Elementary Writing Prompts: 49 Story Starters & Writing Ideas for Elementary Kids— Writing skills are so important—and yet so often go overlooked in the classroom, particularly when students are young. That’s why we believe it’s never too early to get kids interested in writing… or to show them what a fun, rewarding activity it can be!
One of the best ways to show kids how enjoyable writing can be is to encourage them to use their imaginations to tell their own stories. With that in mind, we’ve put together 49 fresh story starters and elementary writing prompts that are sure to get young minds turning!
As they imagine make-believe worlds and reflect on their own viewpoints, kids will learn how valuable their own thoughts and feelings truly are. And most importantly, they’ll develop their writing and communication skills as they commit these feelings to the pages of their journals.
These elementary writing prompts are perfect for young writers who may be just learning about things like structuring paragraphs and conveying ideas in a logical manner. They’re also great fun for students who are still warming up to the idea of regular writing practice, as they offer plenty of room for their imaginations to shine!
Elementary Writing Prompts and Story Starters for Kids
Enjoy these fun creative writing prompts and story starters for elementary school kids—and the joy of watching your students’ creativity come to life!
- Imagine that you can become invisible whenever you wanted to. What are some of the things you would do?
- I am very proud because…
- If I were President, I would…
- If I were a turtle living in a pond, I would…
- I am afraid to __________, because…
- Name one thing you do really well. Give lots of details telling why.
- What is your favorite room in your home and why?
- Describe what it means to be a good neighbor.
- What is your favorite time of day? Why?
- Describe your best day ever.
- How do you deal with people who bug you?
- What excites you?
- Describe your favorite hobby.
- What is your favorite quote by a famous person? Why?
- What is your favorite song and why?
- Climbing trees is…
- I wish trees could __________ because…
- I want to be a __________ when I grow up. Then I will…
- I wish there were a law that said…
- I wish I could forget the time I __________ because…
- I wish I could do __________ because…
- Older people are…
- Younger people are…
- The most perfect place in the whole wide world is __________ because…
- What makes you feel sad? Why?
- What makes you feel happy? Why?
- What can you do to help yourself feel better when you’re feeling blue?
- Name your favorite book and why?
- If I were a raindrop, I’d…
- What I know about rabbits is that…
- If I were an Easter egg…
- For lunch today…
- Pretend that you can fly whenever you want. Where would you go?
- Pretend that there is no such thing as television, the Internet, or video games. What do you do with all your time?
- My favorite stuffed animal or toy is…
- Imagine if cows gave green juice instead of milk! What would the world look like?
- Imagine that all the streets are rivers. How do you get around?
- What would happen if it really did rain cats and dogs?
- If I were a snake, I’d…
- Use descriptive words like amazing, incredible, outrageous, super-fun, or mind-blowing in your journal entry.
- If I could choose a different name, I would choose…
- Let’s go __________. Describe your adventure.
- Write a letter to your mom, dad, friend, cousin, or classmate.
- What would happen if animals could talk?
- What questions would you like to ask animals and what would their answers be?
- What would you do if you were in the middle of the lake and your boat springs a leak?
- What would you do if you suddenly woke up in another country and no one could understand a word you said?
- Write a poem about your favorite person, animal, or place.
- What is your dream vacation?
More Elementary Writing Resources
- 53 Writing for Fun Journal Prompts
- Writing Prompts for Elementary Kids
- 60 Fictional Story Ideas to Spark Your Imagination
- 16 Visual Writing Prompts
I am always looking to expand my listing of journaling prompts and would love to hear your ideas. I invite you to contact me you have ideas you’d like me to add to this list of elementary writing prompts.
May your student’s journaling adventure be filled with joy, fun, and creativity.
Until next time, write on…
If you enjoyed these Elementary Writing Prompts,
please share them on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Pinterest.
I appreciate it!
Sincerely,
Jill
journalbuddies.com
creator and curator
I’ve been using your journal prompts as I tutor two third grade students. These prompts are motivating for them and encourage writing. They’re a great aid for me as a tutor inspiring methods to help my girls. Thank you!
Hi Michelle,
Thank you! It is so wonderful for me to hear positive feedback, and I appreciate it so very much.
Sincerely,
Jill
PS… that is not my picture and will have to get fixed 🙂
working on a list of writing prompts, just sharing… scroll down. 🙂
What’s the most important thing you would like to do this summer?
Go for a walk. Right a sentence about the walk you went on.
Write about a trick you would like to play on your mom.
What is your favorite thing to do when you play outside?
What is your favorite thing to do when you play inside?
Tell about you will be when you grow up.
Write about what you would like to do for your next birthday.
If you could go on a vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Make a list of groceries that you think mom or dad should buy for you from the store.
Tell about an animal you would like to have for a pet.
What would you do if there was a dragon stuck under your bed?
What is the funniest thing that you have ever seen?
What did you do today?
What is something you would like to learn more about?
What kind of pet do you think a teacher should get for their classroom?
What is the best movie you have ever seen?
Tell about your most favorite book.
Tell about your favorite holiday. Tell why it is your favorite.
Tell about your favorite restaurant. Tell why it is your favorite.
Write a poem about what you think first grade will be like.
Do you think you will get married?? Write about what you think it will be like.
What is something you love about yourself?
If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be?
Make a list of the things you are most thankful for in your life.
Which season do you like the most?? Why??
Which season do you like the least, why????
You just won $1,000,000. What are you going to do first?
Tell about a time when you were kind to someone.
Tell about your favorite song.
Write a story about the mysterious zizzybaloobuh that you just found in your bathtub.
What is something that makes you ANGRY!!!!!
Tell about your favorite sport.
Tell about the last time you cried.
What are you scared of?
You found a magic wand! What would you do with it?
Tell about your favorite food and why it is so good.
Have a family member write something about you in here today.
What would happen to you if you never went to school?
In first grade, I want to learn about…
My favorite animal is a….
This is a list of things I like to do when I can’t watch television or play video games.
What would you like to say to President Obama?
What is something you are really good at?
What should you do if there is a bully on your bus?
When I’m 100 years old…
If a cat could talk, what would they say?
i was thinking and i thought of a good journal prompt-
one day i was at school. i wasn’t feeling very well so i went home.i went to my room to take a nap. When i woke up i was …
Being the mother of twin boys, I’m always on the look out for writing prompts for our daily “Mama’s Summer School” writing session – that’s how I found your website 🙂
An idea that I use for my silly boys is: Creating Headlines that they choose, then they write the “story” like a newspaper article. One of the most recent “titles” we came up with is: “Dog suspected of shooting hunting Master”
The stories my two boys wrote were hilarious! 🙂
Hi Trina! Thanks for sharing all of the wonderful prompts. 😀
Hi Vonna,
I love your idea to have your boys create headlines and a story. How fun!!!!! 😀
thanks for the good ideas i home school my boys,i’m always looking for some good ideas
Hi Sharon, I’m so glad you enjoyed the writing prompts! Check back often as I’m always adding new resources to the site. Sincerely, Jill
I am so glad that you enjoy them Keep coming back as I will continue to add new middle school writing prompts regularly! 🙂
I love these prompts and here are some of my own:
1. If you could wear one color for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
2. If it were the same season every month which one would you want it to be?
3. What color would make the most interesting sky color and why?
4. What’s your favorite thing about yourself and why?
5. If you could travel through time, would you rather visit your past or peer into the future and why?
Hello Amy!!! I LOVE your prompts… thank you for sharing them and please feel free to do so any time.
Happy writing!
Kindly,
Jill
Journal Buddies author and creator
Imagine you just met an alien what would you do
My brother thought of a prompt and told me to post it on your website so here it is:
Imagine having a monkey in your attic what would you do?
Hello Brittany!
I LOVE your prompt and your brother’s. How imaginative. 😀
Personally, I think it would a blast to meet an alien and believe that a monkey would cause a lot of mischief in an attic. Imagine if you met an alien who acted like a monkey. Then what would you do?
Write on…
Most kindly,
Jill Schoenberg,
Journal Buddies creator and author
This is so encouraging! Writing is not one of our 8 yo sons favorite thing to do! He’s in 2nd grade. He can write, his penmanship is great, and he reads well. However, is written expression and vocabulary is something that needs to be nurtured… in a creative way. This looks like something that could be a fun summer project to build his confidence in writing.
Thank you!! If you can think of other ideas… we are open to hear them! :o)
Kindly,
Darcy
Hi Darcy!
It sounds as though Journal Buddies for boys is perfect for your precious son. I hope you get a copy for him. Recently I had a mom tell me that her and her son regained a powerful and potent relationship from their shared journaling experiences. They even made a game of it by hiding the journal in fun places for the other to find (i.e. mom put the journal in the son’s underwear drawer; the son placed the book by the coffee pot).
Fun, creativity, connection and expression… these are just some of the fabulous benefits of this style of journal keeping. 🙂
I would LOVE to hear about your experiences, so please, please, please email me!!
Most sincerely,
Jill
Author & Creator of “Journal Buddies”
Hi, I’m a mother of a 4th grade student who loves writing. She comes on this website every afternoon looking for prompts. Keep up the hard work.
Wonderful! I’m so glad your daughter visits my site and hopefully she if finding lots and lots of great writing and journal keeping prompts. 🙂
Ever so kindly,
Jill
Journal Buddies author and creator
Thank you so much for the prompts. You have such wonderful ideas!! :0)
You are so welcome, Natalie. And thank you for your kind words! 😀