30 Creative Writing Topics for Grade 3

Fun and Fabulous Writing Topics for Grade 3 Students— When kids write, their minds are opened to brand new worlds and endless possibilities—and there is no form of writing more conducive to inspiring ideas than journaling. Oh yeah… check out our list of writing topics for third graders. Enjoy!

Third Grade Creative Writing Ideas and Prompts

Students who keep regular journals enjoy the opportunity to explore their deepest thoughts in a totally safe space.

You see…

For younger kids who are still learning how to be comfortable with expressing their ideas in front of their peers, a journal offers the freedom to think aloud without fear of judgment—and in turn, helps students become accustomed to sharing their own ideas and opinions.

And…

Journal prompts are one of the best ways to get young students started on regular writing and self-expression. And now, our list of writing topics for grade 3 below can help.

Table of Contents

30 Creative Writing Topics for Grade 3
7 Descriptive Writing Prompts
5 Paragraph Writing Topics
10 More Random Writing Ideas
More Grade 3 Writing Resources

Writing Topics & Ideas for Third Graders

In these 30 writing topics for grade 3 students, your class will get to explore wild hypotheticals such as what three wishes they would request from a magic genie and what new ways of life people might experience in the future.

They’ll also practice self-reflection as they think about big topics like what it means to be a good friend and the importance of the Golden Rule.

Encourage your students to think outside the box and get comfortable with self-expression with these brand new creative writing topics for grade 3!

Ok, without further ado, here are those creative new writing topics for starters for 3rd grade writers!

30 Creative Writing Topics for Grade 3

Write a story about the future in a world set 500 years from today. What kinds of technology do people have? How are their lives similar and different from ours today?
What is the best toy you’ve ever played with? What is so great about it? Do you think your other classmates would also enjoy playing with it?
Do you like telling jokes? Why or why not? What makes a good joke?
If you met a magic genie who would grant you three wishes, what would you wish for? Why?
Why is it so important to treat others as we want to be treated? Write about a time when you applied the Golden Rule to an interaction with one of your friends, classmates, or siblings, and explain what happened.
Do you typically remember your dreams? Are you more likely to remember particular kinds of dreams (funny, scary, or realistic dreams)?
Write a brief description of the most memorable dream you’ve ever had. Then, write a story in which you make up your own creative ending to the dream.
Think of someone who you consider to be a hero. What makes this person heroic?
If you could have any cartoon character animal for a pet, which one would you choose? Why?
Have you ever had an imaginary friend? What was he or she like?
What is your favorite thing to do in the summer with your friends or family? What do you like about this activity?
One day, you go outside and all of the grass and trees have turned into an ice cream sundae world. What is the first thing you would do? Write a story about how you would spend the day.
If you could live anywhere in the entire world, where would you want to go? Why?
Imagine that you receive a letter from Hogwarts inviting you to come and learn how to be a wizard or witch. Would you go? Why or why not? What type of magical spell would you be most excited to learn?
What does it mean to be a good friend? How can you work to be a better friend to the people in your life?
What is the hardest part of friendship? Write about a time when you struggled to do something that one of your friends wanted. What happened?
Write a gratitude list of 25 things that you’re thankful to have in your life. Then, choose one and explain why you’re thankful for it.
Who is your biggest inspiration? Write about the person whom you most admire, and explain what makes him or her so special.
What would happen if everything switched and kids were in charge of running the world? What would change? What would stay the same? Would things be better or worse—and why?
What is your most prized possession in the entire world? Why is it so special to you?
Do you enjoy spending the night away from home (at a friend’s house, a family member’s house, or on vacation)? Why or why not?
What is the greatest gift you’ve ever received? Who gave you the gift? How did they react when you received it? What made the gift so special?
If you could be invisible for a week, would you do it? Why or why not? What would you do while you were invisible?
What is the silliest thing one of your friends has ever done? What was so funny about it?
What is bullying? Have you ever witnessed it in our school? Give an example of bullying, and then describe three ways that you and other students could help to end the situation.
Imagine that you suddenly have the ability to talk to animals. Which animals would you chat with first? What would you say to them? What do you think they would say to you?
If you had the ability to instantly be an expert at any one thing, what would you choose? Why?
Write about a time when someone surprised you (either with a gift, their actions or something they said). What happened? How did the surprise make you feel?
What are your favorite and least favorite parts of each school day? If you could change one thing about each school day, what would you choose to change?
Write about a time when you were accused of doing something that you didn’t do. How did you defend yourself? Did the other person believe you? How did their response make you feel?

We hope you enjoyed this list of writing topics for grade 3. They make writing an adventure and can help your reluctant writers practice and develop their writing skills (including grammar and punctuation).

Just remember, creating an interesting story and having fun while doing so is key. So emphasize enjoyment and the skills will follow.

Oh, and the writing ideas listed above would also make wonderful topic sentences or paragraph of the week choices. Truly, the way to use these ideas in your classroom abound.

Now, see this…

7 Descriptive Writing Prompts

Descriptive Writing Prompts to Teach Kids about Storytelling–In these prompts, students will learn about storytelling by practicing their own story writing. From imagining their main character to coming up with new plotlines for some of their favorite familiar faces, kids will learn how to construct compelling new narratives—and practice their writing skills along the way. From elementary to high school, these ideas are winners!

Rewrite your favorite book into a short story in your own words.
Write an original story using only the characters from your favorite TV show.
Write an original story using only the characters from your favorite movie.
Write a story about a family’s kitchen faucet that poured out chocolate instead of water.
Write a story about how you and your best friend originally became friends.
Think about an animal shelter and tell the story of one of the animals becoming adopted by a family.
Imagine that the appliances in a family’s kitchen could talk when the family was not present. Write a story about what they would have to say to each other.

See the full list of prompts here.

5 Paragraph Writing Topics

Paragraph writing is a necessary skill that benefits people of all ages and within all industries. This is why it’s important for teachers to begin introducing paragraph writing topics into their classroom curriculum as soon as possible.

Write a paragraph about an important person in history. Be sure to address the topic of the paragraph, such as that person’s career, birthplace or prominent contribution. Use supporting sentences to expand on the topic chosen.
Write a paragraph about your bedroom at home. Be descriptive, and use adjectives to describe how the space looks and how you feel when you are in your bedroom.
Write a paragraph about a holiday that you do not celebrate. Use facts within the supporting sentences to explain the holiday and the traditions that are associated with it.
Write a paragraph about an insect. Make sure to use scientific data and observations to create strong support within the paragraph.
Write a paragraph arguing your opinion on a controversial topic. Make sure to use factual information to support your opinion, and conclude with why you feel the way that you do.

See the full list of ideas here.

10 More Random Writing Ideas

What is your favorite video game?
What family traditions does your immediate family celebrate? Why do you like them (or why not)?
If you had a memory eraser, how would you use it and how would your life be different because of it?
What does an average day in your life look like? Explain it in detail.
If you could only do one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Do you like pranks? Explain your answer in detail.
What movies are your favorite and why?
Do you like comics? why or why not
How have the internet and social media changed your life for the better or worse?
What puts you in a better mood and why?