50 Writing Prompts All Grade Levels Todd Finley

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The questions below invite young writers to consider actual or imagined events, their feelings, and a few outlandish possibilities. Try out the ones you believe will be most appealing to your pupils.

As with other prompts, warn students that their responses should be rated G and that divulging harmful or unlawful activities in which they are participating would compel you to file a complaint with administration or school counselors. Finally, allow students to write “PERSONAL” above any entries that they do not want anyone else to read. We all need to let our scraggly emotions run wild in our writing from time to time.

Writing prompts for different levels of School: 

HIGH SCHOOL: 

  • Should cameras mounted on drones be used to monitor all public locations in order to prevent crime, or is this a breach of privacy?
  • Is it possible that Americans have it too easy? Why do you believe that?
  • What factors contribute to racism?
  • You are hired as a consultant by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to discover how to effectively utilize $20 billion to rescue the world. What are your plans?
  • What is the worst aspect of the internet?
  • Would you rather be extremely attractive or extremely intelligent? Explain?
  • You have one chance to save one thing before your house burns down. What exactly is it? What makes that thing so special to you?
  • How much control over your life do you have? What is it that makes you say that?
  • Describe your perfect life in 15 years. What are you capable of?
  • What do your friends think is your most endearing quality? Describe that characteristic.
  • What is something terrifying you’d like to try? What makes it frightening for you? How do you plan to overcome your apprehension?
  • What do you do on a regular basis to fuel your brain?
  • What are three of your greatest life-changing learning experiences? When and where did they happen?
  • By the age of 18, the typical American had witnessed 200,000 acts of violence, including 40,000 murders, on television. What is it about televised violence that people find so appealing?
  • Do you prefer to be loved or respected? Because?
  • Is social media an accurate representation of people? Use examples to demonstrate.
  • Assume it’s the last day of high school and you’ve been requested by a teacher to speak a few words that sum up the events that have happened in the previous four years that have meant the most to you. What do you think?

MIDDLE SCHOOL

  • Which of our classmates would be most suited to lead us through a zombie apocalypse? Why?
  • What real-life events would you handle differently if you were a different gender? Why?
  • How can you tell if someone your age is insecure? Is it true that most individuals are more uneasy or worried than they admit?
  • What would be the advantages for you if the internet went down for good? What are the disadvantages?
  • Write a situation in which a) a classmate, b) $100 million, and c) magical shoes appear.
  • What are the top three features you want in your future home? Why?
  • If you played a character in a television show,
  • What do the five people you spend the most time with have in common? How do you most resemble them? What distinguishes you from them?
  • What factors influence someone’s decision to become a bully? What can be done to prevent bullying?
  • Do you establish friends quickly or slowly? Describe the evolution of one of your most meaningful friendships.
  • Should we be afraid of failure? Explain.
  • What would you most like to know about your future if a wizard could tell you?
  • Do you believe in good fortune? Are you a superstitious person? In what way? If this is not the case, why do you believe certain individuals are?

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

  • I wish my instructors had known that..
  • What is the most lovely person, location, or item you’ve ever seen? Tell us what makes that person, location, or object so unique.
  • What are some examples of what you desire vs what you need?
  • A magical panda granted you one wish last Friday. You tried so hard to make the wish positive, but after the weekend’s crazy happenings, you regret ever meeting that clever panda. What did you ask for, and what happened as a result?
  • I’d like to wish my buddies..
  • Describe a regimen that you frequently or always follow (in the morning, when you get home, Friday nights, before a game, etc.).
  • What do all children understand that adults do not?
  • What fictional or film characters do you wish were real? Why?
  • After they’ve completed an entry, have them read it aloud or trade daybooks for a read-around. If you provide the entries written feedback, use a sticky note or scratch paper to convey that their labor is valued.
  • You may also include background music composition one day a week, say on “Music Monday.” Pitchfork has an article titled “The 50 Best Ambient Albums of All Time” with some selections of music you might utilize in class. My favorite composing album is Peter Gabriel’s Birdy soundtrack, which is appropriate for older children. Other Edutopia employees and bloggers like writing to Coffitivity, Noisli, Godspeed You! Black Emperor Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven, and Alcest’s Souvenirs d’un Autre Monde.
  • Remember to write with your pupils. Why should they get to enjoy all of the fun? What are their favorite writing prompts?
Carter Martin
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