154 FREE Writing Prompts for Students + Bonus List!

Creative writing allows kids of every age and every grade to use their imagination while having the chance to express themselves. This type of writing also helps kids and teens build writing skills that will prove useful for a lifetime.

That’s why…

Having your students engage in creative writing also gives you significant insight into your students. You can find out what they do and don’t like, discover new things about their personalities, and even learn how they feel about themselves.

So…

How do you get kids to engage in creative writing without complaint? Start with some fun topics they’ll enjoy instead of making them try to come up with ideas on their own.

Yes!

Table of Contents

For Elementary Kids — 60 Creative Writing Prompts for Students
For Middle School — 54 Creative Writing Prompts for Students
For Teens/High School Kids — 40 Creative Writing Prompts for Students
Bonus List of 16 MORE Writing Prompts for Students
71 More Free Writing Prompts & Resources

Check out our collection of creative writing topic lists, one each for elementary schoolers, middle schoolers, and teens. Take a look now and enjoy!

For Elementary Kids — 60 Creative Writing Prompts for Students

What are the things that make you special?
What kind of superhero would you be? What powers would you have?
What do you want to be when you’re an adult? Why?
If you had three wishes, what would you wish for?
If kids ruled the world, what would happen?
Describe a time when you were scared.
Come up with and describe a food you invented.
What type of weather is your favorite? Why?
What animal, real or fantasy, would you like to be?
Who do you admire the most?
What do you want to do when you turn 18?
Describe the happiest moment in your life.
If you had more money, what five things would you do?
Who is the funniest person you know? Why?
What kind of toy would you like to invent? How would it work?
Write about the ways that you help your family.
What can you do to be a better friend?
How do you feel about bullies? Why?
What things would you do if you were invisible?
If you won a million dollars, how would you spend it?
What would you like to do to change the world?
Why do you think it’s important not to lie?
If you could meet someone from history, who would it be? Why?
Describe the best birthday present you’ve received. Why was it special?
Where is the most interesting place you’ve ever been to? Describe it.
Write about your favorite sport. Why do you like it?
What was the saddest day of your life?
What was the happiest day of your life?
Why do you think people argue?
If you had a pet elephant, what would you do?
What is your favorite movie or TV show? Why?
Write about your most embarrassing moment.
What would you do if you could be a queen or king?
Have you ever had to be brave? What do you do?
Describe a time when you had to work very hard for something.
Write about taking a trip to the moon. Why did you go? Did you like it?
If you had to give someone $1,000, who would you give it to? Why?
What things do you wish other people understood about you?
Why do you think it’s important to go to school?
Describe your favorite vacation. Where did you go?
What is your favorite food? Describe it.
Why do you think people are afraid of snakes?
Write about your favorite video game and why you enjoy it.
If the power went out, what things could you do?
Describe a time when someone was really nice to you.
What things do you think you can teach other people?
Have you ever hurt someone’s feelings? What happened? How did you feel?
Write about a time someone did something really nice for you.
Have you ever argued with your parents? How did you feel about it?
Describe a time you made a mistake. Were you able to fix it?
Write about something that made you angry. Why were you angry?
Describe two or three things that are hard for you. Why are they hard?
Who is your biggest hero? Why?
Describe something you aren’t allowed to do, but really wish you could.
If you could stay one age for your entire life, what would that age be?
If you could be in a movie or TV show, which one would you choose?
If you had a time machine, when in time would you choose to go? What would you do?
Create a new monster. Write about what it looks like, where it lives, and what it eats.
Come up with your own amusement park. What kind of rides would it have?
Write about a time you didn’t do well on a test. What did you learn from that?

For Middle School — 54 Creative Writing Prompts for Students

Do you like winter or summer better? Write about the reasons you feel the way you do.
If you had $1,000 to spend, what things would you buy? Why?
What kind of career do you want to have when you are an adult?
Write about what you would do if you had a pet alligator.
Who is your favorite person in the world? What do you like about them the most?
Describe three places you want to visit someday. Why do you want to visit them?
Write about a time you did something you thought you couldn’t do. Include details.
If you had a personalized robot to help you, what would it be like? What would it do?
Come up with a new holiday of your own. Describe the foods, activities, traditions, and rituals.
Describe what you plan to be doing in five years. Then, in ten years.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Who would you take along?
If someone could tell you one thing about your future, what would you want to know the most?
Write about a character from a book you would like to meet. What would you say to that character?
Write about the big problems you feel people your age face today.
How do you think cyberbullying should be dealt with?
Do you think you should have to wear a uniform to school? Why?
What will the world be like 50 years from now? Will it be better or worse? Why?
Do you believe that someday humans will live on other planets? How would this change our society?
If you were in charge of the school, what things would you change?
Do you think it’s better to have a lot of money or good health? Why?
Write about a book you read recently. What do you love about it? Was there anything you didn’t like?
What invention or scientific discovery do you feel has changed the world the most? Why?
Who is a person in history you admire? What makes you admire them?
Write about something you feel would make your life easier. Is this something you can have?
What is the best thing you have done this month?
Describe your favorite childhood toy. Why did you like it so much?
What are the chores you dislike the most? What would happen if you stopped doing those chores?
What is your favorite hobby? Why do you enjoy it?
Do you think honesty can ever be a bad thing? Write about a time when being too truthful was a problem.
If you could go back and change something in your life, what would it be? How would you change it?
Do you think that you influence your friends? Do they influence you?
What would you say to a friend who was doing drugs?
Write about the most attractive things in the town where you live. What things don’t you like?
If you woke up and you were invisible, what would you do that day?
Describe ten things that make you feel great.
Is there anything that you think you are willing to fight for? What is it?
Write about some of the songs that you feel best describe your life.
Was there ever a time when you had to stick up for someone? What happened?
If you were in charge of the school menu, what foods would you serve regularly?
If dogs took over the world, what would they make humans do? Would the world be a better place?
What is your favorite sport? Write about why you enjoy it so much.
What do you think it would be like to live on a boat for the rest of your life? Would you like it?
What would happen if the trees started talking? What do you think they would say?
Write about the types of transportation you think we will have in the future.
If suddenly the weather forecast called for an unexpected blizzard in during your summer vacation, what would you do?
What do you think your life would be like if you suddenly were a movie star or a popular musician?
What is your favorite holiday to celebrate? Why? What makes it so special to you?
If you were writing a travel guide for other kids visiting your town, what places would you tell them to visit?
Write about a food that you hate. Describe it. Why do you hate it?
Write a review of your favorite movie and convince other people they should watch it.
If you got the chance to design the school uniform, what clothes would you choose? What colors would you pick?
Imagine you’re a reporter doing an interview with a celebrity. Who would you interview, and what would you ask them?
Write about something you want to say to someone else. What do you want to say? To whom do you want to say it to? Why haven’t you said it yet?
Describe your bedroom. Is it tiny, big, messy, or neat? Describe in detail.

For Teens/High School Kids — 40 Creative Writing Prompts for Students

Have you ever wished you could pick a new first name? Why? What would you change it to if you could?
What would you do if you had to switch high schools? How would you feel about it?
Write about the type of music you enjoy listening to and how it makes you feel.
Do you think it’s always a good idea to keep secrets? When is it okay to spill a secret? When is it not okay?
Write about your five best strengths and your five biggest weaknesses.
What things do you hope you learn in the next year?
Write about the things in your life you’re most thankful for.
Discuss what things you feel optimistic about in your life.
Do you think there should be limits on how much television people can watch? Why or why not?
Write about one of the best pieces of advice you’ve ever received. Did you take that advice?
Write a letter to someone who finds it difficult to make friends in high school. What advice would you give to them?
Spend five minutes just listening to the things around you. Write about all that you heard in those five minutes.
Do you have a hard time talking to new people? Write about ways you can start conversations with new people in the future.
Write about five things you can do to show kindness to other people.
Think about a movie with an ending you didn’t like. Rewrite the ending with what you think should have happened.
What is something you’re afraid of? What can you do to overcome that fear?
How would life change if all the streets in your town were streams and rivers?
How would your life be different if there were no forms of modern transportation like cars, boats, or airplanes?
What do you do when people borrow things from you but forget to return them? Do you mention it to them or let it go?
How do you deal with it when you know someone is lying to you?
Your best friend is planning to run away from home. What will you do? Will you talk your friend out of it or go along?
When you can’t fall asleep at night, what things do you think about?
Describe some of the important things you think make the best friends.
How do you feel you can change to be a better friend?
Write about what you think courage means and how you can be more courageous in your life
Do you think ghosts are real? Why or why not?
What characteristics make someone truly beautiful?
Do you think that society’s definition of beauty is accurate today? How do you think it should change?
Are there really two sides to every story? Are both sides accurate?
Do you think that junk food is destroying the health of people in our country?
Do you believe that money will make you happy in life? Why or why not?
Is there something you could invent that would make the lives of many people better?
They say that “money is the root of all evil”. Do you think this is true?
What do you think is the best quality of your personality?
Are there eccentric behaviors in friends that bother you? Why do they bug you?
Do you prefer to watch sad or funny movies? Why?
How do you feel when you get out in nature? Do you prefer the mountains or the beach?
When people get upset with you, how does that make you feel? Do you try to fix it?
What do you think are the drawbacks of being famous?
Is there ever a time when you think lying is okay?

Bonus List of 16 MORE Writing Prompts for Students

Dive Deep into Your Favorite Books: Explore the worlds, characters, and themes of your favorite books. What makes them resonate with you? Analyze a specific aspect, like the writing style, plot development, or character arc.
Journaling: Friend or Foe?: Do you find journal prompts helpful for your writing? Why or why not? Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of using structured prompts versus freewriting.
The Muse Within – Creativity and Inspiration: Is creativity and/or inspiration essential to your writing process? Why or why not? Explore the sources of your inspiration and how you cultivate creativity.
New Planet Chronicles: Craft a creative story about a newly discovered planet. Consider its environment, inhabitants, and the challenges faced by explorers who venture there.
Letters Through Time: Write a poignant letter to your future self, outlining your hopes, dreams, and fears. Alternatively, pen a message to your past self, offering advice or reflecting on past experiences.
The Gift That Keeps on Giving: Describe the best gift you’ve ever received, focusing not just on the object itself, but on its significance and the emotions it evoked.
A Bestiary of Magical Creatures: Imagine and describe a collection of unique magical creatures. Detail their appearances, abilities, habitats, and roles in a fantastical world.
Emotional Landscapes – A Journal Entry: Delve into your current emotional state through a journal entry. Use vivid imagery and metaphors to express complex feelings and their impact on you.
Classroom Chronicles – A Slice of Life: Capture the essence of your classroom in a descriptive piece. Focus on the sights, sounds, and interactions that define this space.
Toys That Shaped Me: Describe your favorite childhood toys and the significance they held in your life. Explore the memories and emotions associated with these objects.
Spaceship Surprise: A spaceship has landed in your backyard. Write a story about the encounter, the beings within, and the impact of this extraordinary event.
Storytelling Unleashed: Write a short story incorporating elements of your choice (e.g., mystery, adventure, fantasy, sci-fi). Focus on developing a compelling plot, engaging characters, and a vivid setting.
Astronaut Dreams: Imagine yourself as an astronaut. Describe a mission to space, the challenges faced, and the awe-inspiring discoveries made.
Role Models and Their Influence: Write about a role model who has significantly impacted your life. What qualities do you admire in this person, and how have they inspired you?
Words of Wisdom – The Best Advice: Reflect on the best piece of advice you’ve ever received. How has this advice influenced your decisions and shaped your life path?
The Hero’s Journey – A Quest: Craft a story about a character embarking on a quest. Detail the challenges faced, the allies met, and the ultimate goal of the journey.

WOW! That was a lot! I hope you loved these writing prompts for students.

71 More Free Writing Prompts & Resources

Until next time, write on…

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Jill
journalbuddies.com
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