forgotten how to make fossil fuels. Write a step-by-step instruction guide to help Earth.

Write about A Day in the Life of an ant.

Create a list of ideas and at least five ways how kids and teachers can recycle.

Children’s Writing Prompts For Older Kids’ Creativity And Inspiration

Being a teenager can be challenging. Journaling is one way to help kids cope, strengthen critical thinking, and encourage them to reflect on their experiences in high school and life. A writing prompt that resonates with a teenager can motivate, inspire, and help the student write about what matters to them.

What is the nicest thing you can say to someone? Who in your life would you like to give that compliment to?

I agree curfew is essential because… Discuss the statement from your perspective and a parent’s perspective and conclude whether you agree or disagree.

How can students improve their communication skills with each other? If you think communication skills aren’t practical, what would you invent for better communication?

Describe an experience that made such an impact on you; it changed you, your attitude, or made you see a situation differently.

Do you have something precious that is always with you? What does it mean to you, and why do you carry it with you?

Describe or imagine entertainment for children that appeals to kids and parents approve.

Education is on trial. You must argue for education or against it. Why is it essential, or is it unnecessary? Present your case before the jury.

What is your ideal job or career? How can you attain your dream job?

What is best for students today, learning online, physical classroom, or a flipped classroom model?

Describe your personality using a season, two colors, and a plant.

What are the pros and cons of peer pressure? If you think there are only pros or only cons, explain why.

Who is the most special person in your life?

Describe a time when you felt isolated. If you’ve never felt like that, explain why.

What is the worst thing, and what is the best thing about the internet?

We should ban drones. Do you agree or disagree?

It is 20 years later and your birthday. Describe the day and how and with whom you celebrate it.

Name three people that influence your life in a good or bad way.

Would you rather have your journal pages published on the internet or have your best friend tell your deepest secret to the kids at school?

Would you rather attend a writer’s conference or an engineering workshop?

If a social media friend would meet you in real life, would they recognize you as the same person as the one on social media?

Why did you share photos on social media?

Have you ever posted or texted something you were sorry you did? What happened next?

If your parents could read all your social media posts and text, what would they say?

What is your favorite social media platform, and why?

If you could improve your least favorite social media platform, how would you do it?

At what age should kids be allowed to be active on social media?

Social media does more harm than good. Discuss the reasons you agree or disagree.

How long can you go without a smartphone? When is a person addicted to their smartphone? Do you think you’re addicted or not?

Describe three types of apps that are helpful and three types that are time wasters.

If you spent as much time on your studies as texting, would your grades improve or not?

If you receive a dollar each time you refrain from texting or posting, how rich would you be?

What is a reasonable amount of time to spend on social media platforms? Discuss it from your perspective, a parent’s perspective, and your teacher’s perspective.

Should tablets and smartphones be banned in school or applied more?

Write a breakup letter to your favorite social media platform and explain why you want to cancel your account.

Motivate five reasons why people shouldn’t be without social media.

Would you rather have your dream summer vacation without social media or stay at home during the summer vacation with social media?

Write a chapter in a book where the characters replace social media platforms like Instagram.

Would you rather have your family or a social media family?

Does social media improve communication skills with real people? Explain how with examples.

Would you rather ban books or social media?

Imagine a social media platform was a diary, and you fall into one of its pages. What happens next?

Write a conversation between the Internet and Social Media.

How is AI related to social media, and what do you think will happen in the future?

Use These Fun Writing Prompts For Pre-School And Kindergarten

Picture writing prompts for kids in kindergarten.

Kindergarten is an excellent place to teach kids that they can write. Creative writing prompts will help kids experience the joy of writing and putting their ideas on paper.

I am happy when I…

Do you like summer or winter better? Why?

What is your favorite toy in the entire world?

I like Kindergarten because…

What is your favorite game you like to play?

What is your favorite room in the house?

Name three things you like and three things you don’t like.

What is the funniest thing you can remember?

Which is your favorite story and why?

When I am a grownup, I will…

If I lived in the biggest tree, I would…

I went fishing at the lake. I cast the line into the lake, and then…

If I could build a robot, it would be able to mentor…

When I went to the aquarium, I saw batman spark…

Once upon a time, there were three kids who started…

AI is going to take over the world. Argue for and against the statement.

Whew! That is a lot of writing prompts! If you have any great additional writing prompts  you think need to be added to this list, leave them in the comments. We can update the list as time goes on.

Retha Groenewald is a professional writer working for FractusLearning. When not working with Fractus, she is web copywriter for the Christian market. Her writing is featured at Christian Web Copywriter and at Writing That Breathes Life.

Excellent prompts!

I agree with every factor that you have pointed out. Thank you for sharing your beautiful thoughts on this.

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PICTURE PROMPTS

144 Picture Prompts to Inspire Student Writing

A school year’s worth of short, accessible image-driven posts that invite a variety of kinds of writing.

By The Learning Network

We’ve been publishing our Picture Prompts series four days a week since 2016. These short, accessible, image-driven prompts invite students to create short stories, poems and memoirs; share experiences from their lives; analyze illustrations, graphs and charts; and weigh in on hot-button issues.

Here, we’ve rounded up all the Picture Prompts we published for the 2019-20 school year and organized them by the type of writing they ask students to do. You can find even more in our roundups for the 2016-17 , 2017-18 and 2018-19 school years. That’s over 600 prompts in all. And many are still open for comment by students 13 and up.

To learn how you can use Picture Prompts to build literacy skills, promote critical thinking, spark discussion and foster creativity in your classroom — physical or virtual — watch our on-demand webinar, “ A Picture Prompt Is Worth a Thousand Words .” For dozens more ideas, see our lesson plan, “ How to Teach With Our Picture Prompts (and Other Times Images) .”

If you use this feature with your students, or if you have other ideas for how to use photos, illustrations and graphics to encourage writing, let us know in the comments.

What story does this image inspire for you?

Trapped Inside Wilderness Wayfaring Magical Chores I’m Sorry Dollar Bills Dinosaurs Endless Conversation Looking Back Social Distancing Vibrant Youth Fake Ice United States of Love Over the Falls Marching Band Heavy Head Night Circus Submerged Subway Ride Subway Balloons Under the Ice Resourceful Raccoon Calendar Vivid Voices Writing a Novel Passport Scramble Racing Pug Castle on a Hill Clowns Travel In the Hallway Striking Out Meeting in the City

Share experiences from your own life.

Collect Them All The Stories Maps Can Tell Strange Times, Strange Dreams Songs of Hope Drawing Ramadan in Isolation Across Divides Instagram Challenges Book Updates Funny Flicks Stuck in Paradise Pandemic Projects Home Cooking Your Learning Space Empty Spaces Helpers Favorite Flops St. Patrick’s Day Birthdays The Agony of Defeat Alligators in the Sewers In Memoriam Sibling Dynamics Slumber Parties Food Favors Super Bowl LIV Morning Moods Lunar New Year Internet Affirmation Pet Keepsakes Stargazing New Year, New You? Last-Minute Shopping Car-Free Travel Feasting With Family Mister Rogers ‘No.’ Dream House Strange Cuisine Multitasking Headless Horseman Music Therapy The Heroic Ideal A Place of Solace Pet Pampering Notes of Lavender Neighborhood Celebrations Fashion Idols Tributes Family Cooks Favorite Season Back to School

What do you think this image, chart or cartoon is saying?

‘OK Boomer’ Shadows Open and Shut Baseball Eyeballs Protesting Carrying the Weight Music Notes Flickering Sign Helping Hands Brick Wall Inside a Book Talking and Listening Maze Credit and Blame Newspaper City Pack of People ‘A 📖 of Two 🏙’ Head Spinning You Love You, Bro The President’s Tweets Split Reflections Forest in a Stadium Chasing ‘They’ Missiles, Hummers and Tanks Looking Over the Edge

What’s your opinion on this issue?

Masks The Front Page Teenage Drivers Graduation in a Pandemic Most Challenged Books Brady’s Big Move Mascot Working From Home Mall Rats ‘Bracelet of Silence’ Optimism Government Buildings Valentine’s Day Prizewinning Poodle Library Books Oscar Nominations 2020 Hologram Musicians Baby Yoda Hit Holiday Songs 2019 in Pictures World’s Big Sleep Out Snow Days Tesla’s ‘Cybertruck’ Fortune Tellers Scooters Everywhere Popeyes Chicken Sandwich World Series Champions Small Talk Big City, Small Town Tipping Summer Hits

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

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51 Creative Writing Activities For The Classroom: Comics, Prompts, Games, And Pretend Play

January 4, 2024 //  by  Milka Kariuki

Creative writing can be tough for learners of any age. From knowing where to start to establishing the vocabulary to develop their story, there are a bunch of different skills they’ll need to perfect their creative writing pieces. There are so many creative writing activities out there, but which ones are best for your kiddos? Our list of 51 creative writing activities is the perfect place to start looking if you’ve got a creative writing unit coming up! Read on and see which ones might grab your little writers’ attention!

1. Make Your Own Comic Books

We bet your kiddos just love comic books! Let them create their very own in the style of the super popular Diary of a Wimpy Kid books! Encourage your students to come up with their own plot, dialogue, and illustrations to spark their creativity. Even your most reluctant writers will love this fun activity! 

Learn More: Puffin Schools

2. Mad Libs

Using Mad Libs is a super popular way to develop your little creative writers! Use these free printables to get their creative juices flowing as they try to come up with words to fill the gaps to create weird and wonderful new stories. The best thing is that you can use these printables as many times as you like as their answers will be different each time!

Learn More: Teacher Vision

3. Flash Fiction

Flash fiction is a fantastic way to get your kiddies writing creatively while keeping things short and sweet! Use the range you prompts included in this resource to challenge them to write a creative story in less than 100 words. Flash fiction is amazing because your students won’t be overwhelmed by a huge writing task and it also means that your more confident writers will need to focus on the quality of their work, not the quantity! 

Learn More: TES

4. Write a Story Based on the Ending

Test your students’ creativity by providing them with writing prompts that start at the end! In backward story writing, your budding writers will need to plan and pen a story that eventually leads to the ending you give them. This idea is a fantastic way to turn your traditional creative writing lesson on its head and in many ways take the pressure off your kids, as ending their stories is often the most difficult part for them!

Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers

5. Found Poetry

Your learners will love this fun and creative found poetry activity. You can encourage them to collect words or a group of words from a favorite story or song then write them on a piece of paper or cut them out of a printed page. The overall goal is to have them rearrange the words differently to make an interesting poem with a unique writing style or genre!

Learn More: Homeschooling Ideas

6. Picture Dictionary

A picture dictionary is a brilliant way to support every member of your younger elementary class in their creative writing. The words paired with pictures give your writers a ‘dictionary’ that they can use pretty independently, so your less confident writers or non-native English-speaking students can still access your writing lessons! 

Learn More: Twinkl

7. Creative Journal Writing

Why not start a creative journal with your kiddos? Have them engage in daily journaling activities by giving them a different creative prompt each day. For instance, write a story about what would happen if dogs took over the world or what would you do if you were the security guard at a zoo and someone stole an animal? The fun is never-ending with these prompts!  

Learn More: Think Written  

8. Roll a Story

Roll-a-Story is one of the best ways to help any of your kids who are suffering from a bout of writer’s block! They’ll roll the dice to discover the character, setting, and problem for their story then set to work weaving their creative tale! It could be a story about a wise doctor being chased by a mysterious creature in a casino, or maybe a rich artist losing their wallet in a library. Then it’s up to your students to fill in the gaps!

Learn More: TPT

9. Pass-it-on Story Writing

There’s no telling quite where this fun writing game will end up! Start by writing the first sentence of a story on a piece of paper then pass it around your class, having your kids come up with a sentence that continues the story. The paper is then passed around the whole class until every student has contributed. Finally, once it makes its way back to you, read out your collaborative story to the whole class!

Learn More: Minds In Bloom

10. Picture Writing Prompts

Creative writing prompts activities test not only your little ones’ imaginations but also their ability to craft a story and dialogue from that. Display an intriguing picture prompt for your class and have a discussion about it, recording their ideas. You could discuss what the person or animal in the picture is doing or what they’re thinking, where they think the picture was taken, and much more. They can use your collective notes to inspire their story!

Learn More: Pandora Post

11. What’s the Question?

What’s the Question is a simple, yet super engaging game that requires your young learners to think creatively. Spark their creativity by writing an answer on the whiteboard such as “the moon would explode,” and task your kiddos with coming up with a question to match it. There’ll be lots of laughs as everyone shares what they came up with!

Learn More: That Afterschool Life

12. Creative Writing Printables

This website is absolutely full of quick and fun graphics for children that’ll encourage their creative writing! The cute graphics and simple directions make it an easy bellringer activity for your writing class. Just print out some of these cool sheets and let your students get creative as they write thank-you notes to helpful heroes or finish little cartoon comics!

Learn More: Jarrett Lerner

13. Paint Chip Poetry

Nothing says creative writing quite like figurative language! Grab some of these free paint swatches from your local home improvement store and have your students create metaphors about their chosen color! We love this low-prep activity as once your kids have finished their poems, they’re a ready-made multi-colored display that’ll brighten the walls of your classroom! 

Learn More: Fabulous In Fifth

14. Story Storm Activities

Once again, these Jarrett Lerner activities do not disappoint! Your students will have a blast pretending they are the principal for a day and they’ll get to create their very own rules for the school. Not only will this be an engaging writing exercise that we’re sure they’ll love getting creative with, but it also challenges children to think about why rules in school are important.

Learn More: Tara Lazar

15. Story Bag

Story bags are a fantastic way to destroy any kind of writer’s block! Grab an assortment of random objects from your home or classroom and pop them into the story bag. Next, gather your students around and pull out all the objects in the bag. Can they then write a story connecting all the items? Be sure to leave time to let them share their stories at the end of the lesson!

Learn More: Life Hack

16. Change the Ending

An easy way to ease your kiddos into the writing process is by having them rewrite part of a story. Grab their favorite read-aloud, and challenge them to come up with a new ending! They’ll need to finish the story in a way that makes sense, but aside from that, they can be as creative as they like! Your reluctant readers will like this one as much of the work on setting and characters has already been done! 

Learn More: Make Beliefs Comix

17. Plot Twist Writing Prompts

BUT WAIT – there’s a twist…This fun writing practice is perfect for older middle or high school but could also be simplified for younger students. Write these twist prompts on notecards and have your kids draw one each before letting them go off and write a story around their chosen twist! They’ll be eager to share their finished work with classmates at the end. After all, who doesn’t love a good plot twist?

Learn More: Pinterest

18.  Craft Box Craft

Every kid loves the book The Day the Crayons Quit for its creative narrative about this familiar box of coloring supplies! This extension activity rolls art and creative writing into one! Your students will have fun coming up with dialogue for each of the different crayons and you could even make it into a fun display for your classroom walls!

Learn More: Buggy And Buddy

19. Dialogue Pictures

Personalizing writing activities always makes it more engaging for kids! Print out a picture of yourself with a blank speech bubble, and model how to add in some dialogue. Then, let your kiddos practice speech bubbling with a photo of themselves, a pet, or a favorite celebrity, and have them come up with some interesting things for each of their subjects to say!

Learn More: SSS Teaching

20. Figurative Language Tasting

Your students will be creative writers in no time after practicing their figurative language with food tasting! Not only do tasty treats make this activity incredibly fun, but it also brings the writing process of metaphors and hyperbole to life. Just give each of your kids a few pieces of candy or snacks, and have them practice writing figures of speech relating to each one! They’ll have the words on the tip of their tongue- literally! 

Learn More: It’s Lit Teaching

21. Explode the Moment

One of my favorite writing concepts as a teacher is ‘exploding the moment’. This method is perfect for showing your kiddies that even the smallest moment can be turned into an imaginative, descriptive story! Start by having them brainstorm some ideas and expand on tiny memories like losing a tooth, getting a pet, or making a winning goal in a soccer game!

Learn More: Raise The Bar Reading

22. Round-Robin Storytelling

Round-robin storytelling is the perfect collaborative creative writing activity! This one can be done verbally or in writing, and it challenges your class to build a story using a given set of words. They’ll have a fun and challenging time figuring out how to incorporate each piece into one cohesive story.

Learn More: Random Acts Of Kindness

23. Acrostic Poems

Acrostic poetry is one of the least intimidating creative writing exercises as there are no rules other than starting each line with the letter from a word. Challenge your kiddies to use each letter in their name to write lines of poetry about themselves, or they could choose to write about their favorite food or animal!

Learn More: Surfin’ Through Second

24. Sentence Sticks

This exercise requires minimal prep and can be used in so many different ways. All you’ll need are some craft sticks in which you will write sentences with blanks and word banks. Your young writers can then pull a stick and fill in the blanks to practice creative thinking! Task them with a different goal each time; can they make the sentence silly or sad for example?

Learn More: Liz’s Early Learning Spot

25. Conversation Prompts

These fun prompts require your kids to think creatively and answer a range of interesting questions. They’ll be excited to write stories about waking up with a mermaid tail or describe what is in a mystery package delivered to their doorstep! These creative prompts are perfect for bellringers or transitions throughout the school day!

Learn More: Twitter

26. Pretend Play Writing

Do you remember playing with fake money and fake food when you were younger? This idea takes it a step further by incorporating some writing practice! All you’ll have to do is print the templates for dollars, shopping lists, and recipes then let your little learners have fun with these play-pretend writing ideas!

Learn More: Prekinders

27. Question Cubes

Your class will be on a roll with these amazing question cubes! Whether the cubes are used for responding to a story, brainstorming the plot of a story, or practicing speech and listening, they are an easy, affordable tool for your little readers and writers! You can snag some foam dice at the dollar store and hot glue questions on each side to spark some creative writing ideas for your class.

Learn More: A Love 4 Teaching

28. Balderdash

Not only is Balderdash an addicting board game, but it can even be used in the classroom! Your little learners will have a blast as they create made-up, imaginative definitions for words, important people, and dates. Whoever guesses the real answer out of the mix wins the points!

Learn More: EB Academics

29. Two Sentence Horror Story

This creative writing exercise is best for older students and would be a great one to try out around Halloween! You’ll be challenging your learners to write a story that runs chills up their readers’ spines, but there’s a twist…the story can only be two sentences long! Your kiddos will love writing and sharing their writing to see who can come up with the spookiest short story!

30. Telephone Pictionary

Another game that your kids will be begging to play over and over again is telephone pictionary! The first player will write down a random phrase, and the next person must draw their interpretation of the phrase. The third player will write what they think the picture is and so on!

Learn More: Imagine Forest

31. Consequences

You need at least two players for this fun creative writing game. Each pair or group of kids will start by having one person write a random phrase and conceal it by folding the paper. Then, they pass it to the next student to fill in the blank using the prompt. Once all the blanks are filled in, let them unfold the paper and get ready to reveal some seriously silly stories!

32. Story Wands

​​Story wands are a fun way to have your kids respond to stories and study what makes something their favorite. Responding to what they’re reading is a super helpful exercise in preparing them for creative writing as it allows your students to connect to their favorite stories. By figuring out what elements make stories great, this is sure to help them in their own creative writing assignments!

Learn More: Little Lifelong Learners

33. The Best Part of Me

Probably my favorite creative writing activity, this one is infused with social-emotional learning and self-esteem building! Let your students get to choose their favorite physical characteristics about themselves; whether it be their eyes, hands, feet, etc. Then, they take a picture to attach to their written reasoning! Make sure to boost the creative element of this writing task by encouraging your learners to use a bunch of adjectives and some figurative language!

Learn More: Sarah Gardner Teaching

34. Me From A-Z

Challenge your kiddos to get creative by coming up with 26 different words to describe themselves! Me From A-Z gives your students the opportunity to explore who they are by coming up with words describing them in some way using each letter of the alphabet. Why not let them decorate their lists and turn them into a display celebrating the uniqueness of each of your class members?

35. How to Make Hot Chocolate

How-to writing is a great way to get the creative writing wheels turning in your kiddies’ brains! They’ll have a fun time coming up with their instructions and ways to explain how to make hot chocolate! Do they have a secret recipe that’ll make the best-ever hot cocoa!? Once they’ve written their instructions, be sure to try them out and do a taste-test of their recipes!

Learn More: Teacher Mama

36. Give Yourself a Hand

Hands up if you love this idea! For this creative writing activity, have your little ones trace their hand on a piece of paper and decorate it with accessories. Then, encourage them to write a list of all the different things they do with their hands all over their tracing! This is a great warm-up to get the creative gears turning.

Learn More: Write Now Troup

37. Word Picture Poem

A word picture poem is a fantastic way to challenge your kids to write descriptive poetry about a common object! Your little poets will learn to find beauty in ordinary things and strengthen their sensory language skills and their vocabulary. For some added fun, you can even task them with writing a short story about the item as well! The results are sure to be fun to read!

Learn More: Teaching With Terhune

38. Shape Poem

Shape poems are some of the most creative poetry as they combine words and art into one! First, your young poets can choose an object to use as their muse and lightly trace an outline onto some paper. Then, they’ll write words along the outlined shape in the form of a poem that describes the object! The result is a bunch of fun and striking poems that’ll look great displayed around your classroom!

39. Crazy Hair Poetry

Here’s another one that combines writing and art! Start by guiding your kiddos in drawing a self-portrait then adding some crazy hair by blowing watercolor paints around! After the paint dries, have your kids come up with a short but creative poem describing their hair art.

Learn More: Grade School Giggles

40. Fingerprint Poetry

Nothing is more creative than getting your kiddies to let down the barriers in their mind and tap into their stream of consciousness! Show them how to pick a topic and then let their words flow straight from mind to paper in a swirling pattern. This fingerprint idea can be used for a get-to-know-you activity as well!

Learn More: Kristen Dembroski

41. Doggie Haiku Poems

Put a fun twist on classic haiku poetry! Your students will have a paw-some time writing three-line poems about dogs which they can then illustrate afterwards! Before starting the activity, you can use Dogku by Andrew Clements as a read-aloud to get your class hooked on this idea!

Learn More: Teaching Fourth

42. Fractured Fairy Tale

Ever wondered if the Big Bad Wolf was framed? Or if Sleeping Beauty was actually a snorer? Your writers in training will have a fun time taking a classic fairytale and putting their own spin on it! Following five simple steps, your kids will be funky fairytale authors in no time!

43. Letter Writing

These creative letter-writing prompts are sure to boost your kiddies’ imaginative writing skills! Whether writing to a pen pal or a favorite celebrity, letter writing is a great way to practice handwriting, word flow, descriptive language, and communicating all rolled into one! Have your writers grab their pencils and let the creativity flow as they write fun response letters to these prompts!

44. Hersey’s Kisses Similes

Teach sensory language and similes by connecting this tasty treat with the sense of taste! Your students will have a lovely time brainstorming how chocolate connects to each of our senses and applying that knowledge by writing some sweet similies! What a fantastic way to teach them how to use these essential creative writing tools!

Learn More: Teacher By The Beach

45. Sensory Poetry

Another great way to teach sensory details is to have your learners write poems about their favorite foods! Task them with writing a line for each sense to describe the food! Everyone will be hungry after this creative writing lesson so it might be a good idea to have some snacks on hand!

Learn More: Mrs. Tice’s Class

46. Season Personification

Each season of weather has an array of characteristics making this the perfect activity to practice personification in creative writing! Allow your little writers to choose a season to write about as if it were a person with human characteristics. Winter is a no-brainer! It’s Elsa!

Learn More: Write Shop

47. Class Book of Character Traits

To be creative writers, your kids need to know how to create realistic characters for their stories. For this class book, you’ll start by giving each student two opposing character traits. Next, have them demonstrate these traits by illustrating two characters and displaying them through dialogue!

Learn More: Crafting Connections

48. Socialgrams

With Instagram being all the rage these days, your kiddos will have a fun time creating a ‘socialgram’ on paper! Challenge them to create a descriptive and engaging caption to go along with their “photo” in the post. Then, classmates can comment on each other’s work! 

Learn More: Breezy Special Ed

49. Story Introduction Worksheets

Creative writing worksheets are a simple, minimal-prep tool to use in your creative writing units. Print out a variety of options, and have your kids practice their skills by finishing imaginative story introductions. By giving them a place to start their story, you can really take the pressure off your kids which will help ease them into the creative writing process!

Learn More: Lanternfish ESL

50. Dialogue Worksheets

Here’s another low-prep option for the last-minute planners! Pre-written dialogue can help guide the mood of the story and allow your kiddies to just focus on filling in the characters’ actions. This is also a great way to model how dialogue is spaced out and balanced in a story!

Learn More: ESL Writing Worksheets

51. Character Trait Posters

In this personalized character trait activity, your students will create a poster of themselves and label it with a bunch of different character traits. Descriptive, interesting characters are what make a story captivating, so this is a great introduction to understanding characters and their physical as well as personality traits! This is an activity that’s sure to help them build a strong foundation for their creative writing skills to build from!

Learn More: Life In First Grade

Walking by the Way

the road to inspired learning

Engaging Creative Writing Lessons for Your Students

I often hear students protest, “But I’m not creative.” And moms look at me with a shoulder shrug and a mirror claim, “I’m not creative either.”

I don’t buy in.

We have been gifted with a creativity muscle. It’s just that it doesn’t work properly if it hasn’t been exercised.

As I design creative writing lessons , my goal is to provide you with engaging, hands-on activities–creative writing exercises to keep your students smiling, laughing, and moving that yellow pencil (or purple marker!) across the page.

The Importance of Creative Writing

Why should you care about creative writing? Because creative writers are creative thinkers.

Creative thinkers are resourceful problem-solvers. They aren’t afraid to try new things as their curiosity leads them to experiment. Creative thinkers gain emotional intelligence as they explore their own thoughts and feelings, the thoughts and feelings of others, and the big, big world around them.

Creative writing doesn’t have to be hard, scary, or dreadful. I promise. I’m here to help you deliver interesting, enjoyable lessons to your students.

Browse the lessons below to find the just-right creative writing activity for your students.

Creative Writing Lessons and Activities for Early Elementary

Character Sketch: My Pet Dragon Even young students can write a character sketch with this guided writing activity. Students fill out the pet dragon form and then write a short sketch using the information on the form.

Christmas Story Writing Prompts Flip, flap, and mix until you find a setting, characters, and conflict you want to use for your short story.

Circus Writing Prompt Cards This set of writing prompt cards is great for kids who need help generating ideas. The prompts are questions. As the students answer the questions, they will have ample ideas for writing a circus themed story.

Creative Writing Activities for Kids This group of activities from other bloggers will provide you with lots of new ideas for your students.

Creative Writing Dice Game You can partner with your student for this fun dice game; it is the perfect remedy for students who balk at pushing their pencils.

Design a Circus Poster Creative Writing Activity Another great activity for reluctant writers; the circus poster only includes a tiny bit of writing, but a great bit of creating thinking.

Dialogue Lesson Plan for Young Writers Introduce the importance of dialogue with This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen. This lesson also includes a hands-on dice writing game that helps students write their own dialogue examples.

Dinosaur Creative Writing Prompts This set of writing prompts will help your student write a paragraph or journal entry about dinosaurs.

Dinosaur Writing Prompt Cards This set of writing prompt cards will motivate your student to write a dinosaur themed short story. The cards are structured in a way to help your student generate gobs of ideas for a short story.

Fairy Tale Writing Prompts Inspire your student to write with fairy tale settings, objects, and characters.

Halloween Story Writing Prompts Write spooky stories with this set of flip, mix, and match strips. Students are given various options for settings, characters, and conflicts.

Hot Air Balloon Writing Prompt Cards If your student complains about not knowing what to write about, try this set of adventure themed writing prompt cards. You can easily guide your student through the writing process with these prompts.

Imaginary Animals Writing Activity Even young students in kindergarten and first grade can enjoy a creative writing lesson. Your students will love creating crazy animals with playdough and using the writing form to compose simple paragraphs.

Listmaking Writing Prompts Students may not be ready to write sentences or paragraphs, but you can entice them to make lists with these engaging prompts.

Mad Science: Adjectives Writing Lab First, students will imagine wonderful and strange things hissing and fizzing in a mad scientist’s lab. Next, students will name and write a description for each item. Finally, students will use their descriptions to write paragraphs about the mad scientist’s lab.

Monster Creative Writing Prompt Cards Boost your student’s imagination with these monster creative writing prompts. You can use these for paragraph writing or journal entries; some of the prompts might even lead to short stories.

Mystery Writing Prompts Do you have a super sleuth? Let your detective try writing some mystery stories using these prompts.

Nurture Creative Thinking with Wordless Books The precursor to creative writing is creative thinking. This activity, designed to build your student’s creative thinking skills, is based on Aaron Becker’s wordless books, Journey and Quest .

Pet Picture Writing Prompts I love using pictures for prompts! Grab this set of free pet pictures and use some of the ideas in the post to get your students writing about pets.

Pirate Writing Prompts It’s a pirate’s life with these fun prompts. Print and cut out the cards. Laminate and put them on a ring and let your student pick one and write.

Teach Parts of a Story with a Picture Book Use Help! We Need a Title!  by Herve Tullet to teach your student about author, title, characters, setting, conflict, and resolution.

Super Hero Writing Prompts Save the day with these fun prompts for your students.

Thanksgiving Dice Writing Activity Your students will laugh out loud as they create silly sentences about Thanksgiving.

Use a Picture Book Teach the Story Element of Conflict The Pencil  by Allan Ahlberg is a fantastic base for teaching how to add conflict and resolution to a short story. Use the lesson and game to teach it to your students.

Writing Activity for Sam and Dave Dig a Hole: Make a List Use the book Sam and Dave Dig a Hole to inspire your student to create a fun (and funny!) list.

Write Backstories for Fairy Tale Characters Have you ever wondered what Rapunzel was doing before she got trapped in that tower? Or what about Goldilocks? What was she doing before she invaded the Three Bears’ house? Explore all kinds of writing possibilities with this fun creative writing lesson.

You can also find an assortment of creative writing lessons and activities for elementary students in the Tip-Top Printables Shop .

Creative Writing Lessons and Activities for Upper Elementary

Pictures to Inspire Creative Writing If you are looking for an easy way to boost interest in creative writing, try this simple activity.

Pourquoi Tales Writing Lesson Why does the leopard have spots? How did the bear lose its tail? Let your students build their creative thinking skills while composing pourquoi tales with this lesson plan.

Creative Writing Lessons for a Homeschool Co-op

I taught this series of posts for a local homeschool co-op, but you can use them however you want.

Creative Writing Lesson One: Cliché and Metaphor Students learn the importance of words with this lesson–including how to avoid clichés and what makes a great metaphor.

Creative Writing Lesson Two: Sensory Details Students consider how a reader experiences the world through writing and how sensory details are a key part of that experience.

Creative Writing Lesson Three: Showing vs. Telling Students learn how to recognize authors who utilize showing, and students will be able to articulate the difference between showing and telling.

Creative Writing Lesson Four: Capturing Images Image is essential. Students learn why images are necessary and how to capture their own.

Creative Writing Lesson Five: Character and Conflict Introduce character and conflict and why these story elements are vital for short story writers.

Creative Writing Lesson Six: Point of View Students learn about point of view and then enjoy reading poems and using pictures to write descriptions from different points of view (and perspectives).

Creative Writing Lesson Seven: Fractured Fairy Tales As we work to put together everything we’ve learned in the previous lessons, students begin composing their own fractured fairy tales.

Creative Writing Lesson Eight: Revision After a mini-lesson about revision, students partner up for peer editing.

You can use this Writing Ideas Notebook to help your students record and explore dozens of writing ideas.

Creative Writing Worksheets K-2

• The Parts of a Letter
• Write Your Own Mad Libs ®
• Fill-in Story: The Halloween Party
• Fill-in Halloween Story: A Scary Night
• Fill-in Story: Halloween Carnival
• My Friend Writing Printable
• Life in the Sea
• Favorite Foods
• How to Write a Haiku
• Getting to Know Me
• Teacher's Guide to Cam Jansen Mysteries
• Make Your Own Holiday
• A Note About Witches: Fill-in-the-Blanks
• Writing a Persuasive Letter (Gr. 2)
• Writing a Letter to Persuade (Gr. 1)
• How to Guyku (Poem Template)
• The Main Idea
• A Visit to Outer Space Writing Activity
• An April Fools' Joke-Off
• Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp Activity Kit
• My New Year's Resolutions (K-2)
• Plan a Holiday
• Curious George: An Acrostic Poem
• Take a Train Ride
• Science and Language Arts: Moon Story
• My Curious George Story
• The Sky's the Limit
• If I Had a Gorilla, Then...
• Happy and Sad Frogs
• More Creative Writing Printables, K-2

Featured 2nd Grade Resources

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Ultimate Guide to Creative Writing for Elementary Kids

Creative Writing Prompts & Story Starters

Inspirational Activities 

Sneaky Learning Resources 

Online Resources

Your kids can receive creative writing inspiration at the click of a button with any one of these free online writing prompt generators. they are all easy-to-use and completely kid-friendly. wacky headliner - use a wacky news headline to create an over-the-top story. scholastic story starter generator - a "slot machine" style story starter generator which divides writing prompts into different writing genres writing exercise for children - randomly generate inspiration for every aspect of a story. the story starter for kids - provides the first line of a story.  the write shop blog - a blog dedicated to providing writing prompts each month as well as lots of helpful tips for teaching and encourage writing.

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Elementary School Writing Apps and Websites

By getting kids writing early and often, we prepare them to succeed across all subjects. And we know that engaging kids' creativity and imagination can help motivate them to use their writing skills. Whether they're practicing storytelling, reflecting on a prompt, or peer editing, students will be working on essential self-expression and social skills. Plus, if they have an authentic audience, get quality feedback, and have accessible support, they're more likely to really dig in to the writing process. So, give your students a leg up with these great picks for elementary school-age kids that'll get them writing and sharing.

Writing Platforms and Communities

Writing a-z.

Abundant, thorough resources help both teachers and students

Bottom Line : This full-service program can help teachers easily weave writing into their curriculum.

Night Zookeeper

Subscription-based ELA gaming platform offers individual feedback

Bottom Line : There’s a nice balance of lessons, challenges, and gameplay that will inspire both proficient and reluctant writers.

Let students do the writing to make grammar lessons more meaningful

Bottom Line : This tool offers excellent opportunities for grammar and writing practice, well-tailored to students' abilities and needs.

Collaborative writing platform has the potential to motivate

Bottom Line : There's creativity possibility in this tool's unique brand of collaborative and competitive writing, but teachers should take care to keep things positive.

Encourage student expression and maintain digital portfolios with easy-to-use blog creator

Bottom Line : Edublogs is a fantastic platform for any teacher committed to providing consistent opportunities for creation and reflection.

Collaborative writing game inspires purposeful storytelling

Bottom Line : With some planning and customization, this unique card game can motivate thoughtful and sustained creative writing in your classroom.

Structured literacy program inspires deep analysis, thoughtful writing

Bottom Line : This is an expertly scaffolded and pedagogically sound resource for developing critical reading and writing skills.

Stellar program scaffolds the writing process with targeted feedback

Bottom Line : This is an intelligently structured tool for teaching writing and review that focuses on process as much as product.

NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program

Wildly engaging contest turns students into novelists in 30 days

Bottom Line : A thoughtful adaptation of the famous and fun grown-up novel writing contest, NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program is brimming with advice and encouragement as well as classroom support.

Storytelling and Book Makers

Tell about this.

Photo and word prompts inspire storytelling; app records the results

Bottom Line : Versatile tool can be used as a pre-writing or publishing activity.

My Story School eBook Maker

Sleek platform is a great artistic tool, intro to digital storytelling

Bottom Line : This is a good, accessible way to get kids creating, but teachers will need to create wraparound lessons on story structure.

Book Creator

Magically easy way to create and publish digital books and multimedia

Bottom Line : This is a top-quality creation tool that lets students of many ages and abilities publish their own digital books.

Storybook creation tool offers cool blend of ELA, art, and coding

Bottom Line : This is a great storytelling tool for younger kids that also offers an entry point into coding and computational thinking.

Social storytelling site helps kids create, publish storybooks

Bottom Line : A great fit for teachers looking to develop students' writing and digital citizenship skills through storybook creation.

Me: A Kid's Diary

Unique take on self-exploration relies on prompts to guide reflection

Bottom Line : With plenty of ways to express and document their thoughts and more, this app can help students learn something new about themselves.

Shadow Puppet Edu

Resource-rich video slideshow maker a gem for a variety of classrooms

Bottom Line : Easy-to-use free tool is a must-have for elementary classrooms; just keep an eye on sharing and privacy.

StoryJumper

Free storybook creation site has great support for classrooms

Bottom Line : Reliable storytelling tool gives students solid tools to create, collaborate, and share work including real, printed books.

For Special Needs Students

Read&write.

Useful text-to-speech extension unlocks the written word

Bottom Line : This handy set of accessibility tools helps students get the access they need when they need it, promoting independence and building confidence.

Fabulous tool can help kids create social stories

Bottom Line : Pictello is a great way for kids to create social stories that can help them find their unique voice and prepare for internal and external struggles.

CAST UDL Book Builder

Sensitively designed so any student can write and share books

Bottom Line : CAST UDL Book Builder is an excellent resource to get kids started on digital content creation; it's simple and straightforward and caters to a variety of learning styles.

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Creative Writing in the Early Elementary Grades

A project that incorporates both standard and creative elements of storytelling can help young learners strengthen their literacy skills.

What can creative writing look, feel, and sound like in a first grade classroom? How can creative writing become a joyful and meaningful learning experience, and how can we educators facilitate the creative process and allow young writers to use their imagination when writing?

Graphic organizers, mind maps, and storyboards are certainly great tools for narrative building and planning, but they do not necessarily scaffold the creative process that story writing requires. In reality, they might even restrict students’ creativity while they “box” ideas in predetermined templates. This year, in my class, going play-based and hands-on has turned out to be a tremendous success.

Examining Elements of Creative Writing in First Grade 

For this particular unit, my first grade students were examining literature and storytelling. After they had enjoyed several read-alouds, explored story elements, and studied the story mountain (beginning, rising action, conflict, resolution, and ending) as a team, it was time for them to write their very own stories. 

They kicked off by creating their main character and decided on the character’s appearance, personality, likes, and dislikes. They also had the choice to play the main character role in the story. In both cases, while still brainstorming, it was time for action: They drew and decorated their characters with markers and pencils, cut them out, and used a Popsicle stick to make a puppet.

They became even more motivated to continue as they saw their characters come to life. My students spontaneously started interacting with each other and their puppets—creating stories and being imaginative—they went right into storytelling mode. This created the perfect opportunity for me to step back and observe my students’ initiative, creativity, and social and communication skills, not to mention their sense of accomplishment and joy. 

Adding Artful Components to the Story

After they had engaged with their characters and interacted with others, it was time for the young writers to further develop their stories and think of a scenario leading to the rising action and resolution. This was the point when loose parts played a crucial role in the storytelling process. Counters, pipe cleaners, bits of paper, pebbles, dice, and buttons became houses, trees, magic wands, you name it. These bits and bobs from around the classroom became a valuable, zero-cost resource. 

While students actively arranged and rearranged their chosen loose parts, they wondered about what would happen next in their stories. Unexpectedly, some students chose to collaborate and co-created stories by joining their imagination and characters in one story. In this step of the creative process, the use of loose parts was truly empowering: Before jotting anything down in their notebooks, my students physically, mentally, and verbally constructed their narratives and shared them with their partners. 

Turning Ideas Into Words

With the mental representation of their narratives ready, it was all a matter of scribing their ideas. For that, we followed our usual class routines and resources such as word banks, sentence starters, and buddy support. All my students were engaged and confident, and when struggling with ideas, they resorted to loose parts again. As my first grade is a multicultural classroom, some of my students needed language support . However, with all of them hooked on their stories, supporting those who needed help with vocabulary, sentence construction, and spelling was simplified. 

I conferred with students individually and in small groups to understand their thinking and offered feedback on paragraphing and some word choice. Instead of using notebooks for their first drafts, they chose to use mini-boards, which motivated them even more and supported them to make quick adjustments to their narratives. Finally, after receiving feedback, they moved on to writing their final drafts and designing their covers in order to turn their stories into books. Each student took their book home to share it with their family after reading it with the class.

Sharing Stories and Making Memorable Learning Experiences

What good is a book if it isn’t read and enjoyed? Buddy reading was the last step of the process but certainly not the least exciting. My students read aloud to each other, commenting on their favorite bits of the story and appreciating the illustrations. The whole project, from getting their characters ready to publishing and reading their books, took around five hours divided into five days. 

When reflecting on the writing process, my students said that what they appreciated the most was the making of their puppets and illustrating their stories, highlighting the importance of integrating arts and writing. When asked about what was challenging, they replied that it was creating all the parts of the story mountain. However, they all said that using loose parts was a helpful strategy that they would use again—which they spontaneously have done in subsequent writing engagements. Lastly, when asked how they felt, some of the words they used were “proud,” “good,” and “joyful!”

A recent UNESCO report on the importance of happiness in learning refers to neuroscience research that proves our affective and cognitive domains are interconnected and interdependent. Therefore, emotions do affect learning! Joy is not a trade-off for academic achievement. Creating positive learning experiences makes learning stick.

Very often, students fear and avoid writing as a consequence of previous negative writing experiences. Combining art and a play-based approach to creative writing in first grade can set students on a path to success by building on their confidence, creativity, imagination, and sense of accomplishment. I have witnessed that the integration of art and writing has helped my students discover how writing can be a joyful and memorable experience where they can all be amazing storytellers and writers.

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36 Meaningful Vocabulary Activities for Every Grade

These activities are the definition of fun!

Learning new words is like adding to your writing toolbox. The more tools available, the more interesting and engaging your writing becomes. Check out these fun and engaging vocabulary activities for kids in grades K-12, and supply your students with the tools they need to build their wordsmith skills.

1. Write vocabulary stories

Using vocabulary words in writing shows mastery. Challenge your students to use all of their vocabulary words in an original short story. Allow students to pair up and share their stories with a partner.

Learn more: Vocab Short Story 

2. Put your students in the hot seat

Divide your class into two teams. Choose one student from one team to go to the front of the room and sit in a chair facing the class with their back to the board. This person is “on the spot.” Place a word on the board so everyone can see it except the person in the chair. One at a time, team members give the person a clue about the mystery word. If the word is guessed before two minutes are up, the team gets a point and play turns to the other team.

Learn more: On the Spot at Upper Elementary Snapshots

3. Match up words and definitions

Download these vocabulary words and matching definitions. Distribute one card to each student (either a word or a definition). Allow students to circulate in the room and find their “match.” Switch cards and repeat.

Learn more: Dictionary Sort

4. Sketch up word maps

Creating word maps from vocabulary words encourages students to find the relationships between the vocabulary word and other words. Have them include words, pictures, examples, real-world connections, definitions, descriptive words, etc.

Learn more: Word Map

5. Create Post-it stations

Post vocabulary words around the room, then have students circulate and write an original sentence using that word on a sticky note. Follow along and make sure students use the words correctly.

Learn more: Post-it Stations

6. Play a game of Pop!

Kids draw cards out of the bag and attempt to correctly spell them. But be careful, you don’t want to draw the Pop! card.

Learn more: Pop!

7. Take a gallery walk

Hang six to eight large sheets of chart paper in various places around the room. On each sheet, write one vocabulary word. Have students work in small groups, rotating between stations. At each station, ask students to come up with a different, original way to use each word. Continue the activity until all students have visited every station.

Learn more: Gallery Walk at TeachWriting.org

8. Play a round of Pictionary

This fun activity requires students to draw a picture for each word to create their own visual dictionary. When students create their own visual representations, they develop an association with the word that they will be able to tap into when needed.

Learn more: Pictionary

9. Make a word map

Word maps help deepen understanding of a vocab word by relating it to other words and concepts students already know.

10. Use the Frayer model

Frayer models are a popular way to learn new words and concepts. Kids define the word in their own terms, then list facts and characteristics, examples, and non-examples.

Learn more: Frayer Model

11. Draw vocabulary Sketchnotes

Kids and teachers love Sketchnotes ! Rather than writing out definitions, have students draw a sketch that sums up each word instead. It’s a lot more fun and gives kids an image for visual association to help them remember the meanings.

Learn more: Sketchnotes

12. Bump words along

Group vocab words together with a few other words with similar meanings and one that’s an antonym. Students identify the antonym and “bump” it to the next box, filling in the next group of words. They continue until the worksheet is full.

Learn more: Bumper Words

13. Post a graffiti wall

Think of a vocabulary graffiti wall like a collaborative word wall. In the classroom, post the words on the wall and have kids add sticky notes to illustrate the term (they can use words or pictures). Online, try a tool like Padlet or Google Slides.

Learn more: Graffiti Wall

14. Match words to describe character

This is a terrific way to practice vocab words pulled from books you’re reading. Ask students to use various words to describe the different characters in the book and their feelings, thoughts, and actions.

Learn more: Vocabulary Activities

15. Fill in words from A to Z

This vocabulary game is fun and challenging, and it can be played by kids of any age. Choose a word, then challenge kids to come up with related words for as many letters as possible. These could be synonyms, antonyms, examples, and more. Trickier letters are worth more points!

Learn more: A to Z

16. Try Flip for vocabulary activities

Are you on the Flip (formerly Flipgrid) bandwagon yet? It’s perfect for vocabulary activities! Have kids record a quick video for each word, using their creativity to make it fun and meaningful.

Learn more: Pop-Up Pods

17. Battle it out in Vocabulary Jeopardy

Good vocabulary activities encourage more than just memorization of definitions. That’s why we like this Jeopardy game idea. It explores synonyms and antonyms and how words are used in real sentences.

Learn more: Not So Wimpy Teacher

18. Use RAFTs to write vocabulary stories

Writing a story using vocab words is a perennial favorite, but the RAFT method gives it a new twist. Students are assigned a Role (the point of view from which they’ll tell the story), an Audience, a Format, and a Topic. For instance, they might be an astronaut (Role) writing a postcard (Format) to their friends back home (Audience) about what they’ve seen on Mars (Topic). RAFTs are especially great for kids who claim they don’t know what to write about.

Learn more: RAFTs

19. Discover the power of words

Vocabulary words take on greater meaning when students incorporate them into their daily lives. Challenge kids to use their vocab words in conversation and writing outside the language arts classroom. Use the free printable worksheet here to help them keep track of how often they use them.

Learn more: Downloadable Vocabulary Activities

20. Create graphic organizers

Colorful organizers like these are terrific vocabulary activities. Want to go digital? Have kids make a slideshow, one slide per word. They can include the same information, but instead of drawing a picture, have them find one online that illustrates the concept.

Learn more: Graphic Organizers at Upper Elementary Snapshots

21. Focus on a Word of the Week

Give really important terms the attention they deserve. Choose a new vocab word each week, then explore it in depth day by day.

Learn more: Word of the Week

22. Join the Million Dollar Word Club

Post a list of target vocab words. If a student uses one of the words in class (outside of vocabulary activities), they become a member of the Million Dollar Word Club! You can have them sign their name on a wall in the classroom or award a badge online. You could even develop this into a reward system for homework passes or extra credit.

Learn more: Million Dollar Words

23. Explore shades of meaning

This is a cool idea for exploring synonyms and the slight differences that make words unique. Ask for paint sample strips at your local hardware store, or buy a clip art set .

Learn more: Shades of Meaning

24. Personify a word with social media

This is one of those vocabulary activities kids will want to do over and over again! Assign each student a word and have them create a faux Facebook, Instagram, or other social media page for it. They can draw them freehand or complete a template like these from Teachers Pay Teachers . Post the images to a shared Google slideshow so other students can use them for review.

Learn more: Social Media Vocabulary

25. Create vocabulary cards

Have students draw a diagonal line across an index card. On the top half, have them write the vocabulary word and definition. On the bottom half, have them draw a picture of the word and use it in a sentence. Cards can be joined together in a strip for easy review.

Learn more: Index Card Vocabulary

26. Play vocabulary word Taboo

In this game, the goal is for one student to get their partner to guess the word by describing or giving examples of it. The trick? There’s a list of additional words they’re not allowed to use! Let other students see the card in advance to help keep the players honest. (Flash it on a whiteboard and have the guesser face away.)

Learn more: Don’t Say It! Vocabulary Game

27. Roll a die for vocabulary activities

Choose a vocab word, then have a student roll a die ( these virtual dice are handy ) to see which activity they get to complete.

Learn more: Roll a Word

28. Write an acrostic

Write an acrostic poem for each vocab term, using the letters to determine the first word in each line. This can get really challenging when words are longer!

Learn more: Acrostic Poem

29. Play vocabulary board games

Everyone knows that playing games is the best way to learn. Try some of these fabulous board games with your students and watch their vocabularies grow.

Learn more: 11 Vocab Games To Make the Learning Stick

30. Become a Word Collector

This is one of those picture books that grown-up kids will enjoy as much as little ones. Use it to remind your kids that they don’t need a vocabulary list to learn new words—new words are all around them. Encourage them to keep a word list or journal of their own to record new words they want to explore and use more often.

Buy it: The Word Collector

31. Play Vocabulary Headbanz

Make or buy headbands with a notch on the front designed to hold a card. Create cards with vocabulary words on them. To play, each student gets a card but can’t see it. Other students will describe the word, trying to get the one wearing the headband to guess the correct word.

Learn more: Vocab Headbanz

32. Go Fish!

A fun and lively way to practice vocabulary words. Create a deck of vocabulary words with two of each word. Explain the rules of Go Fish to students and let them loose!

Learn more: Go Fish Vocab Game

33. String three-letter words

Using wooden letter beads and pipe cleaners, students will form three-letter words that match vocabulary cards.

Learn more: Three-Letter Busy Bag

34. Play vocabulary charades

Everybody loves an exciting round of charades. Break your students into groups, provide them with a stack vocabulary cards, and watch them learn!

Learn more: Word Charades

35. Make words

Use plastic letters, magnet letters, or letter blocks to make words. Play it mentally with older kids, or with paper and pencil. Simply give your children some letters and challenge them to make words from those letters.

Learn more: Make a Word

36. Do a dictionary dig

Send your students on a scavenger hunt … in the dictionary! Exposing kids to the thousands of words in our language is both inspiring and fun. Download the free task cards below.

Learn more: Dictionary Dig

Reading poetry also helps students expand their vocabulary. Check out these must-share poems for elementary school and middle and high school .

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