225 Fun & Free Creative Writing Prompts for Kids in All Grade Levels

Writing prompts are meant to unlock creativity. They’re story starters designed to inspire creative thinking. They can take you to places you’ve been or recall an important time in your life. 

But mostly, they’re useful tools for teachers to inspire writing growth in students from grade school to high school.

“Once upon a time, in a land far, far away…”

It’s amazing how one simple sentence can send you on a journey to places you’ve never been, filled with untold possibilities. 

Reading is great, but you know what’s even better? Giving your students the power to write stories for themselves. 

Writing prompts for kids help students:

• Express themselves and their creativity
• Grasp lifelong literacy skills and concepts
• Tell their own stories and build self-confidence
• Develop a growth mindset when it comes to their writing skills

Writing is like a muscle — it takes practice to build up skills. Luckily, we put together a list of over 200 writing prompts to help your students get started. We’ve also organized them by middle school, high school and elementary school to help teachers decide whether these prompts are age-appropriate for their students.

Grade schoolers can definitely begin to address complex ideas when it comes to story writing — but you should seek to keep the prompts simple and straightforward. 

Reluctant writers might be intimidated by complicated writing ideas — and this is an age where we should be encouraging creativity.

Creative writing prompts for elementary schoolers

Whether it’s exploring the furthest reaches of outer space, traveling across the Sahara desert or sticking a little closer to home, these creative writing prompts will have students imagining endless possibilities for their writing.

1. Write about what your life would be like if you turned into a squirrel. What would you do every day?
2. A strange spaceship just crashed and landed in your backyard. What happens next?
3. Make up a story about where thunder comes from.
4. You find an old notebook hidden in an attic. What does it say? Who did it belong to?
5. You have a magic garden. What magical plants do you grow? How do you take care of them?
6. Write a story about running away with the circus when it comes to town.
7. Rewrite “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” from the perspective of one of the dwarfs (Happy, Sleepy, Dopey, Doc, Grumpy, Sneezy and Bashful).
8. There once was a little boy who ate nothing but oranges. What happened to him?
9. Write a story about a magical hat. Where is it from? What does it do? What does it look like?
10. You’re exploring the rainforest and come across a flower that no one’s ever seen before. Describe it!
11. Tell me a story about a dinosaur living a long, long time ago.
12. Tell me a story about an astronaut visiting another planet. Where are they going? How do they get there? What do they take with them?
13. You discover a magic portal in the park. Where does it lead to?
14. Pick a partner and write a story together! Start by writing the first sentence, then pass it to your partner to write the second sentence.
15. You find buried treasure in the park, hidden in a big wooden chest. What kind of treasure is it? Who left it there?
16. Write a story about a family that can travel in time. 
17. Write a story without using the letter “E”.
18. Write the funniest story you can think of. 
19. There’s a kangaroo in your classroom. How did it get there? What happens when you find it?
20. Write a story about an explorer who keeps getting lost. Where are they trying to go? What do they find along the way?
21. Write a story about a wooden door, a can of soda and a blue shoe.
22. If there was a magical portal in the back of your closet, where would it lead to? 
23. Finish this story: There was a knock on the door. I opened it to find a dog sitting there, and…
24. You come home and find that everything in your house is upside down. What happened?
25. Describe the color “red” without using the word “red”.
26. There’s an old, abandoned house at the end of your street that’s been empty for years. One day, someone moves in.
27. Rewrite the story of Cinderella from the perspective of the stepsisters.  
28. Write a backstory for Ed, the orange Prodigy mascot. 
29. You wake up one morning and find a mermaid in your bathtub. How did they get there? What do you do?
30. Write a story about a monster looking for some friends. 
31. Oh no — your balloon blew away! Write about what happens from the balloon’s perspective. 
32. You and your friends are out for a walk when, out of nowhere, your friends start disappearing! What’s going on?
33. Once upon a time, an old inventor built a weather machine. It sat undiscovered for years — until you found it. What happens next?
34. You just ate a cookie that turned you 15 feet tall. What do you do next?

Fun writing prompts for grade schoolers

Everyday life is full of great inspiration for writing! Get students thinking with these easy and fun writing prompts.Write about something you are good at. 

1. If you could write a book about anything, what would you write about?
2. If you could have any animal as a pet, what would it be and why?
3. Do you have a favorite animal? Tell me all about it! Why do you like it?
4. What would you do if you woke up one morning and everything was pink — including you?
5. What food can you not live without? Why?
6. If you could add any class to your school schedule, what would it be?
7. Invent a new day of the week. What is it called? When is it? What do people usually do on that day of the week?
8. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? 
9. If you could spend a Saturday doing anything you wanted, what adventures would you get up to?
10. If you could have any wild animal as a pet, what would you choose? Why?
11. What's your favorite, wacky food?
12. Where is your favorite place to read? Why?
13. What was the coolest day of school for you? What made it exciting?
14. Which of your toys do you wish could talk? What would they say?
15. If you could only wear one outfit for the rest of your life, what would it look like?
16. Invent a machine to do a chore for you. What does the machine do? What does it look like?
17. What's your favorite season? What makes it the best?
18. What is your favorite math game and why?
19. Describe your real-life superpower.
20. Finish the story: When I'm older I want to be an expert in…
21. If pets could talk to each other, what would they say?
22. If you were the captain of a ship, what would you call your ship? What would it look like? Where would you go?
23. If your pet could talk to you, what do you think it would say?
24. If you were the only person on earth for one day, what would you do?
25. Plan the perfect birthday party for yourself. 
26. What is your favorite thing to do over summer break?
27. Describe your ideal birthday cake. 
28. If you could add any type of room to your house, what would it be?
29. What’s your favorite movie and why?

Persuasive writing prompts for elementary school

Are your students’ opinions up for debate? Ask them to flex their critical thinking skills with these persuasive writing prompts. Once they’re done, get class discussion flowing with a spirited debate!

1. Write a letter convincing your parents to let you get a pet dog. What arguments do you use to persuade them?
2. Convince your teacher that you should be allowed an extra 15 minutes of recess.
3. Convince your best friend to read your favorite book.
4. How would you convince someone to do your chores for you?
5. Write a commercial for your favorite breakfast food. What would convince someone else to try it?
6. What flavor of chips is the best? Why?
7. What would make a better pet — a monkey or a peacock?
8. Do you think children should be allowed to stay up as late as they want?
9. What’s your favorite holiday and why should it be everyone’s favorite? 
10. Convince us that your favorite food should be a staple in everyone’s diet.

As students enter middle school, they’re starting to feel like bigger, older kids. They can start writing original short stories and abstract persuasive essays. 

It’s best to inspire creativity at this age and encourage them to explore their own voice and different writing styles. These prompts will definitely go a long way in inspiring that.

Creative Writing Prompts for Middle Schoolers

1. Invent a new type of transportation for the future. Who uses it? Where does it go?
2. If you had a time machine, where would you visit first — the past or the future? Why?
3. You get on the bus and find a four-piece jazz band giving a concert. What do you do?
4. Design and name your own Prodigy pet. What element are they? What’s their special power?
5. Finish this story: “Something just touched my foot,” they shouted, swimming frantically towards the shore. 
6. Write a silly or scary story to tell around a campfire. 
7. Finish this story: Everything was going so well today — until I tripped and fell, right in front of…
8. Throughout your adventures as a pirate on the high seas, you’ve seen lots of strange and magical creatures. Which one was the most interesting?
9. Deep in the heart of a dark and mysterious cave, there lies a magic stone. Write about your quest to find it. 
10. Write an acrostic poem using the word “strawberry.”
11. There was an old woman who lived in a shoe. She knit and she baked, but what else did she do?
12. Finish this story: “One thing I’ll never do again,” she said, “Is go on vacation with an alpaca.”
13. Make up a new planet and describe it. 
14. Write a story about a family of penguins living on an iceberg.
15. Write a story about a girl who can walk through walls. 
16. You’ve been invited to a ball at the Queen’s palace! What is it like?
17. Imagine you’re exploring the Amazon jungle. Write a diary entry about your day.
18. If you could invent a TV show, what would it be about?
19. You discovered an underwater kingdom! What is it like there?
20. A lonely trumpet player makes friends with the dancer who lives next door. What happens next?
21. You go to the park to fly a kite, but get carried away by the wind! What happens next?
22. Write a story about a volcano that’s about to erupt.
23. Write a story about visiting an old lady who lives deep in the woods.
24. Boom, you’re a superhero! Give yourself an origin story, describe your superpowers and plan what you’ll do to make the world a better place. 
25. Write a story using these six words: calendar, headphones, lipstick, mug, bear.
26. You wake up to find you’re invisible. How did it happen? What do you do?
27. There’s been a robbery at the bank, and you’re in charge of finding the culprit. How do you solve the case?
28.  
29. Finish the story: Once upon a time, there was a dragon...
30. You just joined a super-secret spy organization. What’s your first mission?
31. Write a story about being cold without using the word “cold.”
32. You’re a scientist and you’ve just discovered a new type of bug. Describe what it looks like, where it’s from and what you’re going to call it. 
33. Imagine a world where all the birds can talk. What would they say?
34. Write about what happens after the end of your favorite book or movie.
35. Finish the story: She sprinted down the driveway to the mailbox. The package was here!
36. You’re on a hike and a bird starts talking to you. What do you do? What does it say?
37. Write a story using these five words: bubblegum, stapler, spoon, lightbulb, strawberry.
38. You ate a magical carrot and your skin turned orange! What happens next?
39. Write about what it would be like if you had an elephant for a pet.

Fun Writing Prompts for Middle Schoolers

1. If you were in charge of the classroom for a day, what would your class do?
2. Tell me about the last dream you had.
3. You’re trapped on a desert island. What three things did you bring with you and why?
4. What mythical creature would you like to have as a pet? Why?
5. Invent a new type of pasta. What does it look like? What does it taste like?
6. If you could go on vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go? Make a plan and tell the story of your dream vacation.
7. Plan the perfect picnic. Where would it be? What food would you have?
8. If you could decorate your bedroom any way you wanted, what would it look like?
9. Write a story that sounds loud, using onomatopoeia (words that sound like their meaning, like crash, snort, bang and boom.)
10. Invent a new type of cookie. What does it taste like?
11. Invent a new sport. What is it called? What are the rules?
12. How would you disguise yourself to blend in with a forest?
13. You just won a special award from the president. What did you do to earn that award?
14. Do you collect anything? What is it and why? If not, what would you like to collect?
15. You just found a genie in a bottle. What three things would you wish for? (Remember, no wishing for extra wishes!
16. Explain how to play your favorite sport or do your favorite hobby. Make it as exciting as possible!
17. Describe the most beautiful sunrise or sunset you’ve ever seen.
18. If you could live in any book or movie, which one would you choose and why?
19. Imagine that you’re going on a camping trip. What do you pack to make sure the trip is fun?
20. If you could invent a robot to do any chore, what chore would it be? How would the robot do it?
21. Would you rather it was always raining, or always snowing?
22. Imagine you’re a toy inventor. What will you create?
23. Would you rather climb to the top of a mountain or go scuba diving?
24. Interview a family member about their childhood, then write it as a story.
25. What was your favorite toy growing up — why was it so special to you?

Persuasive Writing Prompts for Middle School

1. If you could change one thing about your school, what would it be and why?
2. Is it better to read the book before you watch the movie, or watch the movie before you read the book?
3. Persuade someone to try out your favorite hobby or sport.
4. What’s the best way to try and persuade a friend to do what you want to do?
5. When is peer pressure good? When is peer pressure bad?
6. Is it better to have lots of friends, or just a few really good friends?
7. Should students be in charge of what they learn in school?

High school students can either be tasked with more complex writing prompts or breathe nuance into simple story ideas. Students can drive these prompts in a million different ways.

So while not necessarily more complicated than middle school, these prompts can be tweaked, either by the student or teacher, to encourage thought-provoking output.

Creative Writing Prompts for High Schoolers

1. If you had a time machine, where would you visit first — the past or the future? Why?
2. Write a story about someone your age who lives on the other side of the world. 
3. Pick up the nearest book and turn to page 7. Close your eyes and point to a random word on the page, then write a story about that word.
4. Write a story in ten words or less.
5. You fell asleep for 100 years. What does the world look like when you wake up?
6. Finish the story: “This isn’t what I hoped would happen,” she said….
7. You’re walking down the street when you see someone who looks exactly like you.
8. Write a story where the main character learns something new about themselves.
9. Write a story that takes place in the desert. 
10. Write a story about a day where everything seems to go wrong. 
11. Write a poem about the color blue.
12. Write the funniest story you can think of. 
13. How would your life be different if you didn’t have access to a computer, video games or your phone?

Fun writing prompts for high schoolers

1. You win a million dollars, but there’s a catch — you have to spend it all in 24 hours, or you lose all the money. What do you do?
2. Write about something you or your family does from the perspective of someone from another country.
3. If you could make up a new holiday, when would it be and what would it celebrate?
4. Go out on a nature walk and find a tree. Write the story of that tree, from the time it was a seed until now.
5. What’s the most boring superpower you can think of? How would it be useful?
6. If you could pass any law, what would it be?
7. You meet yourself in the future, as a grown-up at age 35 — what do you talk about? 
8. If you had to show aliens the most important/best things in the world, what would you show them?
9. Who is your hero and why?
10. Write about the best surprise you ever got. 
11. What are three good things you can do for the environment? How can you encourage the people around you to do good things for the environment?
12. If you could write a book about anything, what would you write about?
13. What is your earliest memory? Write down as many details as you can remember.
14. If you could take two people – real or fictional – on a cross-country road trip, who would you take? Where would you go?
15. If you could have any job in the world tomorrow, what would you do?
16. What is the best thing about living in your city or neighbourhood?
17. Write a letter to your 30-year-old self. What do you think you’ll accomplish by then?
18. Teach me how to make your favorite recipe.
19. Describe the sound of your favorite song using descriptive words.

Persuasive writing prompts for high school

1. Should kids be allowed to use social media unsupervised? Why or why not?
2. Persuade someone to start a healthy habit, or get rid of a bad one.
3. Should all single-use plastics be outlawed? Why or why not?
4. Should our school have a dress code? Why or why not?
5. Is it more important to be right or to not hurt someone else’s feelings?
6. What important historical figure do you think belongs on the ten-dollar bill?
7. Do you think you’re born with your personality traits, or do you gain them as you grow up?
8. Should mobile apps be responsible for protecting your privacy — why or why not?

School is about more than just books and quizzes — it’s about preparing students for the rest of their lives. Social emotional learning teaches them how to build good relationships with peers, understand and control their emotions and make healthy life decisions.

Journaling is a great way for students to reflect on their feelings in a safe, private space. Use these journaling prompts as thought starters for more social emotional learning!

Check out our list of the 25 best social emotional learning activities for students here. 

1. Tell me about a tradition you have with your family or friends. 
2. What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?
3. Have you ever found something that you lost? How did you feel when you found it?
4. What is something you haven’t learned this school year that you’re still wondering about?
5. What do you do when you’re angry? Write about three ways you calm yourself down.
6. Where do you feel the safest? Why do you feel safe there?
7. Write a poem to make a friend happy.
8. When was the last time you were kind to someone? How can you be kind to someone today?
9. How are you feeling today? Are you happy, sad, excited or anxious?
10. If you could give your best friend a present, what would it be?
11. What are the qualities you look for in a friend? Why is it important to be a good friend?
12. What does responsibility mean to you?
13. Who do you talk to when you’re worried about something? How do they make you feel better?
14. If you could make a card for anyone in your life, who would it be for and what would it say?
15. What’s your favorite thing about yourself?
16. Write about a time you had to make a hard decision. How did you make your decision?
17. What do you do to make yourself happy when you’re sad?
18. Write about a time you were disappointed. 
19. What are three things that make your best friend awesome?
20. What do you think empathy means? Why is it important?
21. How can you cheer up a friend who is sad?
22. What makes you a good friend? How can you be a better friend?
23. What’s the best piece of advice a friend, parent or teacher has ever given you?
24. Write three goals for the rest of the school year. How are you going to accomplish them?
25. What does responsibility mean to you? What are you responsible for at school and at home?
26. What person in your life makes you feel confident?
27. What scares you? How can you overcome your fears?
28. Tell me about a time when you tried something new. How did it feel? Did you do it again?

Whether it’s tackling word problems or explaining a new concept, writing is a surprisingly good tool for the math classroom. 

A math journal can help you understand what students already know, while giving them space to work through tricky concepts on their own. Use these writing prompts to promote literacy in every subject — and help students avoid math anxiety.

1. Tell me everything you know about ________.
2. Explain, in words, how to solve this problem.
3. What is and isn’t true about this situation?
4. What is _______?
5. Explain two different ways to solve this problem. Which one is better?
6. What did you get correct in this problem?
7. What mistakes did you make while solving this problem?
8. What do you not understand about _____?
9. Write a word problem using the concept we’re learning about. 
10. What did you learn today?
11. How do you use math in your everyday life?
12. What is the easiest/hardest part of math class?
13. What discoveries did you make in math class today?

Writing prompts aren’t the end of the story — they’re just the beginning. Encourage your students to build a regular writing practice, and soon you’ll see the benefits in every class. 

Where will your students’ imaginations take them?

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