Writing Prompts by Grade Level
Second Grade
1. Think about your first day at school this year. Write about your first day at school.
2. Think about one Saturday when you were out of school and did something special. You
might have done something with your family or a friend. Tell about your Saturday.
3. Tell about a trip that you've taken. It can be a family vacation, school field trip, or shopping
trip. Write about the trip you took.
4. Tell about a special time you spent with another child. It can be a classmate, friend, cousin,
brother or sister.
5. Tell about the best birthday you ever had. Be sure to tell what happened at the beginning,
middle, and at the end of your birthday.
6. Think about a special holiday celebration that you remember. Tell about this holiday
celebration.
7. Write about a time you were sick or were in an accident.
8. One day you receive a letter in the mail telling you that you will be the principal of your
school for one day. Tell what happens when you are the principal.
9. Imagine Superman visited you and gave you the power to fly. Write a story telling about
what happens when you have to power to fly.
10. Imagine you are playing and one of your toys comes to life. Write a story about what
happens when your toy comes to life.
Third Grade
1. Think about a time when you had fun with a friend or relative. Write a story about a time you
had fun with a friend or relative.
2. Think about the best birthday you ever had. Write a story about the best birthday you
remember.
3. Think about a time when you were scared. Write a story about what happened that made you
scared.
4. Think about a time you did something really special with your mom, dad, or another adult.
Write a story about what you did with that adult.
5. Write a story about a short trip that you went on with your family. It can be a visit to a
relative's house or a special event or shopping trip.
6. Think about a time when you received a gift or gave a gift to somebody. Write a story about
one time when you gave someone a gift or when someone gave you a gift.
7. Think about a special day you have had. Tell what happened that made it special.
8. Imagine that you wake up one morning and you are six inches tall. Write a story about what
happens next.
9. Imagine that a spaceship has landed on the school's playground. The door of the spaceship
slowly opens. Write a story about what happens next.
10. One day your class is in music when the teacher sits down at the piano and begins to play.
When she presses on the keys nothing happens. She lifts up the lid to see why the piano won't
play when suddenly something crawls out. Write a story about what happens next.
Fourth Grade
1. One day you are visiting a museum with your class. While you are walking through the
exhibit of dinosaur skeletons, you start hearing strange sounds coming from behind a curtain.
Write a story about what happens next.
2. Think about a time you were surprised. Write a story about what happened that surprised
you.
3. Imagine you are exploring your grandmother's basement on a rainy day. You find an old
trunk. When you open the trunk, you make a surprising discovery. Tell about what happens
next.
4. You have met many children at school or in the neighborhood with whom you have enjoyed
spending time. Choose one and tell a story about a time you enjoyed with your friend.
5. One day your teacher enters the classroom, places a bag on the desk, and leaves the room.
Suddenly the bag begins to move. Write a story about what happens next.
6. Think about a special holiday celebration you have participated in. Write a story about this
holiday celebration.
7. One day you are reading a book. One of the characters jumps out of the book. Write a story
about what happens next.
8. Imagine you play your favorite team sport and that your team wins the championship game.
Write a story about winning the championship with your team.
9. Think about a field trip you went on with your class. Tell about what happened on your field
trip.
10. Imagine you and a friend have discovered a time machine. You can program it to take you
to any time in the past or future. Write a story telling what happens when you travel through
time.
Fifth Grade
1. Should all Durham Public Schools be placed on a year-round calendar?
2. Tell about your favorite place to be by yourself.
3. Should children be required to have a set bedtime each night?
4. Tell some ways in which students can become involved in helping others.
5. If you could have any kind of party, what kind would it be? Why?
6. Tell how you show your parents you are a responsible person.
7. Should students be required to wear uniforms to school?
8. Tell how you can assist other students in our school to become successful.
9. How will goal setting and data analysis benefit you in future grades?
10. Should parents restrict the amount of TV their child watches?
11. Tell what kind of family vacation you would plan, if you could for the summer. Why?