Five great writing prompts for younger students

Writing prompts are an excellent way to inspire creativity in young students and get them excited about writing. By providing a topic to write about, writing prompts can help students develop their writing skills and foster a love of storytelling. In this article, we’ll cover the five best writing prompts that are perfect for younger students in Elementary school or even Middle School, and some honorable mentions.

Best writing prompts for young writers

Whether your child or student is just starting out or looking to refine their writing abilities, these prompts are sure to spark their imagination and encourage them to explore the written word.

1. Write about the future. What dream job and dream house do you want when you grow up?
2. You are stranded on a desert island. Write a story about how you survive and eventually get rescued. Make it interesting and add what you ate or experienced on the island. For example: could you only eat ice cream on the island?
3. Imagine you are inside your favorite video game. Write a story about what happens when you get stuck inside the game and have to find your way out.
4. Write a story about a road trip with your best friend and why you chose them for the adventure. What makes them a good friend? What fun things happen on the trip? Make it as fun as possible.
5. Imagine you have a time machine. Where would you go, and what would you do?

Honorable mentions: more creative writing prompts for kids

While the above prompts are fun writing prompts that can be adapted for students of all ages, from elementary school to high school, here are a few more tried and true writing ideas middle school students and beyond can use to explore their creativity and improve their story writing skills:

• Favorite things: Write a short story about one of your favorite things, such as favorite movie, favorite animal, favorite place, favorite sport, favorite food, favorite season, favorite book, or favorite toy. Explain what makes it your favorite in detail. For example, for your favorite book or TV show, describe the plot, or if you choose your favorite holiday, discuss the traditions, food, and activities that they enjoy during this holiday
• Superpower: Imagine that you have a superpower. What would it be, and how would you use it? This writing prompt encourages you to be imaginative and creative while developing your writing skills.
• Family member: Write about your favorite family member. Describe their personality, likes, dislikes, and what you enjoy doing together. This writing prompt helps you to improve your descriptive writing skills while also exploring the importance of family.

• Earliest memory: Write a story about that memory, using all five senses to describe the experience. For example: what did your birthday party decorations look like? What did your cake smell and taste like? How did the party make you feel? What did the party music sound like?
• What if: Write about a fun what if prompt such as the following:
• • What if your school year was actually a journey on a spaceship? Describe your adventures as you travel through the galaxy, encountering strange new worlds and alien creatures.
  • What if you met a famous person from the past? Describe how you imagine your dream experience together. What would you do? Where would you go?

Writing activities

To make the writing process more enjoyable and rewarding for students, especially reluctant writers, try incorporating writing prompts into fun writing activities or journal prompt challenges.

Encourage students to create their own short story

Providing writing prompts that encourage students to create their own short stories can be a great way to foster their creativity and imagination. These prompts can be open-ended, allowing students to explore a wide range of themes and topics or more focused, providing specific parameters to help guide their storytelling. By encouraging students to create their own stories, they can develop their own unique writing voice and style while also building their confidence as writers.

Try story starters that explores different points of view

Writing prompts that explore different points of view can be an excellent way to help students develop their understanding of narrative voice and perspective. These prompts can ask students to write from different characters' points of view, exploring how the story might change depending on who is telling it. This can help students develop their ability to create fully-realized characters while also challenging them to think about how perspective can shape a story.

Use printable resources

Providing printable writing prompts and activities can be a great way to engage students in writing, especially those who may be more reluctant to participate. Printable resources can include prompts, worksheets, and other activities that help students develop their writing skills. These resources can be tailored to specific age groups and skill levels and can be used both in the classroom and at home. By providing easy-to-access resources, teachers can help students build a consistent writing practice that is both fun and rewarding.

Speechify for story writing

Speechify is a text to speech tool that can be incredibly useful for writers looking to improve their storytelling abilities. One of the most significant advantages of Speechify is its ability to turn written text into high-quality narration that can bring your story to life. By listening to your words spoken aloud, you can gain a deeper understanding of how your story flows and identify areas that may need improvement.

This can be especially helpful when it comes to catching mistakes and errors that may be difficult to spot when reading silently. By hearing your story out loud, you can more easily pick up on things like awkward phrasing, repeated words or phrases, and other common issues that can detract from the overall quality of your writing. Try Speechify for free today and see how it can transform your writing experience.

FAQ

What are the differences between writing prompts and story starters?

Story starters are more specific and focused on the beginning of a story. They are often a single sentences or phrases designed to inspire the writer to create a story based on that starting point. Writing prompts can be open-ended or specific, and they may ask the writer to explore a particular theme or idea, imagine a scenario, or respond to a question.