topics on creative writing for year 1

The Absolute Best Creative Writing Topics for Kids!

Creative writing is a great way for children to express themselves using imagination. At Kids Play and Create, we value young writers, and we are constantly updating our list to bring you new, fun, and imaginative writing prompts for kids.

We have story starters, icebreakers, fiction writing prompts, and fun topics to inspire kids through writing. From young students to middle school students and even high school, we have great writing prompts for all writing styles and even the most reluctant writers.

                Check the end of the article for updated Creative Writing Topics for Teens. Are you looking for Creative Writing topics for 1st grade and 2nd grade with free printables? We have that too!

What is Creative Writing?

Creative writing can be used to explain many types of writing. It is a writing style that lets the writer express themselves.  Some forms of creative writing entertain the reader, while others are therapeutic.  Creative writing lets the writer use their imagination and takes the reader on a journey into their thoughts.

Is Creative Writing Important?

Creative writing is a great way to learn more about the children you work with.  You can find out things about what they like and don’t like.  Depending on the topic you choose, you can also find out things about their personality, what kind of friends they are, how they feel about themselves, and if they set goals and more.  

How do you get kids to want to write without complaining?  Give them fun topics that they will learn about themselves while writing.  On this list, you will find various good topics for both younger and older children.

Creative Writing is fun for All Ages.

Creative writing isn’t just for older children. It can be for the little ones too. Young students as early as Preschool or Kindergarten may not have the ability to write but can express themselves through drawing.

Have young students concentrate less on the writing and more on drawing a picture that goes with the topic. Children are great at expressing themselves through art.

Awesome Creative Writing Prompts for Elementary Students

1. Have the children write on top of the page:  I Am Special Because… This is a good topic to help children express themselves.

 Examples of powers they can write about are flying, super speed, eye lasers, walking through walls, shooting ice, shooting fire, changing the weather, camouflage, shapeshifting (changing shape), and turning invisible. 

When the writing activity is over, split the children into two teams, the superhero team and the villain team.  Have them vs. each other in a game of tag.  Who will champion the superheroes or the villains? 

3. What do I want to be when I grow up and why?

This is a fun topic.  Children can think about having anything in the world.  Will they pick something like peace on earth or go the million-dollar route?  

5. If I could invent a new animal, what animal would it be? 

Have the children ask themselves the following questions: What does the animal look like (what color, is it big or small, is it a combination of two animals)?  What sounds does the animal make?  What does it eat?  Where does it live?  Describe the animal’s habitat.

Creative Writing Topics for Kids

6. If I could invent a new toy, what kind of toy would I create and why? Or, If I could improve a toy, which toy would I improve, and how would I make it better?  

Talk to the children about the creative process:  First, you come up with an idea, then you have to get it made. 

Talk to the children about manufacturing toys. 

Here are some questions you can ask the children about improving a toy.  How do you want to make the toy better?  Do you want to make the remote control car faster?  Is the game challenging enough?  Do you want your doll to have more features or do more? 

You can ask the children these questions to get their brains thinking.

7. If I could make something disappear in my life, what would it be and why?

Ask the children if there is something in your life that makes them unhappy.  Is there a problem you are having?  

8 . All About me essay.

Some sample questions the children can ask are:  What are my likes and dislikes?

What is my favorite subject in school? What do I want to be when I group up?  Who is their favorite actress/actor?  Where do they want to visit? They can name the people in their family, talk about any extracurricular activities they do, etc.

9 . In what ways do I help my family?

Have children write about the ways they help their families.  Do you have chores?  If so, what are they?  Do you help your mom or dad cook?  Do you talk out the garbage? Do you take care of your siblings?  Do you have a job to help pay bills?  

10. How can I be a better friend?  

Have children think about what type of friends they are.  Are they good listeners?  Are you kind?  Do you talk about your friends to other people?  Have them think about how they would like to be treated by a friend, do they treat their friends the way they want to be treated?

The Best Creative Writing Topics for 4th and 5th grade

11. If you could be invisible, what would you do and why?

Have the children think about what it would be like to be invisible.  Would they use this new power for good or would they try to do something bad?

12. What do you think about bullies and why? 

Have the children define what a bully is to them in their paper.  Do they think they are a bully?  Do they think bullying is wrong?  Remember, these are things the children are feeling, there are no wrong answers.

To them, the children with their writing ask them the following questions. What does it mean to be honest?  Have you ever told a lie that turned into another lie?

14. What would you do if you won a million dollars? 

This question is usually a favorite topic with the children.  Ask them if they think one million dollars is a lot of money. 

Depending on where you live, it might be just enough to buy a small house and a car.  What are some things you would buy?  Would you save some or spend it all?

15. If you could change the world, what would you do and why?

Would they change things, such as ending hate and violence in the world? Would they change things such as making gas or food free for everyone? You will get various answers, making this a fun and interesting topic.

Fun Writing Prompts Ideas

This is a fun topic for both younger and older children.  Activity: Have the children draw their kingdom and a picture of them as king or queen

This topic is also great for older and younger children. While children love playing video games, they may not realize that they can make video games for a living.

Talk to the children about video game developers and the process of creating video games. Have them brainstorm ideas for games and find out what they can come up with.

18. Write about a time when you had to be brave, what did you do, and how did it make you feel?

19. Write about a trip to the moon, how you got there, what you saw, and whether it was fun or scary.

20. Write about something you are good at.

22. Write about a time when you worked hard to get something.

This can be a thing or an accomplishment, like making a team, finally getting that cartwheel, or passing a test.

There is always room for improvement.  Talk to the children about the importance of trying hard and working towards a goal.

24. If you had to give away $1,000, what would you do with it, and who would you give it to?

This is a great question to ask children when talking about being kind and helping others.  

Journal Prompts or Kids

25. What is the best thing someone has ever given to you?

This question helps children think about what they’re good at and how they can help others.

Explain what happened and how it made you feel.  

30. Did someone ever hurt your feelings?

31. Is there anyone you would like to switch places with? Who and why?

32. What does it mean to be loyal?

33. When was a time you were loyal to a friend or a friend who was loyal to you?

34. What famous person would you like to meet?

Self-Esteem Writing Topics

35. Have you ever been friends with someone who was unpopular or not part of the group?  

This is a great question to ask children when teaching them about acceptance and how it feels not to be part of a group.

36. When was a time you felt you were treated unfairly? How did it make you feel?

37. Is it fair to give someone a head start in a race?  When is it fair? When is it not fair?

Everyone makes mistakes.  This writing topic helps children understand that mistakes are part of the learning experience.

40. Write about a time when you were very angry.  What happened? How did being angry make you feel?  

Did I make a good choice when I was angry? This is a great writing topic when discussing feelings with children.  It is important for them to understand that anger isn’t wrong and that you are allowed to feel angry.

41. What would you do if you heard a rumor about a friend you knew wasn’t true? How would it make you feel? What would you do?

44. Write about three things that are hard for you and why.

46. What is the bravest thing you’ve ever done?

49. Write about your best friend. Who are they, how long have you known them, and why are they your best friend?

Short Story Writing Topics for Kids

52. If you could be on a t.v show, which one would it be and why?  

55. You just found a treasure map; write about what you would do next.  Do you decide to look for the treasure?  Who is going to help you?  What supplies do you need? Did the map lead you to the treasure, or was it fake?  If you found the treasure, what was it?  What did you do with it?

56. You just built a time machine.  Where in time would you go?  What did you do?  What did you see?  Would you want to stay there or come back to the present time?

58. Challenge the kids to write a scary story.

2.  Create an animal.  This is the same as the monster but just an animal instead.

3. Create new food. What kind of food is it?  Is it a dessert, is it something spicy, is it a combination of both?  Have the children draw a picture of their new food.

Group Writing Prompts for Kids

I’ve been working with kids on group writing and art projects.  The kids enjoyed these topics the best.

58. Create a fairy tale. have each group member write one part of the story. Then have each member of the group draw one part of the story. When the children are finished writing, have them come up in front of the class and retell their story.   

59.  Create an amusement park.  Discuss as a group the name of the park.  Have each member of the group write about the parts of the park. 

B.  Write about the type of rides in the park.  Are there shows in the park?

Art Project:  On a large poster board, have each group member draw a park map.  List of attractions, games, food, restrooms, gift shops, shows, etc..

Newly Added Creative Writing Prompts

61. Create a new food/or meal and make a recipe to teach others how to make it.  Have the kids draw a picture of the new food/meal.

62. Create a new game and describe how to play.  This writing topic lets children use their imaginations.  Have the children draw out the game on paper.  If creating a  board game, have the children turn the paper into a board game.

64.  Your video just went viral on YouTube.  What did you do in your video? These days, children spend so much time looking at videos on YouTube.  Have them imagine what it would be like to become famous overnight with a viral video.

Magical Writing Prompts for Kids

67. What is your sorcerer’s name?  What kind of sorcerer would you be?  Would you be evil or nice?  What kind of powers would you have?  What is something that you did as a sorcerer?

69. Write about a time when you were proud of your work and did your best.  How did that make you feel?  Do you always try your best?  Why or why not

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Classroom Stars

Sparking Creativity in KS1: Twelve Writing Activities for Primary Children in Year 1 and Year 2

• 19 Feb 2024

Opening the gates to creative writing for the young minds in Key Stage 1 (KS1), covering Years 1 and 2, presents a delightful challenge for teachers. The nurturing of creative writing skills not only amplifies language proficiency but also cultivates crucial cognitive and emotional abilities. In this pivotal stage of primary education, pupils refine their communication skills through imaginative expression, learning to effectively convey thoughts and emotions. Furthermore, creative writing lays the groundwork for an appreciation of literature, fostering a love for the written word and storytelling. It encourages pupils to think outside the box, promoting their thinking skills. As KS1 pupils craft stories and explore their creativity, they develop a sense of self-expression and individuality, bolstering confidence in their abilities to articulate ideas and navigate the world of language with assurance. Now, let’s delve into twelve fantastic primary writing activities and lesson ideas, carefully designed to captivate the curiosity and creativity of our young budding writers.

Story Stones Adventure Provide a collection of story stones, each adorned with different images or symbols. As KS1 learners pick a stone, encourage them to contribute to a collective story, integrating the chosen elements into a creative narrative. This collaborative storytelling activity hones individual creativity as well as fosters teamwork and communication skills.

Mystery Bags Descriptive Writing Place intriguing objects into opaque bags and have children reach in, feel the contents, and describe them without revealing the items. This sensory writing exercise stimulates descriptive language, encouraging primary school learners to use adjectives and sensory details to paint vivid pictures with their words.

Character Creation Dice Introduce dice with various character traits like occupation, personality, and hobbies. Pupils roll the dice to determine these aspects and then use the results to construct a unique character. They can then craft a short story featuring their newly created character, promoting imaginative storytelling.

Action Sequencing Tales Bring stories to life by incorporating movement and action into the storytelling process. Have pupils act out different elements of a story. As they physically move through the sequence of events, they gain a deeper understanding of the narrative structure. This kinesthetic approach not only enhances comprehension but also inspires dynamic and vivid writing. Encouraging Year 1 and Year 2 children to embody characters and actions fosters a multi-sensory connection to storytelling, making the writing process more immersive and memorable.

Interactive Alphabet Adventure Turn the alphabet into an engaging writing tool by assigning each learner a letter. Challenge them to craft a short story incorporating words that begin with their assigned letter. This primary activity reinforces letter recognition while simultaneously encouraging creative storytelling.

Paper Plate Story Starters Create paper plates with different story elements like setting, characters, problem, and solution. Pupils in Years 1 and 2 pick a plate and use the elements on it as a starting point for their imaginative writing. This hands-on approach sparks creativity and helps overcome writer’s block.

Magic Word Wands Elevate the writing experience by giving learners “magic word wands.” Assign special words that, when used in their writing, trigger a burst of creativity or a magical twist to their stories. This writing activity builds vocabulary and encourages pupils to think outside the box.

Miniature Book Making Facilitate a sense of authorship and creativity by having children create their own miniature books. They can write and illustrate their stories, turning them into tangible, personal creations. This hands-on writing activity instils pride in their work and a love for storytelling.

Nature-inspired Haikus Take the classroom outdoors and encourage pupils to observe and appreciate nature. Have them write haikus, a form of Japanese poetry consisting of three lines, capturing the essence of their surroundings. This lesson idea promotes poetic expression as well as connects children with the natural world.

Parallel Universe Dialogues Explore the concept of parallel universes by having learners write dialogues between their alternate selves. This imaginative exercise encourages self-expression and allows children to explore different facets of their personalities through creative writing.

Digital Storytelling with QR Codes Integrate technology into writing activities by having pupils create digital stories. They can write short narratives, record themselves reading the stories, and generate QR codes to share their creations with classmates and parents. This modern twist adds an exciting dimension to traditional storytelling.

Themed Collaborative Stories Foster collaboration within the class by dividing pupils into small groups and assigning each group a theme (e.g., space, jungle, underwater). Encourage each child to contribute a sentence, collectively building a story around the assigned theme. This collaborative writing activity promotes teamwork and creativity, emphasising the importance of working together to create a cohesive narrative.

Magical Vocabulary Cauldron Create a designated space where learners “brew” magical words. This can involve brainstorming sessions, word games, or thematic word exploration. When crafting stories, pupils draw words from the cauldron, incorporating them into their narratives. This whimsical approach expands their vocabulary and adds an element of excitement and fantasy to the writing process.

Mystery Box Punctuation Fill a box with various punctuation marks—periods, commas, exclamation points, etc. As learners pick a symbol, they must use it correctly in their sentences. This tactile approach reinforces punctuation rules and adds an element of surprise and discovery to the learning process.

Sensory Poetry Paths Set up different stations with various textures, scents, and sounds. As children move through these sensory paths, encourage them to jot down descriptive phrases and emotions evoked by each station. This sensory input becomes the foundation for crafting unique and evocative sensory poems, enriching their poetic expression with tangible sensory details. This learning activity hones their poetic skills as well as deepens their connection to the sensory world around them.

By incorporating these KS1 creative writing activities into Year 1 and Year 2 English lessons, teachers can help build a love for language, imagination, and collaboration. These primary activities not only make learning enjoyable but also provide a solid foundation for developing essential writing skills in children aged 5 to 7.

If you found this useful, you may like to read Now is the Time! Ten Classroom Activities and Ideas to Help Children Learn to Tell the Time .

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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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51 1st Grade Writing Prompts: Preferences, Imaginative Scenarios, Activities, And Hobbies

December 13, 2023 //  by  Sean Kivi

First grade is a super exciting time for your kiddies, which makes it the perfect time to develop their love of writing! Your students are becoming opinionated and want to share their ideas, and it’s your job to teach them how to do this confidently in their writing. These 51 silly and lighthearted writing prompts are perfect to get their imaginations going and make them excited to put pencil to paper! Have a look and see which ones will inspire even your most reluctant writers to get stuck in.

Preferences and Favorites

1. What do you want to see at Disneyland?

2. What kind of candy do you like to eat?

3. What is your favorite toy, and why?

4. Do you like to drink soda? Why or why not?

5. What is your favorite dessert?

6. What is your favorite animal?

7. What is your perfect pet?

8. How did the yuckiest food you ever ate taste?

9. Do you think skydiving is fun?

10. What do you like the most about school?

11. What is your favorite cafeteria food?

12. What is your favorite vegetable?

13. Do you prefer spiders or snakes as pets? Why?

14. Do you like the movie “Frozen”? Why, or why not?

15. How do you feel when you eat your favorite food?

16. If you can only eat one food for the rest of you, what do you pick?

17. What is your perfect breakfast?

Imaginative Scenarios

18. Would you like to be an animal for a day? If so, which one?

19. What would you do if you were president for a day?

20. What would you do if there were a dinosaur in your backyard?

21. Your dog eats your homework. What will you tell the teacher?

22. If you could talk to animals, what would you say?

23. Is a dragon a good pet?

24. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

25. Is a mermaid a good pet?

26. Is it better to be too big or too small?

27. What is your dream vacation, and why?

28. Would you eat a fly? Why or why not?

29. Which is better? Hands for feet, or feet for hands?

30. Do you think that aliens are real?

31. Do you want to fly to outer space in a rocket? Why?

32. What would you do if you saw a mammoth?

33. Your mom buys a pet hippo. How do you feel and why?

34. Is it better to run like a lion or fly like an eagle?

35. If you could be any cartoon character, who would you be and why?

36. Would it be better to have square-shaped eyes or triangle-shaped feet?

37. Would you want to breathe through your ears or smell through your mouth? Why?

38. Would you like to have two tongues? Why or why not?

39. What would you do if you woke up and you couldn’t talk?

40. What would you do if you woke up and couldn’t hear?

41. Do you think it’s better to live in the North Pole or the Sahara desert? Why?

Activities, Routines, and Hobbies

42. How do astronauts poop in space?

43. How do you brush your teeth?

44. What is a secret hobby that you have?

45. What do you like to do at the beach?

46. What is your favorite sport to play after school?

47. What kind of person is your best friend?

48. What is the happiest thing you remember and why?

49. Do you think your bedtime is at a good time? Why or why not?

50. What would happen at your perfect birthday party?

51. What do you do when you get ready for bed?

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100 Fun Writing Prompts for 1st Grade: Journal Prompts

• Narrative Writing Prompts
• Informative Essay Writing Prompts
• Research Writing Prompts
• Funny Writing Prompts
• Self-writing Prompts
• Fiction Writing Prompts
• Animal Writing Prompts
• Journal Writing Prompts For 1st Graders
• Descriptive Writing Prompts

Writing prompts are important tools that parents can use when they want to improve their child’s inherent abilities. The right 1st grade writing prompts can help your kids improve their writing, reading, comprehension, and visual processing abilities.

By having prompts of different themes, styles, and objectives, you can diversify the way that your child approaches writing. You can also enhance their divergent thinking abilities with the right writing prompts. Let’s start with our list of the 100 best writing prompts for 1 st graders.

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Here are more educational resources for your first grader so that they never stop practicing!

10 Narrative Writing Prompts

Narratives can be powerful teaching tools to help kids understand the importance of sequencing in writing. They can practice the core skills of narration, including storytelling, plot design, and conclusion. The best narrative-driven 1st grade journal prompts can help kids refine their writing capabilities. You can use these 1st grade narrative writing prompts to help your young ones develop their storytelling. 

1. What if you had a magical wand? What would you do with it?  

2. What are your favorite after-school activities?

3. Describe a time when you felt lost. What did you do? How did you feel?

4. What superpower would you love to have the most?

5. What are your favorite things about being in the 1 st grade?

6. Describe a difficult time in your life when you had to face some form of adversity.

7. What is your best memory from a vacation that you took with your family?

8. If you could meet one cartoon character in real life, who would it be?

9. Describe your favorite animal. What are its characteristics?

10. What is your favorite holiday? Why do you love that time of the year? 

10 Informative Essay Writing Prompts

Informative prompts help kids understand the value of being accurate, precise, and descriptive. You can have them talk about events, historical figures, and facts in greater detail with the right informative prompts.

1. Write an informative essay about animated movies for kids .  

2. Pick any stationery item from school. Write about the importance of using that tool.

3. Talk about why it is important to consume healthy foods. Why are vegetables good for us?

4. Talk about how you would teach a special skill to someone you’ve never met.

5. Talk about your favorite hobbies. Why do you enjoy participating in them?

6. Think about what you want to be when you grow up. Talk about your plan on how you’re going to achieve it.

7. Explain in detail why reading is important for all 1 st grade kids.

8. Talk about a time when you failed at something. How did you get back up and succeed?

9. What do you like the most about your best friend? Why is your friendship so special?

10. Select a food item that you love eating, and talk about why it is your favorite.

10 Research Writing Prompts

Research writing is an innovative way of instilling the right work ethic in kids at an early age. You can have your kids practice reviewing, researching, and fact-checking when they prepare their writing prompts. The best 1st grade writing prompts are research-driven ones that require extensive analysis and reviewing. 

1. Talk about the origin of alligators.

2. What is the lifecycle of a butterfly? Write about all major stages.  

3. What is germination? Write about the process of germination.

4. Why does the earth have oceans?

5. Why does an elephant have large tuskers?

6. Write down five facts about your favorite teacher.

7. Research your family history. What are some interesting facts that you could find?

8. Find ten facts about your city and what makes the city special.

9. What is a biome? Why do we have biomes?

10. What does an ant eat? Describe its journey.  

10 Funny Writing Prompts

Funny 1st grade writing prompts can be hilarious to work on, giving younger kids a chance to develop their humor. You can have them imagine funny scenarios and come up with jokes that are in the form of long paragraphs. You can talk to them about the idea of a premise, a funny line, and a storytelling joke for kids .

1. Imagine a world where every house is a gingerbread house. What would your living room look like?

2. Write a funny story about going to space and meeting an alien.

3. Write an adventure short story about saving your friend from ghosts.

4. Write a funny story about futuristic methods of transportation.

5. Imagine that you’re permanently stuck on a ship. What would your life be like?

6. Write a story about what would happen if you woke up in a dog’s body.

7. Write a story about diving into the deepest ocean in the world.

8. If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

9. What would you do if you had a tiger as a pet?

10. You have just invented a translation machine to talk to animals. What would you say first? 

10 Self-writing Prompts

Poems for kids can be an excellent form of self-expression. You can introduce poetic 1st grade writing prompts and have your little ones practice their creative thinking skills. Poems can also empower kids to sound letters and words, which helps in cementing phonics and other concepts.

1. Write a poem about your favorite animals. 

2. Talk about your day, but in the form of a poem. Make it rhyme to AABB.    

3. Create a poem about the spring season.   

4. Write a Haiku about the sky.

5. Create a Limerick about how much you love dancing.

6. Write a poem about the tiniest things in the universe.

7. Can you write a poem about words that don’t rhyme? Try it!

8. Write a poem about the letters of the alphabet.

9. Write a short poem about how much you love your family.

10. Write a poem about counting fruit, vegetables, or marbles. 

10 Fiction Writing Prompts

Fiction-based 1st grade writing prompts are also amazing writing tools that can help your child access new areas of their creative thinking. You can help them uncover their true writing potential and improve their problem-solving skills with the right fiction-themed 1st grade writing prompts.

1. You’re suddenly thrust into a game of Island survival and are tasked with saving the people. What would you do?

2. On your next fishing trip, you spot a deep-sea monster. Describe it in detail.

3. You suddenly have wings and are able to fly freely through the sky. Where do you go first?

4. You just slipped on a banana peel and made a mess. How do you clean it up?

5. You left for school and realized that all the streets are made of candy. What happens next?

6. You met Santa’s reindeer in the spring. What kind of questions would you ask it?

7. There are dinosaurs everywhere, and they’re taking control of the city. What happens next?

8. You’re a time traveler and you decided to visit ancient Egypt. What do you see?

9. Start a fairy tale and complete it with the prompt – “There was once a fire-breathing dragon protecting middle earth.”

10. You’re asked to write a completely new language. What would it sound like? 

10 Animal Writing Prompts

Animal-themed 1st grade writing prompts can bring a sense of joy back into practicing writing. Your kids can explore the depths of their imagination with prompts about different habitats and species. With the right animal-based 1st grade writing prompts, you can also improve their visual processing capabilities. 

1. What is your favorite animal in the whole wide world? Why?

2. Describe your last visit to a petting zoo.

3. If you met a talking cat, what would it say?

4. Which dog breed do you love the most?

5. I love dogs because they are _.

6. What magical animal would you like to meet and why? (Unicorn, dragon, etc.)

7. If you could pick up three animal traits, what would they be?

8. Think of a completely new imaginary animal. What would it look like?

9. Who’s the scariest animal in the jungle?

10. What kind of animal makes the best pet? Why? 

10 Prompts to Help Your Kids Understand and Appreciate Emotions

Some of the most impactful 1st grade journal prompts focus on writing about emotions. While opinion writing prompts 1st grade questions are great, you can really get into the mental framework of a child with emotion-driven prompts. 

1. When was the last time you were brave?

2. How do you feel when you goof up? Do you feel angry or sad?

3. What I love about myself is _.   

4. What makes me happy is when I am _.

5. How do you comfort a friend who is feeling scared?

6. Recall the last time you burst out laughing. How did you feel?

7. Sometimes I feel sad about _.

8. If I could change one thing in the world, it would be _.

9. Sometimes I am hard on myself about _.

10. Something I wish I were better at is _.  

10 Journal Writing Prompts For 1st Graders

The best first grade journal prompts are the ones that involve introspection, critical thinking, and active recalling. You can improve their writing and comprehension skills with some fun writing prompts for 1st grade students.

1. How are you feeling today? Talk about what emotions you felt.

2. What are five things that you are grateful for?

3. What is the one thing that surprised you today?

4. I love my mom because she’s _.

5. My idea of a fun vacation is.

6. If I lived on a mountain, my daily routine would be.

7. This spring season, I plan on doing _.

8. I love my sibling because _.

9. Write about your last vacation.

10. My favorite day of the year is.  

10 Descriptive Writing Prompts

When it comes to writing topics for 1st graders, descriptive ones are some of the most fun for little kids. The top writing ideas for 1st grade students can involve describing events, objects, narratives, and storylines, giving them more control on their vision for their answers. You can use these creative writing prompts 1st grade level questions at any time during the year. 

1. Describe a dream walk through a garden.

2. Describe a typical school day in detail.

3. What type of music makes you happy? Describe why you love your favorite artist.

4. Describe the most interesting birthday you’ve had.

5. What’s your favorite hobby? Describe it in detail.

6. How would you describe a smartphone to someone from 1920?

7. What’s your favorite dessert? Why do you love it so much?

8. Which is your favorite memory in the whole wide world?

9. Talk about someone you look up to in detail.

10. Is there a comic book hero you love? Describe their qualities and what makes them special. 

Quick Tips on Helping Your 1st Grader Improve Their Writing Skills

Now that we’ve explored the best writing prompts for 1 st graders, you can help them become better at the craft with the right strategies. You can use the best 1st grade journal prompts and encourage your kids to write with clarity and purpose.

You should also use different types of writing prompts for 1st grade kids. This will help you keep things interesting for your little ones while making them feel joyful when writing. In fact, the best 1st grade journal topics are the ones that are within your kids’ realm of interest.

Additionally, you can continue to reward them for writing extensively. By giving them toys, books, and colorful stationery, you can subtly encourage them to continue improving their writing and comprehension at the 1 st grade level. 

Start With The Best Prompts That Appeal to Your Kids

You can start by mixing around writing prompts for your kids with different styles. You can also prepare your own prompts by referencing the examples mentioned above. The best way to get your kids excited about writing is to give them prompts that make them think outside the box.

So, what are you waiting for? Get your kids writing engaging narratives with these amazing writing prompts!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do i select the right writing prompts for my 1st grader.

You should start with topics that they enjoy talking about organically.

How do I improve participation and excitement for writing prompts?

You can have them write about their favorite cartoons, movies, and books during the initial stages of writing prompts.

What are some ways to improve my child’s writing?

You can use prompts, worksheets, and tracing sheets, to help your kids improve their writing.

What are some writing activities for 1st graders?

You can have them write letters, poems, stories, and other narrative-driven pieces.

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50 Fun First Grade Writing Prompts (With Printable)

• DESCRIPTION first grade classroom writing prompts
• SOURCE FatCamera / E+ / Getty
• PERMISSION Used under Getty Images license

First graders are just starting to understand the magic of communicating their thoughts in writing. These fun first grade writing prompts will help them expand their skills while sparking their imaginations at the same time.

Fun Journal Writing Prompts for First Graders

Regular journal writing is a great way to get kids in the habit of writing, but the prompts need to be inspiring to make it fun. These journal ideas are age-appropriate and inspiring for younger kids who may only write a sentence or two.

• Pick a toy. If it could talk, what would it say?
• Where is one of your favorite places to visit?
• What's your favorite game? Why?
• Tell about a time you made someone laugh. What did you do?
• What holiday do you like best? What do you like about it?
• Tell about a place where you feel safe. What does it look like?
• What grown-up job looks the most fun?
• What is one thing you love about school?
• What makes a person kind?
• What do you like best about playing outside?
• What time of day do you like best? Why?
• What would you do if no one could see you?
• When you feel sad, what do you do to feel better?
• What did you do on your birthday?

First Grade Story Starters

Creative writing is especially fun for this age group, since they are so good at using their imaginations. First graders love storytelling and fables . These creative story starters will get them thinking of wild and fun stories to share.

• Imagine you have a superpower. What is it? What do you do?
• What magical animal would you like as a pet? (Unicorn? Dragon?)
• If you met a talking mouse, what would you say to it?
• What if you could only bark instead of talking? Would you like it?
• You cannot use your hands for a whole day. What do you do?
• You get to make up a new game for first graders. How does it work?
• You find a magic rock. What does it do?
• You get to choose an adventure for your whole class. What do you pick?
• An adult in your family has to go to first grade for a day. What happens?
• You get one wish. What is it?
• While playing outdoors, you find a treasure. What is it? What happens next?
• If you had a pair of magical shoes, what would they do?

"I Think" Writing Prompts for 1st Graders

First graders are just beginning to understand the idea of sharing their thoughts and supporting their point of view. You can help 1st grade kids learn to share their opinions with this concept by using writing prompts like these.

• Should kids get to choose their own bedtime? Why or why not?
• What flavor of ice cream do you like best? Why?
• What kind of animal do you think makes the best pet? Why?
• What do you think is the best book? Why?
• What is the best school lunch? Why do you like it?
• Tell about what a day in first grade is like.
• Would you rather climb a tree or read a book? Why?
• What toy do you like the most? Why do you like it so much?
• Do you like cold weather or hot weather best? Why?
• Would you rather ride a bike or walk? Why?
• What kind of cookies do you like best? Why do you like them?
• Would you like to live near the woods or in a city? Why?
• Why is it important to share with others?

First Grade Narrative Writing Prompts

First graders should also start learning how to write explanations and descriptions. While they won't learn the phrase expository writing until later on in school, you can help them start developing related skills by using these prompts to encourage information sharing.

• Describe a kind person you know.
• Explain how to play a game you love.
• Write about what happens in your favorite TV show or movie.
• What kind of care does a pet need?
• Tell someone how to wash their hands.
• Describe your mom, dad or another adult in your family.
• What does your school look like?
• What are three things you did today?
• How do you get ready for school in the morning?
• How do you clean your room?
• What was your last art project?

Printable 1st Grade Writing Prompts Worksheets

When it's time to use first grade writing prompts, printables can be a great educational resource. The PDF below features a selection of the writing prompts from each category above, along with a printable worksheet that students can use to complete their writing assignments. The worksheet has a spot for students to draw a picture to go along with their writing.

First Grade Writing Prompts worksheet

More great writing topics for kids.

From these fun 1st grade writing prompts, you can move on to working on mechanics like capitalization . You can cover ways to express love and other emotions, how to write a thank-you note and more simple writing skills. Once kids start to enjoy writing, the world opens up for them in terms of communication. These first grade writing activities just might play a key role in helping students begin to love writing from a very young age.

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Journal Buddies Jill | July 8, 2024 May 17, 2022 | Creative Writing

Wow! 98 Story Prompts & Creative Story Starters for Kids

Need Story Prompts & Starters?  There are lots of great story prompt ideas here for you and your writers. You see, with these fun and fabulous lists of creative writing story starters — 3 lists in all — your kids will enjoy 85 boosts of creativity. PLUS, you’ll find 13 fabulous finish the story ideas .

That means there’s a total of 98 story prompts for students right here at your fingertips.

So get to it and help ignite your students’ imaginations and creative writing interests. Above all, enjoy!

Here’s what you’ll find in this post:

Yeppers. There are 3 wonderful lists of story starters and story-writing prompts and ideas for your writers. All FREE and all fun.

Lots of Wonderful Story Writing Prompts to Ignite the Imagination

Each idea gives students a starting point from which they can take any number of directions. They’ll think about what they would do if they found $1000 on the ground or what would happen if one of their best friends was elected President.

For extra fun, encourage your kids to share their stories with one another after writing. They’ll be amazed to see how many different ideas they came up with from the same short story starter.

Promote imagination and adventure with these new journal prompts and creative writing story starters. Regardless of whether they write silly, scary, or serious stories, students will love the chance to write something unique.

Ok… Here are those wonderful creative writing story prompts for your young writers!

List #1 — 55 Story Prompts, Creative Writing Prompts, and Story Starters for Kids

• You become a character in your favorite video game, and…
• Your grandma comes to town and brings an unexpected surprise…
• You are an astronaut who finds something strange on the moon…
• Your parents tell you that you’re moving across the country.
• An alien comes to Earth, and…
• At the beach, you find a special seashell…
• At summer camp, the boys and girls wage a prank war against one another.
• Every time a dog barks, something unusual happens…
• You learn that you are heir to a throne…
• At the library, you find a photo in a book.
• The last seconds on the clock are ticking, and the ball is in your hands. What happens next?
• You get stuck in an elevator with…
• In the backyard, your dog finds a mysterious necklace…
• Your best friend is elected President.
• At the mall, you walk by a mannequin that looks just like you. Something odd is happening…
• You find an old photo of your grandmother, and see that she was a famous actress…
• You receive a letter in the mail saying that you’ve won $10,000. What do you do?
• Your favorite athlete shows up at one of your games—but as a player on the other team!
• Your bicycle runs away from home. How do you find it?
• You discover a magic button that will…
• You suspect the school library might be haunted…
• You come home to find your cat eating a bowl of ice cream. What happens next?
• You win a contest on the radio for…
• Three kids get locked in the mall. What do they decide to do?
• You travel to the prairie and see…
• You switch places for a day with your favorite celebrity.
• You’re a race car driver with an embarrassing secret.
• Your favorite singer agrees to perform an exclusive show in your basement.
• You come home from school to find a box on your porch. What’s inside?
• At your birthday party, you receive a very special present…
• Your luggage gets lost at the airport and you accidentally open the wrong bag.
• Your class gets snowed in at school. What do you do?
• You show up at school, but you can’t remember where of your classes are or who anyone is.
• You switch places for a day with your dad.
• In the back of your closet, you find a basketball jersey…
• You find out that your teacher used to be…

• You find $1000 on the ground, and…
• Your family wins the lottery.
• You discover your parents are spies…
• You become the youngest person ever to set a world record for…
• You and your best friend end up on the set of your favorite TV show. What happens?
• You take a ride on a tornado, and…
• You run into some trouble while camping…
• There is a magic swing at the park that will take you to…
• The power goes out, and you’re home alone…
• One day, there is a very strange weather report that says…
• Everywhere you go, you keep hearing a song that no one else can hear…
• You find a map leading to buried treasure, but it’s buried under the principal’s house!
• You hear an ad on the radio for a magic product that will…
• You stumble upon a cure for __________. What do you do with it?
• On Christmas Eve, you hear a strange noise on the roof…
• You’re in the school play and worried about forgetting your lines.
• You get home from the zoo and find a baby monkey in your trunk! What do you do?
• You win a cooking contest for your famous __________ recipe.

I hope you enjoyed these superb story starters for students.

Just in case our list of writing prompts above was enough… here are some more ideas for kids.

BONUS List #2 — 13 Finish The Story Writing Prompts

These finish the story writing prompts and ideas should help writers easily create a good story of their very own. Enjoy!

• I went to outer space with three dinosaurs and couldn’t believe it when our spaceship…
• I went to see a movie with my best friend when suddenly…
• My family’s summer vacation was going great until my family member did this…
• A detective and K-9 partner were given the task of …
• Visit a new planet or lots of new planets
• Fix climate issues here on earth
• Use my superpower to…
• Or none of the above, I would…
• The last time I spoke to them…

• My favorite childhood memory was when…
• I used to say to my friends that when the cookie crumbles, just eat one of the other cookies. I learned this when I…
• If I could have any gift in the whole wide world, I would choose to receive a…
• My very favorite place in all the world is…
• I went on a road trip and couldn’t believe the magical things I saw. It was like Science Fiction (but real!). This is what happened…
• My mom heard a knock and opened the front door. To her astonishment, she saw a giraffe and…

Whew! What a great list of finish-the-story writing prompts. Now, let’s get to those story starters for kids.

Oh yeah. Here are Those Creative Story Starters for Kids, As Promised!

Creative writing offers so many benefits for kids. It helps them tap into their imagination and expand their creativity, which teaches them to think outside the box. It’s also fun, boosts their confidence, and gives them a wonderful outlet for self-expression.

Whether your students have written one story or 50 stories, the practice of regular writing can have a positive impact on their creativity. Relax and enjoy this fun listing of imaginative story starter ideas for kids!

NEW! List #3 – 30 Story Starters for Student Writers

• The lights suddenly went out and everything in the room was black. Then, I heard a noise I  couldn ’t identify coming from the window…
• I was digging around in the attic and found a pair of magic glasses. It was incredible what I could see with them in my house…
• Paddling along in a canoe, we made it to the center of the lake. Suddenly, the boat got a leak and…
• I was tired of living with my name. I decided it was time to change my name to something I really liked…
• I found a magic seed and when I planted it…
• After hearing some strange sounds under my bed, I peeked underneath and there I found a dragon. He seemed pretty friendly…
• The mailman came by and delivered a box so big we  couldn ’t get it through the door. We opened the huge box outside and…
• All of a sudden, right in front of Sarah’s eyes, her family completely disappeared…
• Ella looked down at her watch. Her mouth dropped open. Her watch was now turning backward…
• Johnny found a box in his backyard buried in the dirt. It was full of secrets that had been kept hidden for centuries. He tried to decide if he should open the box…
• Ryan went out to the kitchen for a snack, and when he opened the refrigerator, he found something that he never expected to see…
• Jennie’s mom was driving her to school when suddenly the car started lifting right off the ground and into the air…
• Marc and Mitch made a big decision, and by the end of the day, they would come to regret that decision more than anything in their life…
• Thunder started to roll and lightning flashed. One minute it was raining and then suddenly there were bright, colorful drops of paint falling from the clouds instead of rain…

• My mom had to run to the store and I was supposed to look after my little sister. I really wished I would have now…
• Lisa looked in the mirror after washing her face. She screamed. Something had definitely gone terribly wrong…
• It was the most important decision of my life…and I made the wrong one…
• Ryan loved riding his dirt bike through the trails in the woods. But today the woods looked different. The trees looked angry and there were no birds singing…
• Lenny loved to go around squashing spiders. But this was the day that the spiders would finally have their revenge…
• One dark, stormy night, the monsters didn’t stay under my bed. They came out to play…
• Dear Diary. There’s a good chance that this will be the last time I get to write in you. You see…
• My dream had always been to go to the Olympics, and finally, the day came when I got my wish. I was at the Olympics to compete in…
• “Home run,” yelled Alex as everyone watched the ball fly beyond the fence. For a moment there was silence, followed by the tinkling sound of glass breaking in the distance…
• Michael went out to help his dad milk the cows on their family farm. He always talked to the cows while he milked them, but today one of the cows talked back…
• Jenny and Lisa were having a grand time camping in a tent in the backyard. They were laughing and telling spooky stories and having fun until they suddenly heard a strange noise…
• Jeff loved eating ice cream. When he saw a poster advertising the chance to win an ice cream cone every week from the local ice cream shop, he knew he had to enter. The only thing he needed to do was come up with a new ice cream flavor.
• Suddenly the television turned on by itself. I looked over and saw a message that I could never forget…
• The door upstairs that led to the attic had always been locked, but today Henry had found the key and was ready to explore…
• My pet robot usually listened to my commands. But today, it seemed like it had a mind of its own…

Sometimes kids have a tough time knowing how to start their stories. If this is the case for your students, then, by all means, please use the fun story starters above to help spark their imaginations.

I hope you enjoyed these Story Starters for Kids .

Ok, see this…

367 More Story Writing Ideas

Yippee… we offer you loads more fun writing prompts on a variety of topics for all grades. Here are some of our favorites. Take a look!

• 32 Fun Story Starters to Inspire Middle School Kids
• 25 Terrific Fantasy Story Ideas
• 49 Story Starters Ideas for Elementary Kids
• 34 Creative Story Ideas for Middle Schoolers
• 162 Creative Writing Topics or Students
• 30 Short Story Writing Ideas for Kids
• 10 Great Choose your Own Adventure Story Ideas
• 25 Story Openers and How to Start a Story

With the chance to write their own stories about their favorite pet, an enchanted forest, or what they would do if they found a frog with magical powers, our fun writing prompts, story starters, and lesson plans will inspire all students from pre-K to high school.

A Few Final Thoughts…

Daily writing offers many benefits to students, but the ability to explore new worlds is undoubtedly one of the most important.

So put these creative writing story starters on double duty and use them as journal prompts for kids as well! Whether they’re writing creatively or considering a topic of personal reflection, journaling improves critical thinking skills and encourages imagination.

When students write on a regular basis, they gain more confidence in their schoolwork and in their own ideas.

Indeed… Journaling is a powerful way to empower your students both inside and outside of the classroom.

Until next time, write on…

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

Sincerely, Jill journalbuddies.com creator and curator

PS – Here is an awesome story starter generator resource .

Tap to See Prompts Power Up Your Pen: 157 Writing Prompt a Day Ideas 162 Creative Writing Topics and Ideas (Updated!) 200+ Journal Prompt a Day Ideas for Endless Exploration ------------Start of Om Added --------- @media (min-width: 320px) and (max-width: 767px) { .inside-right-sidebar { display: none !important; } } Search Now Offering You 19,000+ Prompts!

Tap to See Prompts Power Up Your Pen: 157 Writing Prompt a Day Ideas 162 Creative Writing Topics and Ideas (Updated!) 200+ Journal Prompt a Day Ideas for Endless Exploration Search Search 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 classroom , creative-writing-resources , creativity , daily writing , empower , journal , journal prompts , Journaling resources , school , schoolwork , stories , story starter , story starters , students , topic , writing , writing creatively empower , writing prompts div#postbottom { margin-top: 12px; } Search Now Offering You 19,000+ Prompts!

Creative Writing Ideas

Here are some ideas that you can use as part of creative writing activities with your children:

1) Writing Traditional Stories from a Different Point of View

Read “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs” (by Jon Scieszka) with the children. This tells the “Three Little Pigs” story from the wolf’s point of view.

Ask the children to think of a story that they know well and to write another version from another point of view.

e.g. Write “Cinderella” from the point of view of one of the ugly sisters,

OR Write “The Three Billy Goats Gruff” from the point of view of the troll,

OR Write “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” from the point of view of Goldilocks.

2) Design a New Room for the Chocolate Factory

Based on “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” by Roald Dahl.

Remind the children of the story and read chapter 15 – a description of the Chocolate Room.

Ask the children who have read the story if they can think of any of the other rooms in the factory. Make a list of these on the board for the children to refer to later.

Now ask the children to make up a new room for the chocolate factory, making sure that they are as descriptive as possible.

Jessica Miller has also suggested the following idea:

What might have happened if any of the other children had gotten the factory?

3) Missing Person

The following activity is great fun and usually produces great results, but it must be used with caution. Only try it with a class you are comfortable with and who you think will cope with the situation. Also, try to add a little humour where possible, ensuring that the children are aware that it’s not real – you’re just pretending!

Choose a name for a missing person (e.g. “Paul”), making sure that this is not the name of someone in the class. Before the lesson, put a chair in an empty space in the classroom. For the purposes of the lesson, pretend that this space is where “Paul” normally sits.

Ask the children where “Paul” is. They will probably look at you as though you are mad, but continually ask them where “Paul” is today. Tell them that he normally sits in his space (point to the empty chair) and that he was there yesterday, but he isn’t there today. Insist that they tell you where he is. Hopefully, someone will make up a reason why “Paul” isn’t in today. Argue with them, saying that you have heard differently. Ask if anyone knows anything else. Ask who was the last person to see him. Continue like this for a while, with the children explaining where he is.

Finally, say that as Paul is missing, we will have to make some missing person posters, explaining who Paul is (with a picture so others can identify him!), where he was last seen and who to contact if he is found. When these are made, you could post them around the school.

A missing person poster template can be found below.

4) Supermoo’s New Adventures

Based on the book “Supermoo” by Babette Cole.

Read the story through with the children. Discuss the main characters (Supermoo, Calf Crypton, the BOTS, Miss Pimple’s class), and ask the children to produce a new adventure for a series of new Supermoo books. This could be in the form of a story, or a storyboard with accompanying pictures.

When finished, the children could actually make the books for younger children in the school to read.

5) Recipes for Dreams

Based on “The BFG” by Roald Dahl.

Remind the children of the story and read the “Dreams” chapter to give the children some ideas. Ask them to make a recipe for a dream. They could set it out like a cooking recipe with ingredients and mixing instructions and there should also be a short description of the dream (which could be a “Golden Phizzwizard” or a “Trogglehumper”).

When all of the recipes are finished, they could be made into a “Dream Recipe Cook Book”.

6) Dr. Xargle’s Book of …..

This activity is based on the Dr. Xargle series of books written by Jeanne Willis and illustrated by Tony Ross.

Read through some of the books in the series.

The children should write their own Dr. Xargle story in which he teaches his class about a different aspect of Earth life (e.g. school, work). This will encourage them to look at everyday life from a different point of view. If there is enough time, they could also make illustrations to accompany their text.

7) Class Mascot Activity

Find a small soft toy or puppet which will become the class mascot. With the class, choose a name for the mascot, and discuss its background (where it comes from, its friends and family, its likes and dislikes etc.).

Let each child take the mascot (and a book in which to write) home for a few days at a time. While they are looking after the mascot, they should write a short story in the book outlining what the mascot has done during its stay with them. This can be true or the children can make up events (e.g. a trip to the moon). Encourage them to be as creative as possible.

When the mascot returns to school, spend some time discussing what it has done and where it has been. The class could make a book describing the mascot’s travels.

8) When I am famous…

“In the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes” – Andy Warhol

Discuss the above quote with the children, and talk about what it means to be famous. Would they like to be famous? What would they like to be famous for?

The children could then write:

• An account of what they would like to be famous for and why.
• A diary, written as if the child was famous in the future. How are they feeling? What things do they have to do?
• A newspaper interview, written as if in the future, with the child who is now famous.

9) How did the elephant get its trunk?

Can the children think of a story which describes how the elephant got its trunk? Or how about explaining how a giraffe got its long neck? How did the leopard get its spots? Why has a rabbit got long ears? Why is a zebra stripy?

10) Description of a New Animal

A good way of asking children to use their descriptive writing skills is to ask them to invent a new animal. Ask them to describe what it looks like, where it lives, what it does, what it eats etc. It might be useful to discuss existing animals and their characteristics beforehand.

11) Writing a story based on adverts

In the back of many books, there are often adverts for other stories. Why not get the children to choose one of these adverts, and write a story based on the description of the story in the advert. They don’t need to have read the book which is being advertised, and you can get them to compare their own story to the real version when they have finished.

12) Using Objects

Take 4 or 5 unrelated but interesting objects and challenge children to create either a skit or a character description of the owner. Great for oral discussion but also useful for character analysis. Suggested by Jane Knight.

13) Name Characters

This is using art and creative writing, and was suggested by Jeanette Carpenter:

• Fold a piece of paper in half and on the fold line, write your name.
• Cut around the outside shape of your name.
• Open your name and you will have a shape based on your letters.
• Colour and design your shape into a character.
• Glue your finished character to a piece of construction paper.
• Write a descriptive paragraph about your character as if it is an alien arriving here on earth for the first time. Give it a name, place of origin, the reason for being here, etc.

Writing Detailed Instructions

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Year 1 Writing

Discover year 1 writing standards.

Home > English > Writing > Year 1

In Key Stage 1, children are expected to quickly develop foundational English language skills . Some primary school students start with very limited writing ability, mainly using verbal skills to communicate. The key development in Year 1 writing is to bridge the gap between spoken language and printed words.

A great writing activity to try with your young writer is to break down spoken interactions into different types. Being able to identify different types of interactions helps children learn many forms of expression, and how each employs different vocabulary , grammar, and punctuation.

There are three fundamental types of writing (sometimes called "composition") that children will learn about and practice in Year 1:

Opinion Writing

Informative writing, narrative writing.

While your child’s writing will be basic in Year 1, they’ll start to understand the difference between the writing styles listed above. Your child will also learn about correct sentence writing practices, as they’ll be expected to write short compositions displaying their knowledge of each text type and structure. The more they practise writing, the easier it will be for them to identify different styles of text.

Year 1 students will learn that their opinion is linked to their thoughts and feelings about something, and that people can have different opinions on the same thing! When writing about their opinions at this primary education level, they'll be expected to express their thoughts and ideas using correct grammar and punctuation, whilst also supporting their argument with a reason for their opinion. As children are still developing their basic writing skills at this level, it’s always important to remind them to write in complete sentences, using capitalisation and punctuation to help logical articulation.

A simple example of Year 1 opinion writing could be:

• (Title or Question) Which animal is the best?
• (Give your opinion) I think that the lion is the best animal.
• (Give a reason) This is because they rule the savannah.

Informative writing informs its reader through primarily factual content. In Year 1, young children should be able to identify informative writing, distinguish facts from opinions , and write simple yet complete sentences about a variety of topics.

Typically, learners will study simple scientific facts or learn about the environmental world around them. You can encourage this by giving your child many opportunities to read factual scientific books and articles. Even if your child is a struggling reader, this activity will develop a deeper understanding of what it takes to write a great informative text, whilst also adding valuable knowledge that will be helpful for them as they move on to Year 2 .

Practice Tip

Challenge your child to complete one of the report writing lessons on Night Zookeeper . These lessons model examples of great informative writing and ask children to write their own sentences about the animals featured in the lessons.

In Year 1, children are often already aware of narrative devices, structures, and forms, but mainly through non-written mediums, such as watching TV and films, and listening to friends and families recount their experiences. They may not, however, be used to the formal breakdown of this and how to write a story themselves.

This style enables your child to practise their creative writing skills, while learning key writing rules, such as sentence writing and story mapping, while growing their vocabulary list!

Narrative writing is perhaps the best writing style to teach your child all they need to know about sequencing, which relates to the three main components of a story plot: beginning, middle, and end. It also offers Year 1 students the chance to learn how to use appropriate structural and linguistic devices to give a story an arc - such as (but not limited to) "once upon a time", "then", and "happily ever after".

Key Story Features

It's always a good idea to break up these features and work on them separately with your child as they try to make sense of each component.

Your child can build their own writing world on Night Zookeeper . This will provide lots of opportunities for them to practice their character creation skills as they invent new animals for their Night Zoo.

How Night Zookeeper can help

Our writing program for kids focuses on helping children develop their writing skills in a fantastically fun way! It improves your child’s writing skills using non-traditional writing resources such as fun noun games, punctuation challenges (such as how to use commas ), interactive lesson series, creative writing prompts , and more! All our award-winning content follows the English National Curriculum guidelines.

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How do I use writing topics in my classroom?

Do you want to inspire your students to write great narratives, essays, and reports? Check out these grade-specific writing topics organized by mode (explanatory, creative, and so on). Or search for writing topics that relate to a theme, such as “life” or “animals” or “family.”

Jump to . . .

Explanatory writing.

• A day in the rainforest
• After-school games
• An important person I know about
• At the library
• Foods I don't like
• Friendly places
• Games I play with friends
• Games we play at recess
• Good things in my neighborhood
• How plants grow
• How to make my favorite dessert
• How to make new friends
• I like spring because . . .
• I like to make . . .
• I'd like to see . . .
• Insects, insects everywhere
• Learning to ride a bike
• My favorite food
• My favorite pet
• My favorite season
• My mom's/dad's hobby
• My new friend
• My shopping list
• Our clubhouse
• The biggest bubble-gum bubble
• The funniest zoo animal
• This person makes me laugh
• What I know about . . .
• What I know about an animal
• What I know about dinosaurs
• What I know about stars
• What I know about the ocean
• What I like about math
• What makes me laugh?
• What will I share?
• Who I will be in the future
• Who's at the zoo?
• Why I like to read
• Why I love to sing
• Words I think are funny

Persuasive Writing

• Don't litter!
• Things that would make my neighborhood better

Narrative Writing

• A day at the beach
• A special birthday
• Buying something with my own money
• Cooking dinner with Mom/Dad
• Eating lunch with my friends
• Going grocery shopping
• Going to the circus
• I rode on a . . .
• I'm happy when . . .
• Losing my teeth
• My adventure
• My trip to . . .
• Noisy times and quiet times
• Playing a game with Grandma/Grandpa
• Playing with pets
• Something funny that happened to me
• The biggest thing I ever saw
• The last time I cried
• When _ was born

Response to Literature

• A book I just read
• Some of my favorite books

Creative Writing

• A story about a holiday
• A trip on a rocket ship
• Dear George Washington
• Seeing the world through the eyes of . . .
• Sometimes I wish . . .
• What if I met a . . .
• What if I were 10 years old?
• What if I were someone else?
• What if toys could talk?
• What's under my bed?

Research Writing

• I wonder why . . .
• Something I don't understand
• A bicycle I'd like to have
• A day in the desert
• A great place to go
• A great treehouse
• A place I like to visit
• A sport I'm good at
• A trip on a monorail
• Activities for indoor fun
• Activities for outdoor fun
• Amazing facts I know
• An amazing animal
• Dancing to the music
• Having fun at school
• Helping out around the house
• Magic tricks I can do
• Making my favorite food
• My favorite baby-sitter
• My favorite board game
• My favorite teacher
• My homework place
• Our classroom pet
• Some things I like about the museum
• The best house pets
• The weirdest house pets
• Things that are hard to believe
• Things to do in the snow
• Unusual fruits and vegetables
• Water balloons!
• What I like about where I live
• What makes me special
• Who is beautiful?
• Let's help the environment by . . .
• Things I'd like to change
• A cozy spot at home
• A funny time in my family
• A great day with a friend
• A helpful person I have met
• A person who means the world to me
• A walk in the woods
• Funny things my pet has done
• My best birthday
• My favorite family story
• Putting on a play
• Swimming at the pool or lake
• When everything goes wrong
• Book characters I'd like to meet
• A dark hallway
• Donuts for dinner
• Something I wish would happen
• What if there were no electricity
• All about an amazing animal

Business Writing

• A cartoon character that I like
• A song that means a lot to me
• A special photograph
• A special, secret place
• A trip in a submarine
• An important time in history
• Building a fort
• Creatures that live in the ocean
• Creepy, crawly things
• Dirt bikes and skateboards
• Do I want to be famous?
• Doing homework
• Going to the dentist
• Gone fishing!
• How to stop hiccups
• How we divide the chores at our house
• I don't understand why . . .
• I'd like to invent a machine that . . .
• If I started my own business, I'd . . .
• Instructions for a pet sitter of my pet
• Let's help the animals by . . .
• Looking at the globe
• My favorite clothes
• My favorite form of exercise
• Pizza is . . .
• Staying at a friend's house
• The first day of school is the worst/best because . . .
• The rules we follow
• Things I see when I take a walk
• What I use a computer for
• What if I were the teacher?
• What is important to me?
• What it's like to use a wheelchair
• What my dreams feel like
• When I see nature, I . . .
• Why I like/dislike playing team sports
• Why my mom and dad are the greatest
• My school really needs . . .
• A day in the life of my pet
• A visit to a friend's school
• An excellent birthday party
• Discovering a new friend
• Getting my first pair of glasses
• Grandma's attic
• I'll never eat another . . .
• My best day
• My first school memories
• My most embarrassing moment
• Rings on her fingers
• Talk about being scared!
• When I did something amazing
• When I was upside down
• When the big storm hit
• If I wrote like the author of . . .
• A really spooky story
• Summer games
• What if we suddenly had to move?
• A game that meant a lot to my childhood
• A school field trip
• A toy I've held onto all these years
• A trip to a space station
• A typical lunch hour
• Can farmers grow enough food for everyone?
• Here's what a new student needs to know
• How I can change the way I look
• How I picture myself four years from now
• How I would define the word . . .
• I would have liked to have lived during this time.
• I'm principal for the day. Here is my schedule.
• I've done something that no one else has done
• If I could be someone else, I would be . . .
• My bedroom from top to bottom
• My favorite place
• My idea of a fun weekend
• My life as a . . .
• My participation in an activity outside of school
• One thing I want to do by the time I leave 8th grade
• Overcoming health problems
• The wildest hairstyle I have ever seen
• What a family member taught me
• What a house of the future might look like
• What I broke or lost that belongs to someone else
• A big hazard on the road
• A big problem in education is . . .
• A cool store
• A dedicated teacher or coach
• Dear Senator
• Discover nature
• Finally, a good assembly
• How could TV be better?
• Let's save _ in our schools
• My best class ever
• My favorite neighbor
• My favorite singer(s)
• Rights that kids in my grade should have
• The worst food I ever ate
• This really bugs me
• What's good about hard work?
• Why I deserve a larger allowance
• Why parents should be honest with their kids
• Why school fund-raisers are important
• Why weekends need to be longer
• A memorable bus ride
• A narrow escape from trouble
• A time that was just not fair
• A visit to a relative's house
• If I lived back in history
• If only I would have listened!
• My first concert
• My first friend
• Summer in a cabin by a lake
• The most fun I've had recently
• We couldn't stop laughing!
• We got caught!
• When I was lost
• A great book made into a great movie
• My favorite character from a book
• What if a book came to life?
• What this story means to me
• How _ came to be.
• Life among the cloud people
• Long ago and far away
• Meeting myself in the future
• Traveling west in a wagon train
• When the dinosaurs returned
• A job I'd really like to have
• All about an amazing place
• The most fascinating things I learned
• The tallest, the deepest, the longest, the biggest
• When I conducted an experiment
• When science took a big leap forward

Personal Writing

• The book that got me hooked on reading
• A day I will always remember
• A friend who moved away
• A great scientific breakthrough
• A person who changed history
• A personal habit I'd like to change
• A project I am working on
• A typical evening at home
• A visit with the doctor or dentist
• An invention that transformed the world
• Causes of a huge change in the world
• Coping with brothers and sisters
• Hanging out
• How a vehicle works
• How do people cope with constant pain?
• How I express myself artistically
• How it would feel to walk in space
• I admit it: I enjoy professional wrestling.
• I take some things too seriously
• If I were a superhero, I'd be . . .
• Is pollution a necessary evil?
• Is this love?
• Morning madness
• My craziest experience in a restaurant or shopping mall
• My dream car
• My first crush
• My first encounter with a bully
• My muscles were so sore after . . .
• My Web site
• Self-esteem
• Something this school really needs is . . .
• Sometimes, adults seem . . .
• The environment: problem and solution
• The hardest thing I have ever done
• The idea hit me like a tornado.
• The next wave of social media
• The toys I'll never give up
• Tools I will need in my intended profession
• We all make mistakes
• What animals can teach people
• What different colors mean to me
• What do Americans do well?
• What do I do to break routine?
• What do I worry about?
• What if school sports were dropped?
• What invention would I like to see in my lifetime?
• What it's like where I work
• Who knows me best?
• Why are crime dramas so popular?
• Why are some people so cruel?
• "Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off the goal."
• A change that would improve school life
• Foods I love, foods I hate
• I couldn't believe that Mom/Dad volunteered me for that job
• It's a rule, so it's right . . . right?
• Let's hear it for my favorite senior citizen
• Let's push alternate forms of energy
• Putting my foot in my mouth
• The government should . . .
• What most drives me crazy is . . .
• Why appearance is not so important
• Why I deserve the job
• _ is like a boomerang
• A funny thing happened when . . .
• A meaningful gift I've given or received
• A time when I got in trouble
• An unforgettable dream
• Looking at pictures of family and friends
• My brother or sister made me so mad
• My worst vacation
• What I regret most
• When I faced my fears
• When I learned something difficult
• When I traveled to . . .
• A remarkable artist
• An all-new album from an important artist
• An amazing work of art
• Meet the characters of . . .
• The music that moves me most
• The theme of my favorite story is . . .
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What your child will learn at school

In Year 1 (age 5–6), your child will learn to:

• Saying what they are going to write about out loud
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• Re-reading what they have written to check that it makes sense.
• Discuss what they have written with the teacher or other pupils
• Read aloud their writing clearly enough to be heard by their peers and the teacher.

Handwriting, spelling, grammar, and punctuation are all important aspects of writing too. You can find out more about them on our dedicated pages:

Handwriting in Year 1 (age 5-6)

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50 Writing Prompts

Subject: English

Age range: 7-11

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Last updated

10 September 2024

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This PDF contains 50 writing prompt cards, to encourage creative writing in the class. They are designed for a KS2 Montessori British school, but can be used in any school setting, for children from primary to secondary. Students can be inspired to create their own stories, enabling them to practice many writing objectives in the curriculum. They could also be used for big write sessions or assessments.

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How Do You Talk to Children about Climate Change? One Book Has a Few Ideas

Science communication is strengthened when we use creative approaches. Art is such a powerful tool for this, especially when communicating to kids.

Last year, I met Dave Schneider, a climate scientist who studies ice sheets and climate systems, work very similar to my own . He recently published a children’s book titled Goodnight Fossil Fuels! that’s specifically about climate change and fossil fuel accountability . The book was co-written and illustrated by environmental educator and artist Kira Davis. It stars a penguin who teams up with scientists to help solve the problem of how fossil fuels are harming the climate system and features colorful watercolor artwork.

I interviewed Dave and Kira about their book and the importance of collaborations between scientists and artists to advance science communication.

Dr. Shaina Sadai: Dave, your bio describes you as “a climate scientist, writer and outdoor explorer” with an inner compass that pointed you to writing children’s books. Can you elaborate on that inner compass, and what motivated you to write this book in particular?

Dr. Dave Schneider: There were three things that intersected for me. The first is that a few years ago I was shopping for holiday gifts for my nephews, and I came across a children’s book section in a toy store. I checked out the science books, and there were some interesting titles but literally nothing about climate change. I mean, you would think that if children’s climate books exist, you would find them in Boulder, Colorado, the city with the most climate scientists per capita in the world. I found a few titles, but they were all about as engaging as a textbook. There was nothing that’d grab a kid’s attention like a Dr. Seuss book, and certainly nothing that conveyed that climate change is a serious threat to our kids’ futures. So, I began to think about creating a book of my own. Reading books with my nephews was a way that I connected with them when they were little. I needed this book for bedtime stories, for opening the conversation about climate change and what I study.

Second, I knew that I would feel guilty if I went through my career and life, knowing that I knew a lot about this problem, but did not communicate it well, did not speak up about it. I felt that I needed to do something a little more visible than what I had done so far.

Third, I am not intrinsically motivated by physics, computer programming, or math. I have a creative side that was not being exercised in my day job. Writing a book was my chance to do something on the side that was creative and fun.

Shaina: The dedication at the start of the book says, “may it help you to envision and build a brighter future without fossil fuels.” Could you talk about how you envision and build a world without fossil fuels in your life and work?

Dave: “Brighter” is the key word there. We need to make everyone aware of the fact that phasing out fossil fuels will be win-win for all but a tiny number of billionaires. The most talked-about steps are on the energy side, where we must build out renewables and electrify everything. It’s also changing how we design our cities, buildings, and transportation systems, and how we grow our food. There are roles for everyone in this transition, whether you are an oil field worker, farmer, or investment banker. It’s an inclusive future with abundant clean energy, healthy soils, clean air and good food. It’s hard to describe, but I’ll know it when I see it. We have no choice but to strive for it.

Shaina: Kira, your bio notes your connections to animals, and your dedication at the start is to “the creatures of the Anthropocene, in memory of the Creatures of the Carboniferous.” Your dedication also states, “I wish for this book to heighten awareness and caring towards all living beings sharing this Earth together.” This really resonated with me, especially as someone who has worked on multispecies climate justice. Could you elaborate on your thoughts about our biodiverse world in the Anthropocene?

Kira Davis: We are changing the atmosphere, and the planet is warming to an extent that desertification and warmer temperatures are causing migrations, extinctions, land loss as water levels rise. But even without climate change, the ripping up of the land to mine resources is immense. The transformation of forest and other land into agriculture (and so much to grow animal feed!) is disastrous. The pollution of heavy metals into the water and all kinds of sickening chemicals into the air leaves so many with respiratory diseases. The biodiversity of our planet as we know it is plummeting. So many birds, insects, and plants, are going extinct. But it doesn’t have to be this way. And climate change has become one of the largest factors—if not the largest —that leads to exponentially quickening collapse.

Shaina: Without giving away too much plot, there are times in the book when animals and humans work together. How do you think about interspecies relationships and their role in confronting climate change?

Kira: We are all inter-related. There is no escaping that. Shifting toward plant-based diets would have a huge impact. Cycling and walking and taking the bus when one doesn’t ‘need’ to drive can be a very impactful habit to nurture. I have a list of eco-challenges that people have pledged to do for a habit-forming month. All of these are ways to shift our roles away from fear or autopilot and toward stewardship.

Shaina: What role can collaborations between artists and scientists play in addressing climate change?

Dave: One of the biggest barriers to climate action is communication. Art is one of humanity’s most effective methods of communicating. Climate scientists are often blamed for being poor communicators, which we often are, but that critique is missing the point that we have very little support for communicating. We’re up against the richest industry in the history of the world, which has unlimited resources for marketing, lobbying, and public relations. Collaborations between independent artists and scientists are essential for constructing positive narratives about climate action that are consistent with the science. This book is just one little thing that will work for a niche audience. But there are so many other audiences to reach; I hope more scientists and artists will collaborate and find creative, effective ways to communicate.

Kira: Creating illustrations for environmental education is fun, meaningful, and exciting. I love thinking about how to illustrate an idea and molding it to my audience—in this case, kids!

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