topics on creative writing for grade 5

• Math for Kids
• Parenting Resources
• ELA for Kids
• Teaching Resources

How to Teach Number Formation in 5 Easy Steps

13 Best Resources for Math Videos for Kids: Math Made Fun

How to Teach Skip Counting to Kids in 9 Easy Steps

10 Best Math Intervention Strategies for Struggling Students

How to Teach Division to Kids in 11 Easy Steps

How to Cope With Test Anxiety in 12 Easy Ways

Developmental Milestones for 4 Year Olds: The Ultimate Guide

Simple & Stress-Free After School Schedule for Kids of All Ages

When Do Kids Start Preschool: Age & Readiness Skills

Kindergarten Readiness Checklist: A Guide for Parents

How to Teach Letter Formtaion to Kids in 9 Easy Steps

15 Best Literacy Activities for Preschoolers in 2024

12 Best Poems About Teachers Who Change Lives

6 Effective Ways to Improve Writing Skills

40 Four Letter Words That Start With A

60 Fun Animal Facts for Kids

12 Best Behavior Management Techniques for the Classroom

13 Best Online Teaching Tips for Teachers

How to Teach Kids to Write in 9 Easy Steps

13 Challenges for Teachers and How to Address Them

100 Best Fun Writing Prompts for 5th Grade: Journal Prompts

• Prompts for Narrative Essays
• Prompts for Informative Essay Writing
• Prompts for Research Writing
• Funny Fifth Grade Writing Prompts
• 5th Grade Poetry Writing Prompts
• Prompts for 5th Grade Fiction Writing
• 5th Grade Animal Writing Prompts
• 5th Grade Emotion Writing Prompts
• Journal Writing Prompts for Fifth Graders
• 5th Grade Descriptive Writing Prompts

As parents and teachers, we recognize the significance of writing as a fundamental skill that enables children to express their thoughts, emotions, and ideas. However, generating ideas and inspiration for writing can be challenging for many 5th-grade students. To aid students in this process, 5th grade writing prompts prove to be a valuable resource. Furthermore, Science Daily published an article that highlights the crucial connection between handwriting and brain activity. Writing can increase brain activity, leading to better memory retention and cognitive development. This is particularly important for students as it can positively impact their academic performance.

“Writing is the painting of the voice.” – Voltaire

By using writing prompts, children can explore various topics, develop their imagination, and hone their writing skills. In this collection, we have compiled various writing prompts that are engaging, entertaining, and sure to inspire creativity in 5th grade students. This collection has something for everyone: Persuasive writing, descriptive essays, narrative stories, and imaginative writing. Fifth grade journal prompts can help inspire creativity and reflection in their writing. So, let’s get started and explore these exciting 5th Grade writing prompts.

SplashLearn: Most Comprehensive Learning Program for PreK-5

SplashLearn inspires lifelong curiosity with its game-based PreK-5 learning program loved by over 40 million children. With over 4,000 fun games and activities, it’s the perfect balance of learning and play for your little one.

Explore 5th Grade educational resources !

10 Prompts for Narrative Essays

Writing Narrative Essays? Here Are Ten 5th grade narrative writing prompts:

“A great story can lead us to new worlds, new ideas, and new ways of thinking.” – Neil Gaiman

• Write about a time when you faced a difficult decision.
• Imagine you are stranded on a deserted island. Describe what you would do?
• Create a narrative about a magical adventure.
• Write about a time when you learned something important.
• Think about the prospect of time travel. How would you react, and where would you go?
• Develop a narrative about a superhero you create.
• Describe a time when you overcame a fear.
• Imagine you can do whatever you want. Tell me what it would be and how you’d use it.
• Create a narrative about a day in the life of your pet.
• Write about a time when you had to stand up for what you believe in.

10 Prompts for Informative Essay Writing

A list of ten 5th grade writing prompts to get you started on an informative essay:

• Write an essay about a famous person who inspires you.
• Research and write an essay about a historical event that interests you.
• Write about the benefits of physical activity and exercise.
• Write an essay about the effects of technology on society.
• Research and write an essay about a country you would like to visit.
• Write about the importance of reading books .
• Write an essay about the positive and negative effects of social media.
• Research and write an essay about an animal species that is endangered.
• Write about the importance of recycling and conserving natural resources.
• Please write an essay about the role of education in shaping our future.

10 Prompts for Research Writing

Here are ten Research writing prompts for 5th grade:

“Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose.” -Zora Neale Hurston, author and anthropologist.

• Research and write about your favorite historical figure.
• Choose a famous landmark and research its history and significance.
• Investigate and write about an important event in history.
• Research and write about a unique and interesting animal species.
• Study and write about famous inventors and their inventions.
• Research and write about the culture and traditions of a country you are interested in.
• Explore and write about a current scientific discovery or innovation.
• Investigate and write about the effects of climate change on a particular region or ecosystem.
• Research and write about a famous artist and their artwork.
• Study and write about a significant moment in space exploration history.

10 Funny Fifth Grade Writing Prompts

Here are ten prompts for Fun Writing Prompts for 5th Grade:

• Write a funny story about a talking animal.
• Imagine speaking to your pet and writing about what you would say.
• Write a comic dialog between two unlikely characters.
• Write a humorous story about a mischievous character getting into trouble.
• Create a funny story using three random objects.
• Write a funny kids’ poem . This can be about your favorite food.
• Imagine a world where everything is opposite, and develop a narrative about it.
• Develop a narrative about a silly superhero with extraordinary power.
• Create a funny dialog between a parent and a child.
• Develop a narrative about a funny and unexpected event that happened to you.

10 5th Grade Poetry Writing Prompts

The following are ten writing topics for 5th graders seeking poetry writing prompts:

• Write a poem about your favorite season.
• Imagine you are a raindrop falling from the sky. Write a poem describing your journey.
• Write a poem about a place that makes you happy.
• Choose an object in the room and write a poem about it.
• Write a poem about a dream you had.
• Create a poem that includes the words “whisper,” “twist,” and “moon.”
• Write a poem about a memorable moment with a friend.
• Describe a beautiful sunset in a poem.
• Write a poem about the ocean and all its wonders.
• Create a poem about your favorite animal.

10 Prompts for 5th Grade Fiction Writing

Opinion writing prompts 5th grade to help encourage critical thinking and self-expression in young students. Here are ten 5th grade writing prompt ideas to get them started:

• Create a story about a mysterious package that arrives in the mail.
• Develop a narrative about a person who can time travel.
• Create a story about a magic tree that grants wishes.
• Imagine being lost in the forest and creating a story about your adventure.
• Develop a narrative about a group of friends who discover a hidden treasure.
• Create a story about a person who can talk to animals.
• Create a narrative about a family vacation gone wrong.
• Imagine you could shrink to the size of an ant. Develop a narrative about your adventures.
• Create a story about a person who wakes up one day with superpowers.
• Develop a narrative about a group of people stranded on a deserted island.

10 5th Grade Animal Writing Prompts

Here are ten writing ideas for 5th grade for animal-themed assignments:

• If you could be any animal for a day, which animal would you choose and why?
• Create a narrative told from the point of view of a bear family as they emerge from their hibernation period.
• Describe the life of a whale in the deep sea.
• Write a persuasive essay on why zoos are important for conserving endangered animals.
• Describe the life of a squirrel gathering nuts for winter.
• Write a fictional story about a fox trying to outsmart a group of chickens.
• Describe the life of a butterfly from caterpillar to butterfly.
• Write a research paper on the migration patterns of birds.
• Describe the life of a lion in the savannah.
• Write a poem about the beauty of nature and the animals that live in it.

10 5th Grade Emotion Writing Prompts

Here are ten prompts for 5th grade writing prompts About Emotion:

• Describe a moment when you experienced a strong sense of self-satisfaction and accomplishment.
• Describe a moment when you felt scared and how you overcame your fear.
• Create a narrative about a character who overcomes a difficult challenge.
• Describe a time when you felt happy for someone else.
• Write a letter to your future self about your dreams and aspirations.
• Describe a time when you felt angry and how you managed your anger.
• Develop a narrative about a character who learns the importance of forgiveness.
• Describe a moment when you felt grateful for something or someone.
• Write a poem about the different emotions that people feel.
• Describe when you felt sad and how you coped with your sadness.

10 Journal Writing Prompts for Fifth Graders

The following are ten suggestions for 5th grade journal prompts to use:

• Describe an instance where you successfully conquered a challenging obstacle.
• Describe a moment when you felt proud of yourself and why.
• Write about a place that is special to you and why it is important.
• Describe a time when you helped someone else and how it made you feel.
• Write about your favorite book and what you learned from it.
• Describe an instance where you made a mistake and what you learned from it.
• Write about a person who inspires you and why.
• Describe a time when you felt grateful for something or someone.
• Write about your favorite hobby and why you enjoy it.
• Describe when you tried something new and what you learned from the experience.

When choosing 5th grade journal topics, consider selecting prompts that encourage students to explore their interests, emotions, and experiences in a safe and supportive environment.

10 5th Grade Descriptive Writing Prompts

Here are ten topics to consider when looking for descriptive writing prompts for 5th grade:

• Describe your favorite outdoor place and explain why it is special to you.
• Write a descriptive paragraph about a delicious meal you recently enjoyed.
• Imagine you’re walking through a spooky forest. Describe what you see, hear, and feel.
• Describe the view from your bedroom window. What can you see in the distance?
• Write a paragraph describing a character from your favorite book. What do they look like, and what makes them interesting?
• Describe your dream bedroom. What colors would you use, and what kind of furniture would you have?
• Imagine you’re on a deserted island. Describe the island and the environment around you.
• Write a paragraph describing a memorable moment from a family vacation.
• Describe a special item you keep in your room. Why is it important to you?
• Imagine you’re in a bustling city. Describe the sights, sounds, and smells you experience.

Encourage Fifth Graders in Becoming Writers

Writing is a significant skill that is essential for communication, expression, and personal growth. As highlighted in an article published by UCONN , writing prompts play a crucial role in engaging students’ interest in a particular topic and encouraging them to write thoughtfully and creatively. While effective prompts should introduce and limit the writing topic, they should also provide clear instructions about the writing task. It is imperative to equip 5th graders with resources and guidance to help them develop their writing skills. 

Educators and parents can provide 5th grade journal prompts and creative exercises to assist students in exploring various forms of writing and finding their unique voice. Additionally, feedback and constructive criticism can help students improve their strengths and weaknesses. Ultimately, teaching 5th graders to write improves their academic and personal lives by promoting self-expression, creativity, and critical thinking.

Fifth Grade Writing Prompts for Developing Young Writers

5th-grade writing prompts can be a powerful tool for parents and teachers to help students develop their writing skills and creativity. By providing a starting point for writing, prompts can help students overcome writer’s block and find inspiration for their ideas. The prompts in this collection cover a wide range of topics and genres, encouraging students to explore their interests and experiences through writing.

“A well-crafted writing prompt can spark creativity and lead to a deeper understanding of oneself and the world around us.” – Laura Robb

Parents and teachers can inspire students to develop regular writing habits and enhance their skills by utilizing 5th grade journal prompts. According to an article published by the Journal of Instructional Research , both approaches of writing i.e. direct and indirect, have positive effects on students’ writing abilities. This article dived into exploring these approaches for promoting writing. The direct approach focuses on teaching writing skills explicitly and providing feedback on children writing. The indirect approach, on the other hand, emphasizes creating a supportive environment that encourages writing.

We can motivate students to write on a variety of topics, experiment with different writing styles, and share their work with others. By nurturing a passion for writing, we can help our students become confident, creative, and effective communicators. Why not give these prompts a try and see where they take you? Let’s encourage our young writers to unleash their creativity and express themselves through the power of writing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are these prompts suitable for all 5th class students.

These 5th grade writing prompts are designed to be accessible to most students, but they may need to be modified or adapted for students with special needs or English language learners.

How can I implement these ideas into my lesson plans?

Creative writing prompts 5th grade to use it for anything from journal entries to class discussions. Teachers can also have their students use these as a springboard for creative thinking and topic development.

Can these prompts be used for other grade levels?

Yes, many of these prompts can be adapted for other grade levels depending on the level of complexity and difficulty. Teachers can also modify the prompts better to fit the interests and abilities of their students.

15 Best STEM Activities for Preschoolers

12 Best Communication Activities for kids of All Ages

15 Best Listening Activities for Kids to Enhance Auditory Skills

Most Popular

15 Best Report Card Comments Samples

117 Best Riddles for Kids (With Explanation)

40 Best Good Vibes Quotes to Brighten Your Day

Recent posts.

30 End of the School Year Quotes for Students and Teachers

Math & ELA | PreK To Grade 5

Kids see fun., you see real learning outcomes..

Watch your kids fall in love with math & reading through our scientifically designed curriculum.

Parents, try for free Teachers, use for free

• Games for Kids
• Worksheets for Kids
• Math Worksheets
• ELA Worksheets
• Math Vocabulary
• Number Games
• Addition Games
• Subtraction Games
• Multiplication Games
• Division Games
• Addition Worksheets
• Subtraction Worksheets
• Multiplication Worksheets
• Division Worksheets
• Times Tables Worksheets
• Reading Games
• Writing Games
• Phonics Games
• Sight Words Games
• Letter Tracing Games
• Reading Worksheets
• Writing Worksheets
• Phonics Worksheets
• Sight Words Worksheets
• Letter Tracing Worksheets
• Prime Number
• Order of Operations
• Long multiplication
• Place value
• Parallelogram
• SplashLearn Success Stories
• SplashLearn Apps
• [email protected]

© Copyright - SplashLearn

Make study-time fun with 14,000+ games & activities, 450+ lesson plans, and more—free forever.

Parents, Try for Free Teachers, Use for Free

• Grades 6-12
• School Leaders

Win Big in Our Teacher Appreciation Giveaway 🎁!

75 Creative Fifth Grade Writing Prompts (Free Slides!)

Get them excited to write every day!

Fifth grade is such an exciting time! For many kids, it’s the last year of elementary school, and so many exciting things lie ahead. Fifth graders have accumulated some interesting stories to tell by now, and they’re building stronger writing skills. These fifth grade writing prompts encourage kids to imagine, explain, persuade, and reveal—improving their writing abilities day by day.

If you’d like even more upper elementary writing prompts, check out the Would You Rather questions we post regularly on the Daily Classroom Hub . Kids will get a kick out of these, for writing or discussion!

(Want this entire set of fifth grade writing prompts in one easy document? Get your free PDF or Google Slide bundle by submitting your email here .)

1. How important is it to finish what you start?

2. What does it mean to be honest? Give one solid example of what honesty looks like.

3. What three qualities do you think are most important in a friend? Why?

4. Since fifth grade is the top grade in elementary school, should fifth graders get special privileges? If so, write in detail about one privilege you think they should get. If not, why not?

5. Vincent van Gogh said, “If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” Describe one of your favorite places in nature in detail.

6. Are fifth graders old enough to babysit little kids? Why or why not?

7. Write about three qualities that make a good leader.

8. Should teachers assign homework? Why or why not?

Get My Fifth Grade Writing Prompts!

What are your favorite fifth grade writing prompts? Come share your ideas on the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook !

Plus, check out 50 fifth grade math word problems of the day ., you might also like.

Check Out These 50 Fifth Grade Math Word Problems of the Day

Three trains pulled into the station at 3 p.m. Continue Reading

Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. 5335 Gate Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32256

50 Exclusive 5th Grade Writing Prompts That Are Printable For Free

• February 28, 2024

Table of Contents Hide

Types of prompt writing for 5th graders, 1. creativity boost, 2. encourages critical thinking, 3. confidence unlocked, 5. helps develop writing skills, 6. frees your writing, imaginative & creative writing prompts, narrative & storytelling writing prompts, descriptive & explanatory writing prompts, reflective & analytical writing prompts, collaborative & interactive writing prompts, for teachers, for students, faqs on 50 exclusive 5th grade writing prompts, we also recommend.

5th grade writing prompts can be incredibly helpful for elementary teachers looking for creative and engaging ways to encourage their students to write. Not only do writing prompts help students develop their creativity and imagination, they also help them learn the fundamentals of good writing, such as grammar and structure.

These prompts are designed to inspire your students to think outside the box and flex their creative muscles. Whether it’s a narrative, persuasive, or informative writing task, these prompts cover a wide range of topics that will challenge and excite your students. Say goodbye to writer’s block and hello to endless creative possibilities with these 5th grade writing prompts!

Are you searching for engaging and thought-provoking 5th grade writing prompts to ignite your student’s imaginations? Look no further! We have compiled a list of 50 exclusive prompts that are printable for free, each carefully crafted to spark creativity and provide hours of engaging writing adventures.

Imaginative & Creative:

• What-if scenarios: What if animals could talk? What if you woke up with superpowers?
• Fantasy and adventure: Invent a magical creature. Create a secret world hidden within your school.
• Humor and silliness: Write a funny commercial for a strange product. Tell a story from the perspective of your pet.

Narrative & Storytelling:

• Historical fiction: Imagine being a child living in a different historical period.
• Mystery and suspense: Unravel a hidden clue in your house. Write a detective story where the culprit is unexpected.
• Personal narratives: Describe your most embarrassing moment (turned into a triumph!). Write a letter to your future self.

Descriptive & Explanatory:

• Sensory details: Describe a place using all five senses. Write a poem about a specific emotion.
• Process writing: Explain how to build a fort, cook your favorite dish, or train your pet.
• Informative writing: Research and write about a fascinating animal, historical figure, or invention.

Reflective & Analytical:

• Character analysis: Create a diary entry from the perspective of a literary character.
• Compare and contrast: Compare two historical events or fictional characters.
• Persuasive writing: Convince your parents to get a pet or let you stay up later.

READ ALSO: Best Fantasy Writing Prompts in 2024: 200+ Ideas to Create Magic

Collaborative & Interactive:

• Chain stories: Start a story and pass it around the class for each student to add a sentence.
• Comic strip creation: Work in pairs to write and draw a funny comic strip.
• Debate prompts: Take a side on a current event or fictional conflict and argue your case.

Benefits Of Using 5th Grade Writing Prompts

Here are a few benefits of using writing prompts in 5th grade:

Prompts unlock imaginative worlds, letting students experiment with storytelling and voices. Analyzing prompts and crafting responses strengthens their ability to think logically and solve problems.

Many writing prompts require students to think critically and solve problems. They may be asked to imagine themselves in a challenging situation or analyze a complex issue. By engaging in these types of writing exercises, students develop their analytical and problem-solving skills, which are essential for success in various academic and real-life situations.

SEE ALSO: 50 Exclusive 3rd Grade Writing Prompts that are Printable for Free

Writing prompts offer an opportunity for students to practice and refine their writing skills. Through regular writing exercises, students can improve their grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and vocabulary. They can experiment with different writing styles, such as descriptive, persuasive, or narrative writing, and develop a deeper understanding of the mechanics of writing.

Writing prompts offer an opportunity for 5th graders the opportunity to practice and refine their writing skills. Through regular writing exercises, students can improve their grammar, punctuation, sentence structure , and vocabulary. They can experiment with different writing styles, such as descriptive, persuasive, or narrative writing , and develop a deeper understanding of the mechanics of writing.

Writing prompts encourage free writing without self-edits. Sometimes that inner editor squashes the best ideas, metaphors, plot twists, and creativity. Regular free writing teaches us how to bind the inner editor, if for only a moment, and it permits our imaginations to fly. The resulting creativity is the very thing agents and editors are looking for in fresh manuscripts .

50 Exclusive 5th Grade Writing Prompts

• You discover a hidden portal in your attic that leads to another world. Describe what you find there.
• Your favorite toy comes to life for one day. What kind of adventure do you have together?
• Invent a board game so unique and fun, that everyone begs to play it. Explain the rules and why it’s awesome.
• If you could design your own school mascot, what would it be and what special powers would it have?
• Write a song from the perspective of a raindrop, a leaf, or a grain of sand.
• Imagine you shrink to the size of an ant. Describe your journey through your house and the dangers you face.
• Create a new holiday and explain its traditions, celebrations, and why it’s important.
• Your class gets superpowers based on your personality. What’s yours, and how do you use it to help others?
• Design a crazy contraption that solves a common problem in a wacky way. Draw a picture and explain how it works.
• Write a poem about what makes you unique and special, using metaphors and similes to paint a vivid picture.

READ ALSO: 50 Creative Narrative Writing Prompts to Ignite Your Imagination

• You find a dusty journal in the attic with clues to a hidden treasure. Follow the clues and write the exciting adventure you go on.
• Create a time capsule containing objects that represent your life right now. Write a letter to someone who finds it in the future.
• Your dog runs away on a stormy night. Write the suspenseful story of your search and the emotional reunion.
• Imagine you travel back in time to meet your great-grandparents. What do you learn about their lives and how might it change your understanding of your family history?
• Write a ghost story set in your school, incorporating details that make it creepy and believable.
• You wake up to find the world frozen in time, everyone except you. Describe your journey through this silent, motionless world.
• Create a fable with talking animals that teaches a valuable lesson about friendship, kindness, or perseverance.
• Write a diary entry from the perspective of a historical figure experiencing a pivotal moment in their life.
• Your dream pet arrives, but it’s not what you expected. Describe the hilarious chaos and challenges you face together.
• Turn a boring everyday event into a thrilling adventure story by adding unexpected twists and turns.

READ ALSO: 50 Exclusive First Grade Writing Prompts that are Printable for Free

• Close your eyes and imagine you’re standing on a beach. Use vivid sensory details to describe what you see, hear, smell, feel, and taste.
• Write a step-by-step guide on how to create the perfect sandwich, complete with your secret ingredients and why it’s the best ever.
• Choose an emotion (joy, fear, anger, etc.) and write a poem using figurative language to capture its essence.
• Imagine you’re a scientist explaining a recent discovery to a group of children. Make it clear, and engaging, and use analogies they can understand.
• Research a fascinating invention and write a report explaining how it works, its impact on society, and its possible future developments.
• Take a walk in nature and observe the details of the plants, animals, and landscape. Write a descriptive essay sharing your experience and reflections.
• Interview a family member or community member about their life and experiences. Write a profile capturing their personality and insights.
• Compare and contrast two different cultures, highlighting their unique customs, traditions, and perspectives.
• Choose an object you cherish and write a descriptive essay explaining its significance and the memories it holds.
• Create a “how-to” guide on a skill you’ve mastered, like skateboarding, playing an instrument, or drawing realistic animals.
• Choose a character from a book or movie you admire or dislike. Analyze their motivations, actions, and choices, explaining why you see them the way you do.
• Imagine you’re a news reporter covering a fictional event. Write a news article presenting the event from different perspectives and analyzing its potential impact.
• Read two poems about the same theme (e.g., nature, friendship, loss) and compare their styles, language choices, and how they convey the theme differently.
• Observe a social issue in your community (e.g., bullying, environmental concerns) and write a persuasive essay urging others to take action.
• Reflect on a challenging experience you faced. Analyze what you learned from it, how it changed you, and how you can overcome similar challenges in the future.
• Imagine you’re a scientist analyzing a fictional creature’s unique abilities. Explain its anatomy, behavior, and how it adapts to its environment.
• Choose a historical event and analyze its causes, key figures, and long-term consequences. Debate the different perspectives and interpretations of the event.
• Read a speech by a famous historical figure and analyze its rhetorical devices, persuasive techniques, and its impact on the audience.
• Imagine you’re a detective analyzing clues from a fictional crime scene. Deduce the culprit’s motive, opportunity, and methods, piecing together the evidence to solve the mystery.
• Reflect on a personal goal you’re working towards. Analyze the challenges you face, the strategies you’re using, and how you can measure your progress and stay motivated.
• Chain Story Relay: Start a story with a sentence and pass it around the class, each student adding a sentence to continue the plot. See where the story leads you!
• Comic Strip Creation: Partner up and write a funny comic strip together, dividing the writing and drawing tasks. Share your finished stories with the class.
• Debate Time: Choose a current event or fictional conflict (e.g., robots vs. humans in the future). Divide the class into opposing teams and have a lively debate, researching and presenting arguments to defend your side.
• World Building Workshop: Work in small groups to create a fantasy world together. Decide on the setting, inhabitants, magic system, and unique features. Share your world with other groups and combine elements to build a larger shared universe.
• Mystery Box Challenge: Each group receives a box containing mysterious objects (toys, props, photos). Use your creativity and collaboration to write a short story that incorporates all the objects in a suspenseful narrative.
• Mad Libs Story: Create a silly story template with blank spaces for different parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives). Take turns filling in the blanks, leading to unexpected and hilarious results.
• Collaborative Poem: Start a poem together, each student adding a line based on the previous one. Focus on a specific theme or image and see where the collective creativity takes you.
• Interactive Play Script: Write a short play script together, assigning roles and deciding on the plot, dialogue, and stage directions. Perform your play for other students or teachers.
• News Flash! Collaborative News Report: Imagine a breaking news event has happened at your school. Divide into newsgroups and write a collaborative news report with interviews, eyewitness accounts, and different perspectives.
• Story Map Challenge: Work together to create a visual map of a story you’re writing. Include locations, characters, plot points, and connections between them. Use your map to guide your writing and revise your story collaboratively.

How To Use 5th Grade Writing Prompts In The Classroom

Utilizing writing prompts in educational settings can enhance students’ writing abilities, foster creative thinking, and stimulate project ideas. This versatile tool proves effective for both individual and group assignments, enabling students to delve into diverse subjects and refine various writing styles.

Furthermore, prompts serve as catalysts for discussions on significant subjects, enabling students to grasp the material better and refine their communication aptitude. Integrating writing prompts into classroom activities empowers educators to craft compelling and lasting learning opportunities, contributing to students’ long-term development.

Here are some ideas on ways teachers and students can use writing prompts in the classroom:

Related Post: 107+ Creative Writing Prompts For Middle School Students

Before Using Prompts:

• Gather a toolbox of prompts: Compile a diverse set of prompts catering to different themes, difficulty levels, and writing skills. Choose prompts that ignite student interests and align with learning objectives.
• Plan engaging pre-writing activities: Design brainstorming exercises, mind maps, or visualization prompts to prepare students for writing.
• Set clear expectations and rubrics: Define what you expect from the writing tasks, outlining length, structure, and assessment criteria. Communicate these expectations clearly to students.
• Model the writing process: Demonstrate your own approach to prompts, share strategies for tackling challenges, and showcase good writing examples.
• Prepare differentiation strategies: Tailor the prompts or provide varying levels of support to cater to different learning needs and abilities.

While Using Prompts:

• Create a supportive and encouraging environment: Reassure students that experimentation and exploration are valued and that mistakes are opportunities to learn.
• Facilitate mini-lessons: Teach specific writing skills relevant to the prompts, like using vivid language, building characters, or crafting strong plots.
• Guide peer review sessions: Encourage constructive feedback and discussions that help students revise and improve their work.
• Offer technology integration: Incorporate digital tools like writing platforms, presentations, or research websites to enhance the writing experience.
• Connect to real-world contexts: Let students choose prompts related to their interests, current events, or community projects for meaningful engagement.

After Using Prompts:

• Conduct class discussions: Share student work and facilitate discussions about diverse approaches, ideas, and writing techniques used.
• Celebrate individual achievements: Recognize and reward students’ effort, creativity, and progress in improving their writing skills.
• Build on existing work: Use completed pieces as stepping stones for further learning activities, projects, or cross-curricular connections.

Before Writing:

• Read the prompt carefully: Understand what the prompt asks you to do. Identify keywords and visualize scenarios or ideas they suggest.
• Brainstorm and gather ideas: Use mind maps, lists, or freewriting to explore different possibilities and generate unique content.
• Plan your writing: Organize your thoughts by outlining key points, characters, or events you want to include.
• Ask questions if you’re unsure: Seek clarification from your teacher if any part of the prompt is unclear.

While Writing:

• Draft freely: Don’t worry about perfection initially. Focus on getting your ideas and stories down on paper.
• Show, don’t tell: Use vivid language, descriptions, and sensory details to make your writing come alive.
• Develop your characters: Create believable personalities with unique voices, thoughts, and actions.
• Craft a strong plot: Structure your story with a clear beginning, middle, and end, engaging the reader throughout.
• Read and revise: Take the time to proofread your work, edit for clarity, and improve your writing.

After Writing:

• Share your work: Read your writing to classmates, participate in peer review sessions, and learn from others’ feedback.
• Ask for help if needed: Seek guidance from your teacher if you encounter challenges or have questions about your writing.
• Celebrate your achievement: Acknowledge your progress in writing and be proud of your completed work.

5th-grade writing prompts are creative and thought-provoking topics or questions designed to inspire and encourage fifth-grade students to express themselves through writing.

Writing prompts are essential for 5th graders as they stimulate imagination, enhance writing skills, and provide a structured way for students to explore different genres and styles of writing.

Teachers can incorporate these prompts into daily writing exercises, use them for journal entries, or integrate them into specific lessons to engage students in various writing activities.

Using writing prompts is an excellent method to inspire students to express creativity and produce significant content. These prompts offer the necessary framework for students to concentrate on organizing their thoughts and ideas while preserving the freedom to explore their imaginative side. When employed effectively, writing prompts can contribute to the meaningful development of students’ writing abilities and enhance their learning experience. By employing a suitable approach and presenting captivating topics, educators can effortlessly leverage writing prompts to instill enthusiasm for writing and learning among their students.

• storywritingacademy.com –  50+ March Writing Prompts for Kids with Free Printable and Calendar—Women’s History Month, World Poetry Day, First Day of Spring
• k5learning.com – 50 Writing Prompts for Kids
• 50 Exclusive Writing Prompts For High School Students
• 50 Creative Narrative Writing Prompts to Ignite Your Imagination

50 Exclusive 4th Grade Writing Prompts That Are Printable For Free

• How to Avoid Burnout as a Freelance Writer (15 Proven Tips)

Related Posts

Writersgig review 2024: worth it for beginners  .

• March 20, 2024
• February 20, 2024

How to Preview a Submitted Content on WritersGig

• February 16, 2024

Writing Prompts for 5th Grade

PhotoAlto / Sigrid Olsson / Getty Images

By fifth grade, students are developing basic fluency as writers. In order to hone their skills, fifth graders should practice supporting claims with factual information, conveying information clearly, and writing narratives in a logical order. The following fifth-grade writing prompts encourage students to develop their skills through topics that are meaningful to them.

Narrative Essay Writing Prompts

Narrative essays tell a story based on a student’s personal experience. They encourage students to use descriptive writing to reflect on their experiences, explain them in a logical manner, and draw conclusions from them.

• New Beginnings . This is your last year of elementary school. What are you most excited or most nervous about when you think of starting middle school ?
• Betwixt . Students in 5th grade are often referred to as “tweens,” meaning that they are between the young child and the teen years. What is the hardest thing about being a tween in today’s society?
• Besties . What is the best book you’ve ever read? What made it so special?
• Reflections . Do you remember your first-ever day of school ? Describe one vivid memory from that day.
• Bullies . Have you ever witnessed someone bullying another student? What happened and how did it make you feel?
• Man’s Best Friend . Do you share a bond with your dog or other pet? Describe your pet, and explain what makes your relationship unique.
• Families . A family isn’t always a mom, a dad, and their children. Write about the ways your family is the same as and different from other types of families and what makes your bonds so strong.
• Holiday Memories . Think about one of your favorite holiday-related memories. Write an essay describing it and tell why it is so unforgettable.
• Guilty . Think about a time you did something that made you feel guilty. Describe what happened.
• The Ultimate Field Trip . If you could choose anywhere in the world to go on a field trip , where would you choose and why?
• Family Game Night . Do you enjoy playing games with your family? Describe your favorite family game or activity.
• Tasty Treats . What is your favorite food? Describe it as if you were introducing it to someone who has never seen or tasted it.
• Someday . Have you thought about what you want to be when you grow up? Write an essay explaining why you think you’d like that career.

Persuasive Essay Writing Prompts

Persuasive essays are those written to convince another person to agree with the writer or take action. These persuasive essay prompts inspire 5th graders to share their passions with an audience.

• Pets Day . You’ve just gone to work with your parent for “bring your child to work day.” Write an essay convincing your school to have a “bring your pet to school” day.
• Yuck . What is your least-favorite cafeteria food? Give three compelling reasons why your school should quit serving it.
• Let’s Trade . Your friend’s lunches from home always look better than yours. Write an essay convincing your buddy that you should start swapping meals every day. Be sure to highlight the benefits of the food you bring!
• Home Alone . Write an essay convincing your parents that you are old enough and responsible enough to stay at home alone.
• Sunny Day . The weather outside is beautiful for the first time in weeks. Persuade your teacher not to assign any homework so that you’ll have time to go out to play.
• The Sequel . The long-awaited sequel to your favorite book or video game is now available. Convince your brother or sister to do your chores this week so that you have plenty of time for reading or gaming.
• Seating Chart . Because of your teacher’s seating chart, you’re not going to be able to sit next to your friend all year! Persuade your teacher to let students choose their seats.
• Birth Order . Are you an only child, the oldest sibling, the youngest, or the middle? What makes your birth order the best?
• The Ultimate Game . What is the best video game on the planet? Explain why it’s better than similar games.
• Life Lessons . What are the three most important lessons parents should teach their children and why?
• Test Time . Do you think standardized tests  are helpful or harmful? Explain your answer.
• Tunes . Some studies have shown that listening to music can help students concentrate. Should students be allowed to listen to music using headphones during independent work times at school? Persuade the reader of your answer.
• Catch-22 . You’re not a big fan of writing. Write an essay  convincing your teacher that you shouldn’t have to write any more essays this year.

Expository Essay Writing Prompts

Expository essays are often called how-to essays. They usually teach the reader something or provide facts about a particular topic.

• Let’s Play . Your family frequently attends community theater productions, but your friend has never seen one. Write an essay describing what he or she can expect during the evening.
• Band . You're graduating elementary school, and a younger student is taking your spot in the school band. Explain to him or her how to clean and care for your  musical instrument .
• Lessons Learned . Write an essay to a younger sibling explaining two or three key strategies for having a positive 5th-grade experience.
• Class Pet . You’ve cared for your class pet this week, but now it’s another classmate’s turn. Explain how to feed and care for the pet properly.
• Upgrade Ahead . You have an idea to improve your school. Explain it.
• Safety Zone . Explain three of the best steps kids can take to be safe online.
• Family Traditions . Does your family have any customs or traditions that might be unfamiliar to a classmate? Describe them.
• Pen Pal . Describe for your pen pal who lives in another state an animal native to your area, including its physical characteristics, behaviors, and any sounds that it makes.
• Creepy Crawlies . Compare and contrast two insects or animals that are similar, but have different characteristics such as a bumblebee and a yellow jacket or a horse and a mule. How are they alike and how are they different?
• Clean Up . Your class is going to spend a day cleaning up at a local park. You’ve done this with another group before, but some of your classmates haven’t. Explain the process.
• Action . Your favorite book was made into a movie. Compare and contrast the film and book versions.
• Team Players . Explain how contributing responsibly helps or how it hurts a group when someone doesn’t do his part.
• Tell and Show . Your class is having a “tell and show” day. You have to describe your item in as much detail as possible without naming it. Only when the class guesses or gives up can you show your item. Write out the description of your item.

Creative Writing Essay Prompts

Creative writing allows students to engage their imaginations and story-telling skills while also practicing vital writing skills such as sequence and description.

• Magic Lamp . You’ve just found a magic lamp. What happens when you rub it?
• Say Cheese . You are given an exceptional camera. Everything you take a picture of becomes yours, but you can only take three pictures. Tell a story about the photos you take.
• Invisible Man . One morning, you glance in the mirror and realize that you don’t have a reflection. You’ve become invisible! Write a story about your day.
• Gone to the Dogs . Write a story from your pet’s point of view.
• All Hail the King . Imagine that you discover an uncharted land that you claim as a new country. And, you’re the ruler! Describe your country, its people, and your newfound position of power.
• Part of the Story . One night, you doze off after reading the latest book in your favorite series. When you wake, you discover that you’re in the story! Write about your adventures.
• Before or After . Imagine that you live either 100 years in the past or 100 years in the future. What is your life like?
• Dr. Doolittle . You’re walking through a pet store when you discover that you can talk to the animals. What happens next?
• Meet and Greet . Imagine that you can meet anyone you’re studying in school right now from famous scientists to historical figures to the characters in the class read-aloud . Write a story about your meeting with that person.
• Switcheroo . If you could switch lives with anyone in your school, who would it be? Write about your day in the life of that person.
• Holiday Loop . Imagine you get to relive your favorite holiday every day. What’s that like?
• Tall Tales . Tall tales are possibly true stories that contain highly exaggerated actions or events. Create a tall tale about something that happened in your family.
• Teacher's Pet . Imagine that your teacher is actually your parent. Describe a day in class.
• Writing Prompts for 7th Grade
• Second Grade Writing Prompts
• Engaging Writing Prompts for 3rd Graders
• First Grade Writing Prompts
• 49 Opinion Writing Prompts for Students
• 4th Grade Writing Prompts
• Fun March Writing Prompts for Journaling
• Writing Prompts for Elementary School Students
• Journal Writing Prompts for Easter
• 40 "Back From Christmas Break" Writing Prompts
• 24 Journal Prompts for Creative Writing in the Elementary Classroom
• Christmas Journal Writing Prompts
• Writing Prompt (Composition)
• Creative Journal Topics Involving Different Perspectives
• September Writing Prompts
• February Writing Prompts

• Writing Tips
• 500+ Free Fiction Writing Prompts For Adults By Genre
• Self Publishing 101
• Best Writing Books
• Dragon Dictation Software Review
• Editing Software
• Email Marketing
• Formatting Software
• Gifts for Writers
• MasterClass Reviews
• Online Courses
• Scrivener 3 Review
• Website Hosting
• YouTube Channels

Select Page

100 FREE 5th Grade Writing Prompts

Writing Prompts |

Disclosure: The content on this site is free. Some of the links below are affiliate links from companies like Amazon.com and if you click the links and make a purchase we will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you in advance if you decide to support our site by using our affiliate links!

Sometimes students need a little push to tap into their creativity and unleash their writing skills. To help 5 th Graders to stay at the top of their game, we have compiled 100 writing prompts, covering a range of scenarios. Feel free to try out the ones that resonate most with you. Because, after all, practice is the key to improve your writing skills.

Creative Writing Prompts for 5 th Grade

Persuasive writing prompts for 5 th grade, research writing prompts for 5 th grade, imaginative writing prompts for 5 th grade, science writing prompts for 5 th grade.

• Reflecting Writing Prompts for 5 th Grade
• Imagine you can do anything you want for a day. What are you going to do?
• Imagine you can travel to any place in the world for one month. Write about where would you go and why.
• Suppose you had the power to change one thing about your school. What would you do and why?
• Imagine your best friend is in a bit of trouble. What would you do to cheer him up?
• Imagine a local reporter wants to know about your favorite school event. Which event will you pick and why?
• Suppose you are asked to create a rule for students for one day. Write to explain what rule you will make and the reasons for picking that rule.
• Your teacher asks you to take photographs of five things you like at school. Using details, write about the pictures you would take.
• Imagine one day you wake up and find you are invisible. Write to explain what adventures you will have.
• Vincent Van Gogh famously declared, “If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” Using details, write about your three most-favorite places in nature.
• Imagine you have won a $10,000 lottery. Write to explain what you would do with the money.
• Would you rather have lots of friends or lots of money?
• Would you rather read or play outdoors with your friends?
• Imagine you wake up one day and find you can fly. What would you do? Where would you go? Describe the adventures you would have in details.
• If you had three wishes, what would you wish for?
• Write a letter to someone in fourth-grade telling him or her about how to succeed in fifth grade.
• Imagine you wake up one day and find you have turned into an eagle. Describe the adventures you would have.
• Imagine you are a superhero. You might be able to fly or see through walls or become invisible at a press of a button. Write about your unnatural power and how you will use it.
• Imagine you woke up one day to find a talking parrot on your window sill that squawks, “I know where a big treasure is buried.” Describe what happens next.
• Suppose you could meet your favorite sportsperson for a day. Who will you pick and why?
• Suppose you could meet your favorite role model. Who will you pick and why?
• Imagine you can go back in time and relive one moment of your life. Which event will you pick and why?
• Suppose you have the power to correct one mistake that you have made in the past. Using details, describe what you will do.
• Imagine your friend has a pet that can talk. Write to tell what happened when you met this pet.
• Imagine a famous celebrity visits your school. Using details, write a story about this event.
• Imagine one day you were outside when you came across a magical baseball bat that lets you hit home runs at will. Using details, write a story about what happens next.
• Imagine your friend has a bike that talks. The bike can do many other amazing things as well. You and your friend go for a ride on this bike. Using details, tell about the adventures you two have.
• One day you saw a big unruly kid bullying a first grader on the school playground. Write about what you did next?
• If you were principal for a month, what five things would you do?
• Describe your dream job.
• Pen a story containing these five words: ostrich, serious, however, camper, and flabbergasted.
• Should fifth grade be part of middle school or elementary school?
• Should children be allowed to vote?
• Should fifth graders be allowed to bring smartphones to school?
• Do children spend a lot of time playing video games?
• Do children spend a lot of time on social media platforms?
• Does celebrating kindness week make students kinder?
• Is the saying “There are no stupid questions” correct?
• Do American students have it too easy?
• Do camera drones help make public places safer? Or are they just an excuse to violate our privacy?
• Is being beautiful more important than being smart?
• Is being loved more important than being respected? Or is it the other way round?
• Do people speak truthfully on social media? Share your opinion with examples.
• Is your ethnicity a key part of your identity? If yes, explain how?
• Is the fear of failure a constructive thing? Share your opinion with a couple of personal examples.
• Is it important to give back to the community?
• Are teenagers spending more time in front of screens than in extracurricular activities?
• Do students need recess?
• Should fifth graders be allowed excused mental health days?
• Is depression on rise among teens?
• Should students be allowed to pick their teachers?
• Do teenagers who spend more time in extracurricular activities and less time in front of screens have better mental health?
• How much screen time is too much for teenagers?
• How does screen time affect the teenage brain?
• How much time teenagers are spending glued to a screen every day on average?
• What are the best ways to reduce teen screen time?
• Which channel has better shows: Cartoon Network or Nickelodeon?
• Are channels like Discovery and National Geography helpful to teenagers? If yes, how do they help? Explain with examples.
• Is it important for students to have a role model?
• Is it better to have multiple small breaks from school throughout the year instead of one long summer break?
• Has technology made life easier or more complicated? Explain with examples.
• Would you rather be a robot or a zombie?
• Would you rather be respected or loved?
• You would be in middle school next year. What four things you are most looking forward to?
• Would you rather be very smart or very beautiful?
• If the internet were to go down forever, how would that affect you?
• Write a scene that features a) magical shoes, b) your best friend, and c) $10 million
• You get to pick one celebrity, one food item, and one book to a remote island. Which person would you pick? Which book and food item would you choose? Why?
• What do the three friends you spend time with most have in common?
• What qualities a person needs to make friends quickly?
• If you could learn anything about your future,    what would you most like to know?
• What would it be like to be a student in a foreign country?
• If you could be the President for a week, what would you do?
• What is the best thing about getting older?
• Write a script for a new show on Netflix.
• Rewrite a classic fairytale of your choice in a way that makes the bad guy a hero.
• Do you think we would ever really find out if there’s another planet like Earth in outer space?
• Do you think virtual reality games affect our brain in any negative way?
• Which is more important for sustaining human life — plants or animals?
• What steps can we take to prevent the melting of glaciers in the Antarctic region?
• How do Penguins survive extreme cold?
• Which is the most important part of the human body?
• If you could give another name to the Earth’s moon, what name would you pick for it and why?
• Besides the sun and the water, what else can be used by us to harness energy to power our homes?
• Which is one technology that you wish scientists could make?
• Do you think smart appliances (like smart fans, bulbs, or cars) can undermine our security?

Reflective Writing Prompts for 5 th Grade

• What makes you unique? Identify three things.
• Describe what would you like to do when you grow up?
• Describe what would like to become in the afterlife?
• If you could jump to any grade, what grade would you pick?
• Should we fear failure? Share your view in detail and with examples.
• Write an email to yourself 15 years from now. What would you like to say?
• How can you tell if a fellow student is feeling anxious, insecure, or depressed?
• What real-life situations would work out better if you were a more confident person than you really are?
• How can one learn to not give in to peer pressure?
• Do social media represent people genuinely? Share your view with examples.
• What are your two most important learning experiences? Tell about them in detail.
• How important is what we think about ourselves?
• How much control you have over your life?
• Do you believe in the saying: Don’t judge a book by its cover? Give real-life examples to support your viewpoint.
• Explain why we must recycle as much as we can.

Well, that’s just about it. We hope you liked these writing prompts. But remember these writing prompts are only helpful if you use them. They help you become a better writer only if you practice writing every day.

Want more help? Check out this article . It contains scores of writing prompts to help you dig deeper into your writing practice. We recommend you to use different types of writing prompts, as that will help you become a better all-round writer.

Related Posts

100 Awesome 3rd Grade Writing Prompts

November 15, 2020

61 Scintillating Romance Writing Prompts & Story Ideas

August 10, 2018

100 Writing prompts for Middle School Kids

November 7, 2020

100 creative 6th Grade Writing Prompts

December 7, 2020

“This site is owned and operated by FB Global Value LLC, a limited liability company headquartered in New Jersey, USA.  FB Global Value is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from Qualifying Purchases . FB Global Value LLC also participates in affiliate programs with Bluehost, Clickbank, CJ, ShareASale, and other sites. Sites like Self Publishing Hub which are owned and operated by FB Global Value LLC are compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.”

Grade 5 Writing Prompts

25 writing prompts for fifth grade.

Here are some of our favorite writing prompts for Grade 5, which have been created to encourage your child to work on text complexity and think more critically about specific events!

Story sentence starters

Adverb story starters, morals and values, general prompts.

• Her eyes opened and once again she had no idea where she was. Where had her powers taken her this time?
• He heard a low growl in the distance as he clung tight to his small bag of possessions…
• She stepped out of the time machine wondering…
• The sun was setting in the distance as…
• “Help!” She awoke from a deep sleep and heard the scream that had woken her more clearly now…
• Quickly, the friends ran across…
• Suddenly, the ground shook under their feet…
• Curiously, she inched forwards and took hold of the door handle…
• Wisely, the boy crouched down so he could not be seen…
• Gracefully, the swan glided over the lake as ten-year-old Florence watched…
• How does the water cycle work?
• Why does the sun rise and set each day?
• What are stars?
• What does the word ‘science’ mean to you?
• Which scientific invention do you think has been the most important to date?

Children can base these on a historical figure or event:

• Write a story where someone shows kindness towards others.
• Write about a courageous person in the face of danger.
• Write a story about someone displaying forgiveness.
• Write a story about generosity.
• Write an inspirational story.
• If you had your own airplane, where would you go?
• What would happen if you had a dinosaur in your back garden?
• If you could go back in time, where would you go and who would you meet?
• Write about something you have learned this year.
• Imagine you could see into the future. How would you use this special power?

How Night Zookeeper can help

Night Zookeeper makes writing fantastically fun for children aged six to twelve.

Our language arts program for kids includes thousands of educational resources, such as creative writing prompts, interactive lessons, and printable worksheets for learning on the go! We also provide personalized feedback on all of the work submitted by children on the program.

Sign up today and get a 7-day FREE trial!

More writing prompts & activities

• Grade 5 Picture Writing Prompts
• Grade 5 Writing Activities
• Creative Writing Prompts for Kids
• Elementary Writing Prompts
• Elementary Writing Activites

Related content

• Elementary Language Arts
• Elementary Writing Curriculum
• Language Arts Resources

Make Reading & Writing Fantastically Fun!

• Award-winning reading & writing program for kids
• Improves spelling, grammar, punctuation & vocabulary
• Over 1,000 different learning games and activities

55 Writing Prompts For 5th-Graders That Are Enjoyable to Write

The fifth grade is a year of incredible change and growth for students.

For many, it is the last year of elementary school, and for some, it is the beginning of middle school.

In the fifth grade, learners are developing a more mature awareness of right and wrong and are more able to think abstractly.

The writing prompts for 5th-grade students below will not only be a fertile playground for curious minds but will be a way for learners to develop their own voices and ideas that will help shape their foundational skills.

Descriptive Writing Prompts

These are 5th-grade writing prompts that often contain the keywords “describe in detail” or “talk about how something felt, smelled, looked, or tasted”.

Fifth graders show more interest in independent work, so it’s best to include independent descriptive writing tasks in your lessons. Here are some creative prompts that your 5th-graders can try.

• Describe what you consider a good pet.
• Describe someone that you envied.
• Describe a famous person.
• Describe your dream job.
• Describe something you were scared of and how it made you feel.
• Describe your elementary school.
• Describe the favorite hang-out place of fifth graders.
• Describe a fifth-grade classmate who loves to help others.
• Describe your first best friend.
• Describe the most beautiful place you’ve been to last year.

Narrative Writing Prompts

These are 5th-grade writing prompts that tell a fictional or personal narrative.

Keywords such as “tell about…” or “write a story” are often used for these creative writing prompts.

• Write a story about an embarrassing moment that happened during 5th grade.
• Tell a story that involves a superstitious belief.
• Tell a story about an accident you’ve witnessed.
• Write about your favorite moment so far in 5th grade.
• Write a fictional story about a day in your life 10 years from now.
• Write a story about a time you made a big mistake.
• Write a story about a time you’ve forgotten something important.
• Write a story about a funny moment in your life.
• Write a fictional story inspired by a true event. Use real people in history as your main characters.
• Imagine that your favorite teacher is a secret superhero. Write how you discovered their secret.

Expository Writing Prompts

These expository essays are written with a set purpose and a voice that fits an audience in mind.

These prompts use the keywords “why, how, what, and explain”. Essays that address problems and give solutions, tell cause and effect, and teach processes (how-to) are all subtypes of expository writing.

Problem and Solution Prompts

• How can you solve the problem of heavy traffic in a big city?
• Talk about a situation that annoys you and how you deal with it.
• What’s one thing that can make you smile in the midst of a bad day? Explain why it makes your day better.
• How can you encourage people to use less of their cell phones?
• Your principal is seeking ideas on how to improve your school. Pick one change that will benefit fifth-graders and write why this is important.

Cause and Effect Prompts

• What effects does having a best friend have on your life?
• What are the effects of procrastination before an exam?
• What are the effects of peer pressure?
• Write an essay describing why some students cheat and the effects of it.
• What happens when you sleep late for a week?

How-to Prompts

• Give tips on how to make new friends and how to deal with new classmates.
• Give tips to fourth-grade students on how to prepare for the fifth grade.
• Give tips on how one can overcome being lazy on a busy day.
• What do you do to overcome fear? Share tips with your fellow students.
• How can a person fall asleep quickly?

Compare and Contrast Writing Prompts

Here are some prompts your students can discuss:

• Football versus basketball
• Ice cream versus cake
• Pet cats versus pet dogs
• Movies versus cartoons
• Online class versus offline class

Persuasive Writing Prompts

These are writing prompts for 5th-grade students that attempt to convince an audience to take a specific point of view or action.

These essay topics for 5th graders should discuss both sides of an issue and express a preference for one. These opinionated writing prompts use the keywords “‘persuade”, “convince” and “why”.

• Convince the Board of Education why beginning classes at a later time is a good or bad idea.
• Convince the Board of Education why increasing or decreasing screen time during classes is beneficial.
• What is the best way to spend an hour of free time without spending money? Try to convince your readers why this activity is the best among the rest.
• Persuade your classmates on why they should stop teasing a fellow student. Explain why it’s important to treat others kindly and be considerate of others’ feelings.
• What is the best pet to get? Persuade your 5th-grade classmates to your choice.
• Your parents are thinking of sending you to a sports summer camp. Convince them why this is a good or a bad idea.
• Persuade your parents why having cell phones can be beneficial for kids like you.
• Persuade a special person in your life to buy you something that you consider “the perfect gift”.
• Convince the school board that the new dress code policy is a good or bad idea.
• Suggest one solution to the citizens’ committee to solve the littering problem in your area and persuade them to take action.

Bonus: Funny Writing Prompts

These funny essay topics for 5th-graders are for the difficult days when you just want your learners to have fun writing.

• Make up a tale about the origin of thunder.
• Imagine that you are someone’s pet animal. Write a story about your owners.
• There’s a magical door in your room. Where does it lead to?
• Write about running away with the circus that came to your town.
• There was once a little girl who ate nothing but bananas. What happened to her?

Asking Students to Check Their Work

Before submitting their finished work, ask your students to make sure they’ve included all the necessary parts of an essay or story. Ask them to refer to this checklist:

• Did I write the introduction?
• Did I add details to my main points?
• Did I write the conclusion?
• Did I choose the best words?
• Were my ideas properly organized?
• Did I express myself clearly?

Jump In : Complement your 5th graders’ reading skills with reading comprehension activities to further motivate their creativity. Read my blog here — 11 Enjoyable 5th-Grade Reading Comprehension Activities That Smash Learning Goals .

Related Questions

How can i help students with writer’s block.

Add a few more keywords to your journal prompts. An anchor chart displaying the basic essay or story outline can also help.

How can I help students who struggle to finish writing on time?

Use a visible timer in class so students can manage their time while writing.

What can I do to help students who struggle to write the introduction or conclusion of their essays?

Encourage them to create an outline prior to actual writing so they can visualize how their essays will begin, develop and end.

How long should a writing activity take?

I suggest giving students ample time to write, about 30 minutes to one hour at the minimum.

How can I bring out and enhance the creative skills of my students?

Along with your written 5th-grade journal prompts, you can also show picture prompts and even play related background sounds or music to set the mood for creative writing.

Final Thoughts

I hope you come back over and over again to these writing prompts for 5th-graders to give your students lots of opportunities to practice writing.

To give your students a good start at creative writing, practice setting specific parameters with clear instructions to work with. You’d be surprised how this will significantly improve their writing skills.

And finally, remember to only choose prompts and writing assignments that align with your learning objectives.

Last Updated on July 24, 2022 by Emily

• Pinterest 67

Emily is an active mother of two and a dedicated elementary school teacher. She believes the latest technology has made a huge impact on the quality of early learning and has worked hard to upgrade her classroom and her own children’s learning experience through technology.

Follow her on Twitter , Pinterest , and Instagram for more teaching fun!

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Try for free

Fifth Grade Creative Writing Worksheets

• Who Am I? – Character Description
• The Parts of a Letter
• Write Your Own Mad Libs ®
• Story Starters
• Student Proofreading Checklist
• Creative Writing with Photo Inspiration
• Writing a Descriptive Paragraph (Gr. 5)
• Same Name Word Puzzle
• Writing a Character Sketch
• Be a Journalist!
• Poetry Terms Quiz
• Bio Poem Handout
• Writing a Research Report (Gr. 5)
• Writing a Persuasive Argument (Gr. 5)
• The "I Remember" Poem
• Discovering Prepositions 5
• Discovering Subjects and Predicates
• Fill in the Beginning and End of Comic Strips
• Script Writing Handout
• Writing Self-Assessment
• Make Your Own Holiday
• A Note About Witches: Fill-in-the-Blanks
• Antonyms and Synonyms
• Immigration Picture Prompts
• My New Year's Resolutions (3-6)
• Discovering Pronouns 10
• Discovering Punctuation 2
• Discovering Capitalization 4
• Discovering Punctuation 9
• Really Good: Producing Synonyms
• More Creative Writing Printables, 5th Grade

Featured 5th Grade Resources

Related Resources

About the author

TeacherVision Editorial Staff

The TeacherVision editorial team is comprised of teachers, experts, and content professionals dedicated to bringing you the most accurate and relevant information in the teaching space.

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

Teaching Expertise

• Classroom Ideas
• Teacher’s Life
• Deals & Shopping
• Privacy Policy

5th Grade Writing Prompts: Experiences, Imagination, Fantasy, Opinions, Reflections, And School Topics

November 13, 2023 //  by  Sean Kivi

Fifth grade is a monumental year for your students! They’re in their last year of elementary school and preparing to move on to middle school and our prompts are here to encourage them to share their experiences and personal opinions about topics of interest. Once you’ve caught their attention with these 105 fantastic prompts, it’ll be easy to take them through the all-important writing process that follows. Comb through this list and let them pick out a few prompts to share with them and get them reflecting on all they’ve already been through!

Covid-19 Experiences

1. Tell me about a time that Covid-19 disrupted your school day. What did you do, and how was everything different?

2. Do you think wearing a mask is a good idea? Why or why not?

3. How did social distancing make you feel? Why?

4. What did you like most about homeschooling during the lockdown and why?

Imagination and Fantasy

5. If you were a Minecraft character, who would you be, and what would you do?

6. If you fart in space, the smell stays with you. What would you do if that happened on Earth?

7. You need to stop a rocket from flying into the sun. What do you do?

8. If you could transform into any liquid or a gas, what would you choose and why?

9. How can I build a home on Mars?

10. If you could clone yourself, would you? Why?

11. Do you want to have a robot that does everything for you? Why or why not?

12. If you could travel in time, would you go into the future or the past? Why?

13. Would you rather see the creation of the universe or the end of the universe? Why?

14. What do you think will happen if you go into a black hole?

15. Would you like to go to another planet? Which one and why? If not, why not?

16. Imagine you went to the moon. What’s there?

17. We launch trash into space. Should we continue to do that?

18. What would you do if you woke up as a video game character?

19. Fleas jump as high as 60 times their body length. Would you like to be able to jump this high?

20. Emperor penguins can stay underwater for 27 minutes without breathing. What would you do underwater for that long?

21. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?

22. What would you do if you woke up and zombies were outside of your house?

23. Convince me a dinosaur is a good pet.

24. What would you do if you found a treasure map?

25. If you were President for a day, what would you do?

26. What would you do if you were stranded on a deserted island?

27. If you could meet any fictional character, who would it be and why?

28. If you could be invisible for a day, what would you do?

29. If you had to eat only one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

30. What would you do if you could fly?

31. If you could have any pet in the world, what would it be and why?

32. Would you rather be able to speak any language or be able to talk to animals?

33. What would you do if you could time travel to the past for a day?

34. If you could be any historical figure for a day, who would you be and why?

35. What do you think the world will be like in 2060?

Personal Preferences and Opinions

36. Is it okay to have a monkey as a pet? Why or why not?

37. Do you prefer drawing or writing? Why?

38. Are Takis or Cheetos better? Why?

39. Are you a cat or dog person? Why?

40. Is it okay to keep money that you find on the street?

41. Would you eat a spider, as people do in Cambodia?

42. Would the USA be better if there was only one time zone?

43. How can we slow down climate change?

44. What is the best way to eat toast?

45. Do you prefer Christmas or your birthday?

46. What is the most boring holiday and why?

47. Do you think aliens are real? Why or why not?

48. Would you rather live in a big city or the country? Why?

49. What can we do about the plastic pollution problem?

50. Would you rather have a snow day or a sunny day?

51. Do you like roller coasters? Why or why not?

52. Would you rather go without TV or without snacks for a week?

53. How do you feel about chores?

54. Would you rather go without TV or without snacks for a week?

55. What is your favorite game and why?

56. How do you feel about the importance of recycling?

57. Do you prefer swimming in a pool or the ocean? Why?

58. Are video games good for your brain?

59. How would you spend your time if there were no electronics?

60. Are iPads making kids lazier?

Self-Reflection and Personal Experiences

61. What would you do if a bully were picking on your best friend?

62. What are you the best at and why?

63. Convince me to buy an iPhone.

64. Should parents be allowed to give kids chores?

65. What is your dream job, and why?

66. How would you feel if you were a fish? Why?

67. What is your favorite season and why?

68. What is your favorite family tradition?

69. Describe your perfect day.

70. What would you do if you won a million dollars?

71. How would you feel if you had to move to a new city?

72. How do you feel when you help someone else?

73. Would you rather be a famous athlete or a famous scientist? Why?

74. What are the most important qualities of a friend?

75. What do you want to be when you grow up and why?

76. What is your least favorite chore and why?

77. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

78. Describe your favorite book and why it’s so special to you.

79. Do you think it’s important to have good manners? Why?

80. How do you show kindness to others?

81. What does courage mean to you?

82. What is your favorite family vacation memory?

83. What is your favorite animal and why?

84. What makes you feel proud?

85. What is the most fun thing you’ve ever done?

86. What is your favorite sport and why?

87. Do you think it’s better to be a kid or an adult? Why?

88. How do you feel when you’re angry, and how do you cope with this emotion?

89. What is your favorite hobby and what do you like about it?

90. Tell me about a time you had a fear of missing out.

91. What is your favorite type of music and why?

92. What is your favorite thing about yourself?

School Specific 

93. What are your goals for this school year?

94. What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in school so far?

95. How can I be a cool fifth grader?

96. What is the hardest thing about being a 5th grader?

97.  If you could change one rule at school, what would it be and why?

98. If you were a teacher, what subject would you teach and why?

99. Should we make the school day shorter?

100. How do you feel about homework?

101. What do you like to do during recess?

102. How would you handle being the new kid in school?

103. What would you do if you were principal for a day?

104. What is your favorite subject in school and why?

105. How do you feel about starting middle school next year?

5th Grade Writing Prompts

On this page of Tim’s Printables you will find a printable 5th grade writing prompts PDF, ideal for creative writers, language arts teachers and homeschooling parents. The writing prompt worksheet contains 20 creative and original writing topics to inspire you. Some of these questions will encourage students to use their imaginations and place themselves in unique situations. Others are introspective, and was ask students to reflect on their own values and their understanding of the world.

Please click on the worksheet image below to open the PDF in your browser. You can also read online by scrolling down the webpage.

5th Grade Writing Prompts List

• How has the internet changed the world?
• A old wizard dressed in a cloak approaches you. He says he can tell you the day, time and place of your death. Assuming he is telling the truth, would you want to know this information? Why or why not?
• You are a theme park engineer responsible for creating a new and exciting ride. What is your new park attraction called? Describe how it works, and why you think people will like it.
• What will life be like in the year 3000?
• Write a story with an anticlimactic ending.
• What would be the benefits of discovering that you glowed in the dark?
• If some people could walk through walls, how would this affect society?
• Describe a day in the life of a caveman.
• I walked into the saloon, and at the table sat the bandit. “One-eyed Frank, I’m here to collect the $5000 reward on your head.” One-eyed Frank stood up from his chair. Write what happens next.
• Write a ghost story.
• You are a contestant on a show called “Silly Questions.” Write a few of the questions asked by the host of show, along with your answers.
• Write an autobiographical limerick.
• Two siblings are arguing. What are they arguing about? Write down the point of view of each sibling.
• Write a fan-fiction sequel to your favorite movie.
• You are lost in the desert. Without food or water, you collapse on the sand. And only to make matters worse, a scorpion suddenly crawls out from underneath a rock and bites you. How do you survive?
• Write about your adventures climbing Mount Everest.
• Write an adventure about you and your grandfather that took place in the nursing home.
• The city is being attacked giant Plutonian dust mites. They’re crashing through the buildings and devouring cars. How do you stop them?
• A bottle floats to shore. In the bottle is a treasure map…
• What would happen to the world if books were made illegal?

Hundreds of Awesome Creative Writing Topics for kids

Creative writing is a great way for children to express themselves using imagination. At Kids Play and Create, we value young writers, and we are constantly updating our list to bring you new, fun, and imaginative writing prompts for kids.

We have story starters, icebreakers, fiction writing prompts, and fun topics to inspire kids through writing. From young students to middle school students and even high school, we have great writing prompts for all writing styles and even the most reluctant writers.

We started out with 50 creative writing topics for kids but have added many more. Check back regularly for newly added writing topics. 

                Check the end of the article for updated Creative Writing Topics for Teens. Are you looking for Creative Writing topics for 1st grade and 2nd grade with free printables? We have that too!

What is Creative Writing?

Creative writing can be used to explain many types of writing. It is a writing style that lets the writer express themselves.  Some forms of creative writing entertain the reader, while others are therapeutic.  Creative writing lets the writer use their imagination and takes the reader on a journey into their thoughts.

Is Creative Writing Important?

Creative writing is a great way to learn more about the children you work with.  You can find out things about what they like and don’t like.  Depending on the topic you choose, you can also find out things about their personality, what kind of friends they are, how they feel about themselves, and if they set goals and more.  

There are many benefits to writing. Creative writing helps build critical thinking skills and writing skills. These writing prompts will build a child’s confidence to write their own stories.

How do you get kids to want to write without complaining?  Give them fun topics that they will learn about themselves while writing.  On this list, you will find various good topics for both younger and older children.

Creative Writing is fun for All Ages.

Creative writing isn’t just for older children. It can be for the little ones too. Young students as early as Preschool or Kindergarten may not have the ability to write but can express themselves through drawing.

Have young students concentrate less on the writing and more on drawing a picture that goes with the topic. Children are great at expressing themselves through art.

Awesome Creative Writing Prompts for Elementary Students

1. Have the children write on top of the page:  I Am Special Because… This is a good topic to help children express themselves.

Have the children think about why they are special and ask themselves questions, here are some examples: what am I good at? Who have they helped? How have I made a difference? What special talent do I have?

2. If I was a superhero, what kind of superhero would I be, and what powers would I have? (This can also be done using villains)

 Examples of powers they can write about: are flying, super speed, eye lasers, walking through walls, shooting ice, shooting fire, changing the weather, camouflage, shapeshifting (changing shape), and turning invisible. 

Activity:  Keep track of who chose a superhero or a villain. Do not let the children know that another activity will follow after the writing activity. When the writing activity is over, split the children into two teams, the superhero team and the villain team.  Have them vs. each other in a game of tag.  Who will champion the superheroes or the villains? 

3. What do I want to be when I grow up and why? This a great way to get to know children.  By asking what they want to be when they grow up, you can find out what the children like.  It’s also a great way for children to start thinking about the future.

4. If you were given three wishes, what would they be and why? This is a fun topic.  Children can think about having anything in the world.  Will they pick something like peace on earth or go the million-dollar route?  

5. If I could invent a new animal, what animal would it be?  Have the children ask themselves the following questions: What does the animal look like (what color, is it big or small, is it a combination of two animals)?  What sounds does the animal make?  What does it eat?  Where does it live?  Describe the animal’s habitat.

Creative Writing Topics for Kids

6. If I could invent a new toy, what kind of toy would I create and why? Or, If I could improve a toy, which toy would I improve, and how would I make it better?  You can talk to the children about the creative process:  First, you come up with an idea, then you have to get it made.  You can talk to the children about manufacturing toys.  Here are some questions you can ask the children about improving a toy.  How do you want to make the toy better?  Do you want to make the remote control car faster?  Is the game challenging enough?  Do you want your doll to have more features or do more?  These are all questions you can ask the children to get their brains thinking.

7. If I could make something disappear in my life, what would it be and why? Ask the children if there is something in your life that makes them unhappy.  Is there a problem you are having?  

8. All About me essay. Some sample questions the children can ask are:  What are my likes and dislikes? What is my favorite subject in school? What do I want to be when I group up?  Who is their favorite actress/actor?  Where do they want to visit? They can name the people in their family, talk about any extracurricular activities they do, etc.

In what ways do I help my family? Have children write about the ways they help their families.  Do you have chores?  If so, what are they?  Do you help your mom or dad cook?  Do you talk out the garbage? Do you take care of your siblings?  Do you have a job to help pay bills?  

10. How can I be a better friend?  Have children think about what type of friends they are.  Are they good listeners?  Are you kind?  Do you talk about your friends to other people?  Have them think about how they would like to be treated by a friend, do they treat their friends the way they want to be treated?

The Best Creative Writing Topics for 4th and 5th grade

11. If you could be invisible, what would you do and why? Have the children think about what it would be like to be invisible.  Would they use this new power for good or would they try to do something bad?

See also   Top 10 Ways you can Encourage Good Homework Habits for Elementary Students .

12. What do you think about bullies and why? Have the children define what a bully is to them in their paper.  Do they think they are a bully?  Do they think bullying is wrong?  Remember, these are things the children are feeling, there are no wrong answers.

13. Why is it important to be honest and not lie?  To them, the children with their writing ask them the following questions. What does it mean to be honest?  Have you ever told a lie that turned into another lie?

14. What would you do if you won a million dollars?  This question is usually a favorite topic with the children.  Ask them if they think one million dollars is a lot of money.  Depending on where you live, it might be just enough to buy a small house and a car.  What are some things you would buy?  Would you save some or spend it all?

15. If you could change the world, what would you do and why? This is a good question for older children.  Would they change things, such as ending hate and violence in the world? Would they change things such as making gas or food free for everyone? You will get various answers, making this a fun and interesting topic.

Fun Writing Prompts Ideas

16. If you were a king/queen, what would you do and why? This is a fun topic for both younger and older children.  Activity: Have the children draw their kingdom and a picture of them as king or queen

17. If you could invent a video game, what kind of game would you create and why? This topic is also great for older children and young er children.  Children love playing video games, they may not realize that they can make video games for a living.  Talk to the children about video game developers and the process of creating video games.  Have them brainstorm ideas for games, and find out what they can come up with.

18. Write about a time when you had to be brave, what did you do, and how did it feel?  Ask the children if they have ever been afraid. What were they afraid of? Did something scary happen to them?  What did they do to get through it?

19. Write about a trip to the moon, how did you get there, what did you see, it was fun or scary?

20. Write about something you are good at?

21. Write about one thing you want to learn about?

22. Write about a time when you worked hard to get something. This can be a thing or an accomplishment, like making a team, finally getting that cartwheel, or passing a test.

23. Write about five things you could be better at if you worked hard and gave more effort.  There is always room for improvement.  Talk to the children about the importance of trying hard and working towards a goal.

24. If you had to give away $1,000, what would you do with it, who would you give it to? This is a great question when talking to children about being kind and helping others.  

Journal Prompts or Kids

25. What is the best thing someone has ever given to you?

26. What is the nicest thing someone has ever done for you?

27. Write about what you can teach others. Everyone is good at something.  This question helps children think about what they’re good at and how they can help others.

28. Did you ever get into an argument with a friend or family member? How did that make you feel?  

29. Did you ever hurt someone’s feelings?  Explain what happened and how it made you feel.  

30. Did someone ever hurt your feelings? How did it make you feel? Did you talk to that person about it?

31. Is there anyone you would like to switch places with? who and why?

32. What does it mean to be loyal?

33. When was a time you were loyal to a friend or a friend who was loyal to you?

34. What famous person would you like to meet? Write about a day spent with a famous person.

Self-Esteem Writing Topics

34. Has a friend ever betrayed you? How did it make you feel? What do you think your friend should have done differently?

35. Have you ever been friends with someone who was unpopular or not part of the group?  This is a great question to ask children when teaching them about acceptance and how it feels not to be part of a group.

36. When was a time you felt you were treated unfairly? How did it make you feel?

37. Is it fair to give someone a head start in a race?  When is it fair? When is it not fair?

38. Write about a time when you had a strong opinion about something? Why did you feel so strongly about it?

39. Write about a time you made a big mistake.  How did you fix it?  Everyone makes mistakes.  This writing topic helps children understand that mistakes are part of the learning experience.

40. Write about a time when you were very angry.  What happened? How did being angry make you feel? I find that many times children will feel sad when they are angry.  Did I make a good choice when I was angry? This is a great writing topic when discussing feelings with children.  It is important for them to understand that anger isn’t wrong, and you are allowed to feel angry.

41. If you heard a rumor about a friend you knew wasn’t true, what would you do? How would it make you feel?

42. Write about a time when you cheered someone up. What did you do? How did it make you feel? How did it make that person feel?

43. Write about a time you used your inner strength to get through a tough situation.

44. Write about three things that are hard for you and why.

See also   Free Colorful Printable Tracing Worksheets for Kids ‘

45. When was the last time you were afraid? What scared you? How did you react?

46. What is the bravest thing you’ve ever done?

47. Who is your hero, and why?

48. What do you think risk-taking is?  Have you ever taken a risk?

49. Write about your best friend. Who are they, how long have you known them, and why are they your best friend?

50. What does it mean to have good character? Do you think you have good character, why?

Short Story Writing Topics for Kids

51. Think about something you are not allowed to do but wish you could.  Write about why you want to do it and why you should be allowed to do it.

52. If you could be on a t.v show, which one would it be and why?  

53. If you had to choose to be one age for the rest of your life which age would you want to be?  Why?

54.  If you could pick the perfect job, what would it be?

55. You just found a treasure map, write about what you would do next.  Do you decide to look for the treasure?  Who is going to help you?  What supplies do you need? Did the map lead you to the treasure, or was it fake?  If you found the treasure, what was it?  What did you do with it?

56. You just built a time machine.  Where in time would you go?  What did you do?  What did you see?  Would you want to stay there or come back to the present time?

57.  You just discovered a new land.  What are you going to call your land?  What kind of animals live there?  Have you discovered anything on your land?  What are you going to build on your new land?

58. Challenge the kids to write a scary story.

59. If you are working with younger children, instead of having them write, you can have them draw and answer questions about their drawing.  Try some of these topics.

1  Create a monster.  Your monster can be silly, scary, funny, big, little, colorful, etc..  What is your monster’s name?  What does your monster eat?  Where does your monster live?  Is your monster nice or mean?  You can write the answers to the questions on the paper for the child or have them come up and share their drawing, while they are showing their picture, ask them questions about their monster.

2.  Create an animal.  This is the same as the monster but just an animal instead.

3. Create new food. What kind of food is it?  Is it a dessert, is it something spicy, is it a combination of both?  Have the children draw a picture of their new food.

Group Writing Prompts for Kids

I’ve been working with kids on group writing and art projects.  The kids enjoyed these topics the best.

58. Create a fairy tale. have each group member write one part of the story. Then have each member of the group draw one part of the story. When the children are finished writing, have them come up in front of the class and retell their story.   

59.  Create an amusement park.  Discuss as a group the name of the park.  Have each member of the group write about the parts of the park. 

A. What is the theme of your park?  Adventure, thrill rides, water rides, safari, etc.

B.  Write about the type of rides in the park.  Are there shows in the park?

C. Describe places to eat at the park and what type of food they serve.

D. Do they have a gift shop?  What do they sell at your park?

Art Project:  On a large poster board, have each group member draw a park map.  List of attractions, games, food, restrooms, gift shops, shows, etc..

 60. Create a planet – Your group has just discovered a new planet.  Have a group discussion about the planet.  What is the name?  Do anyone live on the planet? Is there water on the planet? Did you find fossils, aliens, or animals?  Is there oxygen? Are there plants, trees, or water?  Have each member of the group write something about the planet.

Art Project: Make a planet out of paper mache.  Once dry, paint, and decorate the planet.

Newly Added Creative Writing Prompts

61. Create a new food/or meal and make a recipe to teach others how to make it.  Have the kids draw a picture of the new food/meal.

62. Create a new game and describe how to play.  This writing topic lets children use their imaginations.  Have the children draw out the game on paper.  If creating a  board game, have the children turn the paper into a board game.

63. Write about a time you lost a game, didn’t do well on a test, or made a mistake, what lesson did you learn? This is a great writing topic to use when teaching children about losing.  Everyone loses sometimes.  losing actually makes you better.  Without losing, sometimes, you won’t strive to become better.

64.  Your video just went viral on Youtube.  What did you do in your video? These days children spend so much time looking at videos on Youtube.  Have them imagine what it would be like to become famous overnight with a viral video.

Fabulous Creative Writing Prompts for Kids

65.  Pretend you had an evil twin.  Write about some things your evil twin does.

66. What is the grossest lunch you have ever been served?  Write about this gross meal.  Remember to add many details about what the food looked and tasted like.

67. What is your sorcerer’s name?  What kind of sorcerer would you be?  Would you be evil or nice?  What kind of powers would you have?  What is something that you did as a sorcerer?

68. What are your personal superpowers?  Are you a great friend, are you smart, do you have a hidden talent?  Write about the superpowers that you already have.

See also   Black History Month Writing Prompts for Students .

69. Write about a time when you were proud of your work and did your best.  How did that make you feel?  Do you always try your best?  Why or why not

70. You have been working hard on your schoolwork/project all for a while, and your mind and body are tired, and you need a break.  What are some ways that you like to take a break?  Do you like to color, take deep breaths, play your favorite game, nap, or have a snack?  Tell us about how you like to take a break.

• Invent a new holiday. What would you call your holiday? When is it celebrated? How is it celebrated?
• You became a movie star overnight, what movie were you in? What character did you play?
• Write about your favorite sport. Why is it your favorite? Give directions on how to play.
• What is your favorite thing? Describe it and tell why it is your favorite.
• Who is your favorite teacher? Explain why they are your favorite.

The Best Creative Writing Prompts and Topics for Teens

• Have you ever seen somebody being treated unfairly?  If so, did you do anything about it, or did you ignore it and walk away?
• Do you talk to people the same way in person as you do on social media?
• How do you think social media has changed or is changing the world?
• What kind of America do you want to live in?
• What are your plans after high school?
• What do you think college life is like?
• Do you think it is important to save money at your age?  If so, how do you save money?  Why do you think it is important?
•  Do you know what it means to have good credit?  Do you think it is important to have good credit?  Why?
• Would you ever join the military?  Why?
• Who is your idol, and why?
• What is your favorite childhood memory?

New Creative Writing Prompts for Middle School and High School Students

• If you could take a trip anywhere in the world, where would you go?
• Write about something you would love to try and why
• Write about something you did but then felt guilty about it later.  How did you handle the situation?
• What is the hardest experience you have ever been through?  How did you handle it?
• Have you ever been to a job interview?  Where are you prepared?  Did you get the job? Would you say something different if you could do it over? Would you be better prepared next time?
• How do you think the world will be 50 years from now? How do you think people will treat each other?  How do you think the internet/social media has changed the world?  What kind of cars do you think we will be driving?  Will we still be using gas?
• Write about your dream home.  Would you live in a house or an apartment in the city?  Do you want a big house or something small?  What kind of fun features would your dream home have?
• If you were a parent, would you let your child have a social media account?  Why or why not?
• Would you rather work in a team on a project or alone?
• Write about your favorite song, why is it your favorite?  What is your favorite verse?  How do you feel when listening to it?
• If you were a clothing designer, what kind of clothes would you design?
• You have to spend one year stranded on a deserted island, you can bring five things or people with you, what do you bring?
• You are a superhero, you have to use your powers to make a positive change in the world.  What powers do you have?
• You are given the power to change one thing you don’t like about yourself, would you change anything?  If yes, what would you change and why?
• Write about your future self. What is your life like?

Updated Creative Writing Topics for Middle School and High School

• You are creating a new amusement park.  What kind of park would it be?  What kind of rides does it have?
• Write about the best Christmas gift you have ever received. Explain what it was, why it was your favorite, who gave it to you, do you still have it.  
• You were given 1 million dollars, but you must give it away.  Who would you give it to?  would you give it to one person or a couple of different people?  Would you donate it to an organization? 
• Name 5 of the most important things in your life ( house, family, health, etc..); now you just lost all of them.  How would you feel, what would you do?
• You just became a YouTube sensation.  What did you do that made you famous?  How does it feel to be recognized by people on the street?
• A friend of yours has been depressed and said that they told you they don’t want to live anymore.  What do you do and why?
• How would people describe you and why?
• Do you think that violent video games make people violent?  Do you think there should be age restrictions on video games?
• You have a choice of giving up social media or hanging out with your friends for a week, which one do you choose and why?
• Do you think what you learn in school can help you in the real world?  What topics do you think you should be learning and why?

The Best Creative Writing Prompts for Teens Continued 

• Do you think that money can buy happiness, why or why not?
• Do you think you need higher education to become successful?
• How important is your cell phone with you? I rather give up….blank…. than my cell phone (explain).
•  Describe the perfect day. What would you do?
• Have you ever been faced with discrimination?  Were you the one being discriminated against, or were you a witness to discrimination, How did you feel?
• If you were given the opportunity to meet anyone in the world, living or dead, who would you want to meet and why?
• Why do you think we pay taxes?  Do you believe taxes are necessary?  What do you think our tax money is used for?

Related Posts:

• Halloween Activities for Kids
• DIY Homemade Spa Party Recipes for Kids
• Fascinating Orca Facts for Kids
• Fun Halloween Facts for Kids! Halloween 2021
• Amazing Animal Facts for Kids!

Related Posts

All about me collage self-esteem/character building activity for kids, being thankful activities for kids, thanksgiving activities for kids, feel good notebook self-esteem character building activity for kids, positive notes game self-esteem character building activity for kids, how to get kids to work together, games for kids.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Picture Prompts

125 Picture Prompts for Creative and Narrative Writing

What story can these images tell?

By The Learning Network

For eight years, we at The Learning Network have been publishing short, accessible, image-driven prompts that invite students to do a variety of kinds of writing via our Picture Prompts column.

Each week, at least one of those prompts asks students: Use your imagination to write the opening of a short story or poem inspired by this image — or, tell us about a memory from your own life that it makes you think of.

Now we’re rounding up years of these storytelling prompts all in one place. Below you’ll find 125 photos, illustrations and GIFs from across The New York Times that you can use for both creative and personal writing. We have organized them by genre, but many overlap and intersect, so know that you can use them in any way you like.

Choose an image, write a story, and then follow the link in the caption to the original prompt to post your response or read what other students had to say. Many are still open for comment for teenagers 13 and up. And each links to a free Times article too.

We can’t wait to read the tales you spin! Don’t forget that you can respond to all of our Picture Prompts, as they publish, here .

Images by Category

Everyday life, mystery & suspense, relationships, science fiction, travel & adventure, unusual & unexpected, cat in a chair, happy puppy, resourceful raccoon, cows and cellos, people and penguins, opossum among shoes, on the subway, sunset by the water, endless conversation, falling into a hole, lounging around, sneaker collection, the concert, meadow in starlight.

Related Picture Prompt | Related Article

Public Selfies

Night circus, tarot cards, castle on a hill, security line, batman on a couch, reaching through the wall, beware of zombies, haunted house, familial frights, witches on the water, blindfolded, phone booth in the wilderness, shadow in the sky, a letter in the mail, hidden doorway.

Point of No Return

Darkened library, under the table, playing dominoes, looking back, a wave goodbye, out at dusk, conversation, walking away, alone and together, a new friend, heated conversation, up in a tree, hole in the ceiling, under the desk, at their computers, marching band, band practice, in the hallway, in the lunchroom, the red planet, tech gadgets, trapped inside, astronaut and spider, computer screen, special key, tethered in space, on the court, in the waves, city skateboarding.

Fishing in a Stream

Over the falls.

Under the Sea

Sledding in the mountains, cracked mirror, wilderness wayfaring, car and cactus, walking through town, tropical confinement, travel travails, roller coasters, atop the hill, climbing a ladder, under the ice, other selves.

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.

Find more Picture Prompts here.

Jump to navigation

• Inside Writing
• Teacher's Guides
• Student Models

Writing Topics

• Minilessons
• Shopping Cart
• Inside Grammar
• Grammar Adventures
• CCSS Correlations
• Infographics

How do I use writing topics in my classroom?

Do you want to inspire your students to write great narratives, essays, and reports? Check out these grade-specific writing topics organized by mode (explanatory, creative, and so on). Or search for writing topics that relate to a theme, such as “life” or “animals” or “family.”

Jump to . . .

Explanatory writing.

• A day in the rainforest
• After-school games
• An important person I know about
• At the library
• Foods I don't like
• Friendly places
• Games I play with friends
• Games we play at recess
• Good things in my neighborhood
• How plants grow
• How to make my favorite dessert
• How to make new friends
• I like spring because . . .
• I like to make . . .
• I'd like to see . . .
• Insects, insects everywhere
• Learning to ride a bike
• My favorite food
• My favorite pet
• My favorite season
• My mom's/dad's hobby
• My new friend
• My shopping list
• Our clubhouse
• The biggest bubble-gum bubble
• The funniest zoo animal
• This person makes me laugh
• What I know about . . .
• What I know about an animal
• What I know about dinosaurs
• What I know about stars
• What I know about the ocean
• What I like about math
• What makes me laugh?
• What will I share?
• Who I will be in the future
• Who's at the zoo?
• Why I like to read
• Why I love to sing
• Words I think are funny

Persuasive Writing

• Don't litter!
• Things that would make my neighborhood better

Narrative Writing

• A day at the beach
• A special birthday
• Buying something with my own money
• Cooking dinner with Mom/Dad
• Eating lunch with my friends
• Going grocery shopping
• Going to the circus
• I rode on a . . .
• I'm happy when . . .
• Losing my teeth
• My adventure
• My trip to . . .
• Noisy times and quiet times
• Playing a game with Grandma/Grandpa
• Playing with pets
• Something funny that happened to me
• The biggest thing I ever saw
• The last time I cried
• When _ was born

Response to Literature

• A book I just read
• Some of my favorite books

Creative Writing

• A story about a holiday
• A trip on a rocket ship
• Dear George Washington
• Seeing the world through the eyes of . . .
• Sometimes I wish . . .
• What if I met a . . .
• What if I were 10 years old?
• What if I were someone else?
• What if toys could talk?
• What's under my bed?

Research Writing

• I wonder why . . .
• Something I don't understand
• A bicycle I'd like to have
• A day in the desert
• A great place to go
• A great treehouse
• A place I like to visit
• A sport I'm good at
• A trip on a monorail
• Activities for indoor fun
• Activities for outdoor fun
• Amazing facts I know
• An amazing animal
• Dancing to the music
• Having fun at school
• Helping out around the house
• Magic tricks I can do
• Making my favorite food
• My favorite baby-sitter
• My favorite board game
• My favorite teacher
• My homework place
• Our classroom pet
• Some things I like about the museum
• The best house pets
• The weirdest house pets
• Things that are hard to believe
• Things to do in the snow
• Unusual fruits and vegetables
• Water balloons!
• What I like about where I live
• What makes me special
• Who is beautiful?
• Let's help the environment by . . .
• Things I'd like to change
• A cozy spot at home
• A funny time in my family
• A great day with a friend
• A helpful person I have met
• A person who means the world to me
• A walk in the woods
• Funny things my pet has done
• My best birthday
• My favorite family story
• Putting on a play
• Swimming at the pool or lake
• When everything goes wrong
• Book characters I'd like to meet
• A dark hallway
• Donuts for dinner
• Something I wish would happen
• What if there were no electricity
• All about an amazing animal

Business Writing

• A cartoon character that I like
• A song that means a lot to me
• A special photograph
• A special, secret place
• A trip in a submarine
• An important time in history
• Building a fort
• Creatures that live in the ocean
• Creepy, crawly things
• Dirt bikes and skateboards
• Do I want to be famous?
• Doing homework
• Going to the dentist
• Gone fishing!
• How to stop hiccups
• How we divide the chores at our house
• I don't understand why . . .
• I'd like to invent a machine that . . .
• If I started my own business, I'd . . .
• Instructions for a pet sitter of my pet
• Let's help the animals by . . .
• Looking at the globe
• My favorite clothes
• My favorite form of exercise
• Pizza is . . .
• Staying at a friend's house
• The first day of school is the worst/best because . . .
• The rules we follow
• Things I see when I take a walk
• What I use a computer for
• What if I were the teacher?
• What is important to me?
• What it's like to use a wheelchair
• What my dreams feel like
• When I see nature, I . . .
• Why I like/dislike playing team sports
• Why my mom and dad are the greatest
• My school really needs . . .
• A day in the life of my pet
• A visit to a friend's school
• An excellent birthday party
• Discovering a new friend
• Getting my first pair of glasses
• Grandma's attic
• I'll never eat another . . .
• My best day
• My first school memories
• My most embarrassing moment
• Rings on her fingers
• Talk about being scared!
• When I did something amazing
• When I was upside down
• When the big storm hit
• If I wrote like the author of . . .
• A really spooky story
• Summer games
• What if we suddenly had to move?
• A game that meant a lot to my childhood
• A school field trip
• A toy I've held onto all these years
• A trip to a space station
• A typical lunch hour
• Can farmers grow enough food for everyone?
• Here's what a new student needs to know
• How I can change the way I look
• How I picture myself four years from now
• How I would define the word . . .
• I would have liked to have lived during this time.
• I'm principal for the day. Here is my schedule.
• I've done something that no one else has done
• If I could be someone else, I would be . . .
• My bedroom from top to bottom
• My favorite place
• My idea of a fun weekend
• My life as a . . .
• My participation in an activity outside of school
• One thing I want to do by the time I leave 8th grade
• Overcoming health problems
• The wildest hairstyle I have ever seen
• What a family member taught me
• What a house of the future might look like
• What I broke or lost that belongs to someone else
• A big hazard on the road
• A big problem in education is . . .
• A cool store
• A dedicated teacher or coach
• Dear Senator
• Discover nature
• Finally, a good assembly
• How could TV be better?
• Let's save _ in our schools
• My best class ever
• My favorite neighbor
• My favorite singer(s)
• Rights that kids in my grade should have
• The worst food I ever ate
• This really bugs me
• What's good about hard work?
• Why I deserve a larger allowance
• Why parents should be honest with their kids
• Why school fund-raisers are important
• Why weekends need to be longer
• A memorable bus ride
• A narrow escape from trouble
• A time that was just not fair
• A visit to a relative's house
• If I lived back in history
• If only I would have listened!
• My first concert
• My first friend
• Summer in a cabin by a lake
• The most fun I've had recently
• We couldn't stop laughing!
• We got caught!
• When I was lost
• A great book made into a great movie
• My favorite character from a book
• What if a book came to life?
• What this story means to me
• How _ came to be.
• Life among the cloud people
• Long ago and far away
• Meeting myself in the future
• Traveling west in a wagon train
• When the dinosaurs returned
• A job I'd really like to have
• All about an amazing place
• The most fascinating things I learned
• The tallest, the deepest, the longest, the biggest
• When I conducted an experiment
• When science took a big leap forward

Personal Writing

• The book that got me hooked on reading
• A day I will always remember
• A friend who moved away
• A great scientific breakthrough
• A person who changed history
• A personal habit I'd like to change
• A project I am working on
• A typical evening at home
• A visit with the doctor or dentist
• An invention that transformed the world
• Causes of a huge change in the world
• Coping with brothers and sisters
• Hanging out
• How a vehicle works
• How do people cope with constant pain?
• How I express myself artistically
• How it would feel to walk in space
• I admit it: I enjoy professional wrestling.
• I take some things too seriously
• If I were a superhero, I'd be . . .
• Is pollution a necessary evil?
• Is this love?
• Morning madness
• My craziest experience in a restaurant or shopping mall
• My dream car
• My first crush
• My first encounter with a bully
• My muscles were so sore after . . .
• My Web site
• Self-esteem
• Something this school really needs is . . .
• Sometimes, adults seem . . .
• The environment: problem and solution
• The hardest thing I have ever done
• The idea hit me like a tornado.
• The next wave of social media
• The toys I'll never give up
• Tools I will need in my intended profession
• We all make mistakes
• What animals can teach people
• What different colors mean to me
• What do Americans do well?
• What do I do to break routine?
• What do I worry about?
• What if school sports were dropped?
• What invention would I like to see in my lifetime?
• What it's like where I work
• Who knows me best?
• Why are crime dramas so popular?
• Why are some people so cruel?
• "Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off the goal."
• A change that would improve school life
• Foods I love, foods I hate
• I couldn't believe that Mom/Dad volunteered me for that job
• It's a rule, so it's right . . . right?
• Let's hear it for my favorite senior citizen
• Let's push alternate forms of energy
• Putting my foot in my mouth
• The government should . . .
• What most drives me crazy is . . .
• Why appearance is not so important
• Why I deserve the job
• _ is like a boomerang
• A funny thing happened when . . .
• A meaningful gift I've given or received
• A time when I got in trouble
• An unforgettable dream
• Looking at pictures of family and friends
• My brother or sister made me so mad
• My worst vacation
• What I regret most
• When I faced my fears
• When I learned something difficult
• When I traveled to . . .
• A remarkable artist
• An all-new album from an important artist
• An amazing work of art
• Meet the characters of . . .
• The music that moves me most
• The theme of my favorite story is . . .
• Alone on a desert island