writing prompts for 4th grade narrative

55 Narrative Writing Prompts for Upper Elementary

Teaching narrative writing and need some fun writing prompts to get your students thinking? I have found that the more fun you make the narrative writing prompts, the more students will write. Here is a list of 55 narrative writing prompts you will want to use in your classroom. Some are serious and others are hilarious. Take a look at what the list has to offer and feel free to change them up any way you would like.

In this blog post I share 5 different categories of narrative writing prompts, each with 11 prompts. That means when you download it you will have FIFTY-FIVE writing prompts to use all year long. Fill out the form below to have all 55 sent to you in an easy, printable list that will help simplify your lesson planning!

Family Narrative Writing Prompts

All students have had experiences with their families and it’s fun to write about them. Invite students to share their family stories with the class using these thought-invoking narrative writing prompts.

• Tell a story about the most recent trip you took with your family.
• What is something your family likes to do in the fall (spring, summer, winter)?
• Write about your family’s favorite movie to watch. What is the experience like (popcorn, songs, blankets, etc)
• Think about 5 things in your life that are special and write about them. Tell us about your dog, your mom, your uncle, or anything else you can think of.
• Suppose there is an extra space at the table for dinner one night. Who would you invite to join your family for dinner and what would the evening look like?
• Think back on a gift you gave to a family member. Why was it so special to give to them and what was their reaction?
• Pretend you have to describe your family to someone who has never met them before. Write about your family members and their personalities.
• Consider a challenge or tough time your family had to go through. How did your family deal with this challenge and overcome it?
• If you are able, interview one of the oldest members of your family. Ask them what their life was like as a child and about their memories.
• Does your family have an unusual tradition? Tell us about it!
• You can only keep one memory about your family, which memory do you choose. Write about that memory.

Personal Experiences Narrative Writing Prompts

Narratives are the perfect time to write about personal experiences we go through in life. Use these 11 narrative writing prompts about our personal life to get students thinking.

• Explain a moment when you felt embarrassed.
• Talk about a time you were overjoyed.
• What is something that makes you feel sad and how do you make yourself feel better?
• Have you ever helped a friend when they couldn’t do something? Tell us about it.
• Write about a time you were bored and found something to entertain yourself.
• Tell us about a day when you were in a bad mood. What happened?
• Write about a time you were proud of yourself. What did you do?
• Have you ever felt your heart racing? What made your heart race and what did you do?
• Were you ever in a situation where you knew you could get in trouble? What did you do?
• Tell a story about something unusual that happened to you.
• Write about a time you lost something important. What was it and how did you react?

Silly Narrative Writing Prompts

Kids love writing about silly things. These narrative writing prompts are a great way to let them have fun as they get creative with their writing.

• Take a look at your shoe, and tell a story of where it’s been.
• Write a story about what it would be like if you work up one morning with scales on your body.
• You woke up this morning in your pet’s body! What does your day look like?
• There’s a knock on the door. When you open the door, you see a giraffe! What do you do?
• Write a silly story about yourself that uses the words: elephant, watermelon, jet, and computer.
• Finish this story: The explorers set out on their quest to find…
• A friend on the bus gave you a bottle of magical glitter. You and your friend sprinkle it on yourselves. What happens next?
• Imagine you have an amazing sense of smell. What would you use it for? What will you smell?
• You’re inventing a new sandwich. What do you put on the sandwich and how does it taste?
• This morning you woke up and you are 20 feet tall! What will you do all day?
• A spaceship lands on your school’s playground. Write about what happens next.

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55 Narrative Writing Prompt Ideas!

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Fictional Narrative Writing Prompts

Sometimes, personal narratives that come from a place of fiction are easier to write about because they aren’t so personal. These narrative writing prompts let students step out of their reality for a moment.

• You are a superhero. What are your powers and how did you get them?
• Imagine a world without televisions, music, digital games, or computers. What would you do for fun?
• Tell a story about a day where everything that could possibly go wrong, does.
• Time travel is real! Would you visit the past or future and why? What would you do?
• Imagine you are a new character in your favorite book. Who are you and what adventures do you go on?
• You’re playing in the driveway when a bus drives by. A neatly wrapped package drops out, what do you do? If you open the package, what is inside?
• One day in class, a skunk climbs through the window. Write about what happens next.
• You wake up one day and realize you can talk to animals. Write a story about the animals you would have discussions with and what might be said.
• Imagine you are the teacher for the day. Write about the changes you would make and what a day in the classroom would look like.
• You and your friends wander into an abandoned house covered in cobwebs. What do you find?
• Your classroom plant has grown a really strange fruit. What is it and what can it do?

Dreams and Wishes Narrative Writing Prompts

It’s always encouraging to write about our dreams and wishes in life. These narrative writing prompts let kids reflect as they write.

• Tell a story about your ideal place to live. Where would it be and what would it look like?
• If you could do anything you wanted as a job, what would you choose?
• Every day of the year is the same holiday, which day do you choose and why?
• You are gifted $1000, what are you going to use it for?
• Pretend you have a personal genie who can grant you wishes. What three wishes would you make and why?
• When you get older, what do you hope to accomplish?
• Write about a dream you remember having recently. Do you wish what happened in the dream would come true?
• If you could make one wish come true for a friend, what would it be?
• You have always wanted to go on a game show. Which game show would you go on and did you win?
• Describe something you are good at or hope to be good at one day.
• Write about your dreams for the world in the future? What do you hope changes?

Narrative writing comes easily to some students, but takes time for others. Hopefully using these fun narrative writing prompts will encourage your students to write about their life experiences as well as some fictional topics. Use these 55 topics to really get them thinking.

Grab them below!

Try my  Weekly Writing Prompts  as well! They are perfect for the classroom and come in print and digital downloads. You can purchase them directly on this site .

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4th Grade Writing Prompts

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Students in fourth grade need varied practice developing their writing skills. According to the Common Core State Standards Initiative , fourth-grade writing should include opinion pieces, informative or explanatory texts, and narratives about real or imagined experiences. Additionally, a fourth-grade writing curriculum should include short research projects. 

These writing prompts offer diverse forms of inspiration for every student.

Opinion Essay Writing Prompts

In an opinion essay , students must state their opinion and back it up with facts and reasons . Ideas should be organized logically and supported by details.

• Best Friends Forever. Write an essay explaining what makes your best friend the best best friend. 
• Awesomeness.  Describe the most awesome thing about being in fourth grade.
• New Worlds. Would you rather help start a colony on a new planet or a city under the ocean? Why?
• School Food. Name one thing you would like to change about your school’s menu and explain why.
• Someday. If you could be a race car driver, an astronaut, or president of a country, which would you choose and why?
• Cityscapes . If you had a friend visit from another state, what is the one place in your city you would insist he or she had to see? What makes this place so special?
• Shipwrecked. You find yourself stranded on a deserted island with only three items in your backpack. What would you want those items to be and why?
• Flat Earth. Some people still believe that the Earth is flat . Do you agree or disagree? Include supporting facts.
• Extra! Extra! Name one class, sport, or club you wish your school offered and explain why it should be available.
• Seasons. Which season is your favorite and why?
• One-star . What is the worst book you have ever read and what made it so terrible?
• Fandom. Who is your favorite TV, movie, or music star? What makes him or her the best?
• Progress.  Identify a way in which you would like to improve as a student this school year. Explain why you would like to get better and list some steps you can take to make it happen.

Informative Essay Writing Prompts

When writing an informative or explanatory essay, students should introduce the topic clearly, then develop the topic with facts and details. When explaining a process, students should outline the steps in a logical order.

• Bullied. Explain how you would handle being bullied and the steps you would take to stop a bully.
• Mad Skills. Describe an unusual talent, hobby, or skill that you possess.
• Cuisine. Describe a food that is unique to your family or area of the world to someone who has never tasted it.
• Role Model. Think of a person who has made an impact on your life and describe the role they’ve played.
• Pay It Forward. What is one thing you would like to do—either now or in the future—to make the world a better place?
• Packing. Explain the most effective way to pack for a trip to ensure that you have everything you need.
• Wild Kingdom. Of all the animals wild or domesticated, write about your favorite. Include interesting facts about this animal in your essay.
• Gaming. Explain how to play your favorite video or board game to someone who has never played it before.
• Problematic. Describe a problem you’re facing and three ways you could possibly solve it.
• Extreme Weather. Choose an extreme weather condition or a natural disaster such as a tornado or a volcanic eruption. Explain its causes and effects.
• Sweet Treats. Explain the process of making your favorite dessert.
• Learning Styles. Think of the way you prefer to learn, such as by reading, listening, or doing. Explain why you think you learn best that way.
• Edison. Thomas Edison said that he didn’t make mistakes, he just learned 10,000 ways not to make a light bulb. Describe a mistake you made and the lesson you learned from it.

Narrative Essay Writing Prompts

When writing narrative essays about real or imagined experiences, students should use descriptive details and logical sequence. They can use dialogue and sensory details to develop their essay .

• Microscopic Details. Imagine being microscopic. Describe an adventurous trip through your body.
• Alone. You find yourself locked in your favorite store alone overnight. Where are you and what do you do?
• Homeless. A friendly stray dog follows you home from school. What happens next?
• Time Travel. Imagine you could travel back in time to when your mom or dad was your age. Write an essay about your relationship with your fourth-grade parent.
• Mismatched. Write a story about someone your age. The story must include a giraffe, a mouse, a flying carpet, and a large birdcage.
• Pet Peeve.  Recount a moment when something really got on your nerves. Describe the experience and why it irritated you so much.
• Surprise! Think of a time your teacher surprised your class. Describe what happened and how the class reacted.
• Special Moments. Think of a specific day or event that you will always remember. What made it so special?
• Travel Through History. Imagine you could travel back in time to live through one event from history . Describe the event and write about your experience.
• The Most Terrible Day. Write an essay about a day when everything went wrong. How did the day start and end, describe the experience.
• Road Trip. Write about a favorite family vacation or road trip. Where did you go? What made it special?
• Funny Pet Tricks.  Can your pet do a funny or unusual trick? Describe it.
• President. If you could be president for a day (or the principal of your school), what would you do?

Research Project Essay Writing Prompts

Fourth-grade students should also complete short research projects using books, magazines, and online sources . Students should take notes and provide a list of the sources they used in their research.

• New Puppy. You want a new puppy. Do some research to determine the best breed for your family and write about it.
• Battles . Research and write about what you consider the most significant or famous battle in history.
• Famous People. Choose a famous person from history or science and write about their lives and contributions.
• Animal Kingdom. Select an animal to research. Include facts about its behavior, habitat, and diet.
• Countries. Choose a country. Investigate its culture and holidays, and find out what life there is like for kids your age.
• States. Pick a state you’ve never visited. Learn three to five unique facts about the state to include in your essay.
• Inventions. What do you think is the greatest or most useful invention of all time? Find out who invented it and how and why it was invented.
• Native Americans. Choose a Native American tribe. Learn about where they lived, their culture, and their use of natural resources in their area.
• Endangered Species. Research and write about an animal that is endangered. Include facts about why it is endangered and any changes that people can make to help increase its population.
• Fine Arts. Learn more about an artist or composer. Include facts about their life and death and most well-known works.
• Authors. Research an author whose books you enjoy. Include facts about what inspired him or her to start writing.
• Dig Deeper.  Research something you’ve studied in history, science, or literature but would like to know more about.
• State Standouts. Choose a famous person from your state. Learn about his or her life and contributions.
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Elementary Assessments

Narrative Writing Prompts for 4th Grade: 51 Great Ideas

Here you’ll find a quality collection of delightful narrative writing prompts for 4th grade.

Not only do these narrative prompts reduce writer’s block, they encourage learners to improve writing skills, self-reflect, and experiment with new vocabulary.

That’s why they make a great addition to your collection of writing prompts.

Using these high-interest narrative writing prompts for 4th grade, fourth graders will enjoy sharing their personal experiences.

So include a few of these narrative writing prompts for 4th grade into your lesson plans this week.

Narrative Writing Prompts for 4th Grade

1. Share an important lesson you have learned this school year.

2. Retell the events of a time when you had conflict with someone close to you. What caused it, and how was it resolved?

3. Share key events from a memory when you were very nervous. What was the end result?

4. Discuss one big success you’ve had in your life. Describe what it is, and tell what steps you took in order to be successful.

5. Write about a memory that you will absolutely never forget.

6. Tell about a moment when you had to use another language in order to communicate with someone.

7. Describe the types of fiction and non-fiction books that you like to read.

8. Write a short autobiography about yourself. Along with the usual information such as name, birthday, family life, etc., share your talents, weaknesses, hobbies, and likes/dislikes.

9. Describe your ideal place to live.

10. Share details about the best birthday present you’ve ever received plus describe how receiving it made you feel.

11. Write about a time when you were embarrassed.

12. What’s the most frightening dream you’ve ever had? Describe what happened.

13. Describe what types of activities help you to learn best.

14. Write about the best Christmas morning ever.

15. How do you entertain yourself in the absence of cell phones, tablets, or computers?

16. Write about a time when you helped someone complete a task.

17. Describe a time when you participated in the school’s science fair.

18. Share a story about a time that you assisted your parents in preparing dinner.

19. Tell what you like most and least about responding to narrative writing prompts for 4th grade students.

20. Suppose you invented a time machine. Write a story about the adventures you have.

21. How do you spend Sundays?

22. Draft a story about yourself as the hero.

23. Describe how you and your family would entertain yourselves if there was no TV, internet, cell phones, or other technological devices?

24. Tell about the most ideal place to live.

25. Write about the most bizarre dream you’ve ever had. What do you think it means?

26. Share about a school day when just about everything that could go wrong did.

27. If you would travel to the future or past, which year would you travel to and why?

28. Retell a fun Field Day event memory.

29. If you were a dog or cat, how would your life be different and the same compared to your life as a human?

30. Describe what your life will be like 10 years from now.

31. Write about a time that you lost a tooth.

32. Write about a time you were afraid of something but overcame the fear.

33. Write about a time when you gave a class presentation.

34. What types of things come easy for you but hard for many others? Why do you think this is so?

35. Share a timeline of your life.

36. Tell about a time when you felt disappointed in yourself.

37. Share a memory participating in a science fair.

38. Summarize a time that you were part of a contest.

39. When has something been very hard four you but you persevered?

40. Write about a fun field trip memory.

41. Write about a cute memory with your pet.

42. What’s your favorite memory from last school year?

43. What was it like learning how to ride a bike?

44. Describe a frustrating vacation memory.

45. If you were to describe yourself as a color, what would it be and why?

46. If you had three wishes, what would you wish and why?

47. Write about your experience being a new student.

48. Share a funny memory with your family.

49. What things frustrate you and why?

50. Describe a time that you stood up for yourself.

51. Write about a time when you did a fun arts project.

Final Thoughts: Narrative Writing Prompts for 4th Grade

Now you have a ready-supply of narrative writing prompts for 4th grade to use during writer’s workshop or for other writing activities.

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100 Fun Writing Prompts for 4th Grade: Journal Prompts

• Journal Writing Prompts
• Descriptive Writing Prompts 
• Fiction Writing Prompts 
• Opinion Writing Prompts
• Funny Writing Prompts 
• Informative Essay Writing Prompts
• Animal Writing Prompts 
• Poetry Writing Prompts 
• Narrative Essay Writing
• Emotion Writing Prompts 

Writing help stimulates and organize thoughts in children. They make them better off expressing whatever they have in their mind and feel a little less burdensome.

But, how do we inspire young children to write?

Writing Prompts are a perfect genesis for developing writing habits in kids. They brew creativity, vocabulary, a sense of expression and so much more in them.

Without much ado, let’s get straight to the list of 4th grade writing prompts.

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Here are more learning resources for your 4th grader to aid to their learning!

100 Fun Writing Prompts for 4th Grade

10 Journal Writing Prompts

It is important to develop self-expression in kids, which can be made possible through regular journaling. For kids as young as 4th graders, journalling can boost the flow of ideas and spark reflective communication in them. Refer to the list of 4th grade journal prompts and get your students on a writing fling. 

1. What is a secret dream of yours? What can you do now to reach it later in your life?

2. What kind of a friend do you think you are? List three things where you can improve and become a better friend.

3. What is one thing that your teacher does that you don’t like? How would you like her to do that instead?

4. What is your favorite thing about being in the class?

5. Recount the best picnic you had with friends. Where did you go? What part did you enjoy the most?

6. Make a list of 30 things that you love about your life.

7. Who is your inspiration and why?

8. If you are allowed to make a single wish, what would it be?

9. Write about your favorite hobbies

10. Write about the best gift you have received. What made you love it so much?

10 Descriptive Writing Prompts 

Somewhat similar to 4th-grade journal writing prompts, Descriptive prompts can be a great tap into creativity. When you want to keep your students busy with writing in a way that builds a love of details in them, here are the writing topics for 4th graders that you shouldn’t miss.

1. Write about 3 places that would like to travel to. Why and with whom?

2. Imagine your new classmate starts school today. What would you do to welcome them?

3. Describe a mistake you made and what you learned from it.

4. Your uncle overseas wants to know about your city. Write a letter to him describing your city- the famous monuments, eateries, parks, and more.

5. If you get to become a teacher for a day, which subjects will you teach and why?

6. Who inspires you in the family, and why?

7. Share your experience about a time when something unexpected happened.

8. Describe your favorite classmate. What is one more thing(s) that you would want to learn from him/her?

9. What is your favorite outfit? Why and where would you wear it?

10. You have found a lucky object. Share the little details about it.

10 Fiction Writing Prompts 

What is life without fantasy and fiction? Precisely, nothing. Fiction is a powerful tool to pen down the flow of ideas without having to follow a particular format. It not only fuels creativity but improves writing skills and concentration. So, if you are planning to assay your student’s imaginative power, use these writing prompts for 4th grade.

1. Last night, you traveled into space. What did you see?

2. Put yourselves in the shoes of a mad scientist who just discovered a fruit. How does it look it? Narrate its journey from the innovative lab to the market.

3. In your favorite fairy tale, a prince decides to be a villain instead of a hero. Write the chain of events that unfold.

4. One day, you wake up to see that your elder brother has been turned into a horse by an evil witch. Build a story around the scenario.

5. On a lonely stormy night…Continue the story.

6. You have acquired a superpower to turn invisible whenever you like. Narrate the events of how and where you would use this superpower.

7. You were transported into the last story you read. Where are you? How would the story change with your presence?

8. Imagine you got a chance to climb up the ladder to the clouds. Write what you see there.

9. You woke up to find out that you have grown wings. How would your life change?

10. “Do not be angry” I told myself. But, as I looked down… Complete a story.

10 Opinion Writing Prompts

Supporting critical thinking and vision, Opinion writing prompts can be instrumental in shaping the thought process in young minds. More often than not, even the senior students are not aware of how many strong opinions they hold. Therefore, it becomes crucial to let kids practice how to present their arguments in their development years. Here’s a list of opinion writing prompts for 4th grade to kickstart their writing journey.

1. Should recess time be longer in schools? Why, or why not?

2. Should 4th graders receive pocket money from their parents? Why, or why not?

3. Share the best pizza eatery in your town. Why do you think it’s the best?

4. With the annual function coming up, your school wants to invite a famous personality to deliver an inspirational speech or presentation. Who do you think will be the best fit?

5. Would you rather be a class topper, a fine artist, or an excellent sportsperson?

6. Do you think smoking should be banned? Why, or why not?

7. Share your opinion on students bringing a cell phone to school.

8. Should everyone exercise every day? Share your opinion.

9. If you were to plan the school lunch menu, what will you include?

10. Is homework a good practice for learning? What do you think?

10 Funny Writing Prompts 

Do you see your kids getting bored of writing on general topics? Don’t worry, refer to our list of fun writing prompts for 4th grade! Funny Writing Prompts are a great icebreaker to stir up the imagination and interest in students. Moreover, teachers can let students read aloud their fun stories in class. Get ready for a giggle-packed writing period with writing prompts for 4th grade!

1. Your homework was eaten by a dog. Write a story to convince your teacher.

2. Write a story using 5 words: funny, bird, sleep, guitar and pajamas.

3. Imagine you woke up and saw a giant sleeping next to you. Narrate the story.

4. Create a story where chocolate cake is the main character.

5. The rabbit jumped on the moon and the dish ran away with the spoon. Build a humorous story.

6. Imagine your best friend cannot stop sneezing and farting throughout the day. What do you think the day would look like to him?

7. Imagine someone cast a spell on your mother. She could talk nothing but only meow. How would your life change? What can you do to break the spell?

8. Everyone around you turns into a robot. How would you spend your day?

9. What would happen if you ate a cookie and became a dwarf? Narrate the scenario.

10. I never thought my cat would laugh… Continue the story.

10 Informative Essay Writing Prompts

The essence of Informative Writing prompts lies in how well students can convey particulars about an object, a personality, or an event to the readers. As much as they improve their writing skills, the prompts compel the young minds to think critically, and fetch cues from their memory and learning.

Check out the writing ideas for 4th grade kids on the list to make your work a little easier!

1. Write the importance of water in our lives. How can we save water?

2. What are traditions? Which one do you like the most and hate the most in your family?

3. Imagine you are a city tour guide. What are the best places to visit in your city?

4. What is the most interesting book you have ever read? Write a book review.

5. Write a ‘how to play’ guide for your favorite game.

6. Recollect the times you were in quarantine. Write an interesting story about how you overcame tough times.

7. How should we take care of our younger siblings?

8. You are at a farm with your family. Write all that you see around you.

9. Imagine you just experienced an earthquake. What was the first thing you did? Narrate the details.

10. You have become a store manager for a day. Write about all the responsibilities and tasks that you undertook throughout the day.

10 Animal Writing Prompts 

We all agree that animals fit naturally into our stories. That’s because humans share an unbreakable bond with animals. So, why not have a writing session that features animals? This will surely infuse some excitement and divergent thinking in the classroom . Here’s some animal creative writing prompt for 4th graders!

1. Write some interesting facts that you know about animals.

2. How would it be if you woke up doing ‘meow meow’ one morning? Write a story.

3. Imagine dinosaurs taking over the world. What do they make humans do?

4. What if you are in a forest and a lion starts talking to you? What would the conversation be like?

5. If you were allowed to pet 5 animals, which one will you choose and why?

6. ‘A camel was walking in the desert but suddenly…’ Construct an interesting story.

7. Write a story about the friendship of a pigeon and squirrel living on the same tree.

8. Imagine you are swimming in the Indian Ocean and a shark arrives. What will you do?

9. Is the zoo a good place for animals? Why, or why not?

10. If you could have a superpower to turn into any animal, which animal would you become to save a girl who’s been kidnapped? Why?

10 Poetry Writing Prompts 

In a world where classic literature has been lost under social media slang, poetry is still a breath of fresh air. Moreover, poems for kids can be really helpful in improving creative writing skills. They not only learn the real rules of literature and grammar but find joy in expressing themselves. Jump into the poetic world with these 4th grade writing prompts.

1. Write poetry about your first day in 4th grade.

2. Write a haiku about your favorite ice cream.

3. ‘Silvery sweet sound’… Continue the poem.

4. ‘There was once a wise man who told me’. Write a limerick using this line.

5. ‘I met a funny little man…’ Write an interesting poem.

6. Write poetry about Mother Earth.

7. ‘When the winter snow begins to fade…’ Continue the poem.

8. ‘The story is strange, as you will see, The weirdest thing ever happened to me.’’ Write a poem to describe the weirdest scenario you have been in.

9. ‘I woke up one morning with a mermaid tale’. Write a poem.

10. ‘Snow slips down swiftly’. Write a haiku.

10 Narrative Essay Writing

One of the widely practiced 4th grade writing prompts, Narrative writing is all about expressions and stories. It encompasses the beginning, middle, and end of a narrative. Whether it’s a personal incident or a fact or a fiction, it’s sure to spark a joy of creativity in young ones. Here are some ideas that you can use as 4th grade narrative writing prompts.

1. Suppose you become a school principal for a day. Write about what changes you will make in the school.

2. You have to describe your family members to someone who has never met them before. How will you do it?

3. If you had a chance to keep an extra chair at the dining table tonight, whom would you invite and why?

4. What is your favorite memory from 3rd grade? Share details about it.

5. What is one thing that makes you feel sad? How do you overcome this sadness?

6. Write about your favorite holiday meal.

7. When did you score poorly on a test? What did your parents say?

8. Write about your experience at a summer camp. Would you go this year again?

9. If given a chance to visit another planet, where would you go and why?

10. This year my goals are… Write about what all you want to achieve by the end of the year.

10 Emotion Writing Prompts 

Just as adults need an outlet to express their bubbling emotions, so do kids! Journalling is a powerful tool, facilitating reflection and critical thought. While journalling might be a difficult step for most kids, writing prompts can support their creative outlet. It can aid them in expanding their own ideas, articulating their feelings, and boosting their confidence. Look at some interesting fourth grade journal prompts that kids will love!

1. Write a letter to your 15-year-old self.

2. What are 10 things you and your best friend are good at?

3. Describe your favorite time of the year. What activities do you do during this time? Who do you spend it with?

4. Imagine you found a genie who promises to grant you 3 wishes. What wishes would you make?

5. Write about a time you felt a strong emotion- be it happiness, sadness, anger, etc. What made you feel that way? What did you do to control it?

6. Suppose it is your mother’s birthday next week. How can you make it memorable for her? What planning will you do?

7. Do you know about your strengths and weaknesses? Write 5 each.

8. You have to thank 10 people today. Who will be on your list? How will you be thankful to them?

9. When someone compliments you, how do you respond to it?

10. Write about all the times you have felt happy in the last week.

12 Ways To Help 4th Graders With Writing

When it comes to giving a creative push to 4th graders, there can be nothing better than writing prompts. Since young students face more hurdles in following a structural approach to writing, prompts can help kids relieve that pressure. Consequently, they can enjoy flexibility in writing, allowing more room for creativity and imagination.

While kids may benefit immensely from writing prompts, it cannot be made possible without a mentor’s encouragement and support. Here are some of the creative ideas around 4th grade writing prompts that you can explore with kids:

• Encourage recollecting past experiences to stir up the writing process
• Give them friendly instructions
• Talk through building imaginary scenarios
• Respond actively to their communication and prompts
• Curating problem prompts and discussing the probable solutions
• Sharing classic tales or retelling them to fit the current scenario
• Jotting down facts to build creative prompts
• Emphasizing on development of opinionated argument
• Inspiring to write in a variety of styles
• Providing comprehensive support to build the writer’s confidence
• Highlighting authentic grammar rules and spelling
• Use of digital tools to create prompts

The above list is not exhaustive, and there’s always enough room for creativity.

To ease things for you, here are three steps you can consider while using writing prompts:

Step #1: Introduce the statement or topic to the students to steer the creative writing ship

Step #2: Encourage students to make a personal connection with the prompt given, and brainstorm the key points with them

Step #3: Convey the purpose of the writing assignment- an essay, a paragraph, or any other form of writing. Instruct the students using sufficient information to better equip them with writing cues.

Summing Up…

Young kids need support to build writing skills as much as adults do. Writing prompts can be a perfect anchor to get set kids on a writing spree. We hope the above 4th grade writing prompts can serve the enjoyment and purpose of your class! Good Luck!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How can i improve my child’s writing skills using elementary prompts.

It is imperative to build focus in kids as young as 4th graders. Unfocused writing can become troublesome for them in the future. To improve focus, emphasize using basic prompts that encompass their favorite things- toy, place, picnic memory, cup, etc. Make a list of all that they like and ask them to write small details about them. Let them practice these as much as they want. This way, sticking to a single topic, will surely help them stay clear and focused until they start with longer essays.

How do I keep a tab on my child’s progress in writing?

Writing prompts are in themselves a great tool to help teachers and parents measure the progress of the kid. The best way to see whether the kid has improved or not is to let them practice with the elementary prompts daily. You must skim through them, and politely pinpoint the grammatical or punctuation errors. 

However, do not be too harsh on them while communicating their mistakes to them. Remember, all good things take time! Moreover, do not compare your child’s progress to any other child. All children have different capacities and speeds to grasp things. Target steady growth!

How can I make writing prompts a fun activity for the class?

There are endless possibilities to creatively support the use of 4th grade journal prompts. You can divide the students into small groups and pin a challenge of writing prompts between them. Furthermore, teachers can make use of attractive resources like flashcards, worksheets, etc. to add a spark of enthusiasm and fun to the class. 

Since little appreciation and kind words go a long way, you can keep exciting rewards for the kids who perform exceptionally. There’s so much that you can do to unleash the creative side of your 4th graders.

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57 Narrative Writing Prompts For 4th Grade

Journaling is an important part of self-exploration and deep thinking. Giving students a list of prompts to choose from allows them to choose which parts of themselves to explore, and helps keep their writing headed in a certain direction.

Below, you’ll find a list of narrative writing prompts to inspire your students to reflect on their thoughts and feelings.

Using These Prompts

Writing prompts are great because they give struggling writers a sense of direction, but they also help more skilled writers explore thoughts and feelings that they might not have thought of before.

Here are a few ways you can use these prompts in your classroom:

• Challenge students to pick one or two prompts a day for an entire week.
• Create a spinner using a cut-out circle and a paper clip, and have students spin to see which prompt they’re going to use.
• Keep these prompts nearby for students to use when they have spare quiet time in class.
• If you sense a student struggling emotionally, recommend using one of these prompts to help them reflect on these feelings.

The Writing Prompts

• Describe your ideal field trip.
• Write about a special memory that you will never forget.
• Describe your style. Do your parents choose how you dress or do you choose your own clothes?
• You wake up this morning with wings. Describe what happens next.
• What kinds of books do you prefer to read? List some examples.
• Write about a conflict you had with a friend. How did you resolve the situation?
• Rewrite your favorite children’s story, but make the main character a superhero.
• Describe the most frightening dream you’ve ever had.
• How do you entertain yourself when you don’t have access to screens and devices?
• Write about your favorite family tradition.
• There’s a classroom in your school that is always locked with its lights off. One day, you walk by and the door is ajar. What happens next?
• Write about a role model you have, and describe how they’ve affected your life.
• Describe the ideal snow day.
• Have you ever lost something important? What happened next?
• What is the most important lesson you’ve learned this year?
• Think of a time when you were very irritated. Explain why, and then explain how you resolved it.
• What is the best part of the school day? Why?
• What would you do if you were the principal for the day?
• Write a story about someone who wakes up and realizes they’re microscopic.
• Why is it important that people help others?
• Describe something you’ve learned recently. Was it easy or difficult to learn?
• Write a story from the point of view of someone meeting you for the first time.
• Are you good at keeping secrets? Explain.
• Describe a time when you stood up for yourself.
• Describe a time when you stood up for someone else.
• What is your favorite thing about your best friend?
• Explain your favorite board or card game to someone who has never played it before.
• Write your plans for the perfect weekend.
• A harmless but wild animal wanders into your classroom. How does your class react? What happens next?
• You wake up and realize that you can speak to your pet. What do you talk about?
• Describe a time when you participated in a contest.
• Write about the perfect summer day.
• Tell a story about two people who switch jobs for a day.
• Write about something that makes you laugh.
• Why is patience important? Do you consider yourself a patient person?
• Do you think boys and girls are actually different from each other? Explain.
• Do you enjoy writing? What is your favorite thing to write about?
• Write the story of how you met your best friend.
• Describe what you hope your life is like 10 years from now.
• Describe what you hope your life is like 20 years from now.
• Are you an introvert or an extrovert? Explain.
• The plant on your teacher’s desk suddenly sprouts a strange fruit. What is it? What happens next?
• Do you have a funny or interesting story about losing a tooth? Write about it.
• Write about a time when you shared a special meal with your family.
• What would you do if you woke up tomorrow in your favorite video game?
• If you were to describe your best friend as a color, what color would they be? Why?
• What is your favorite food? Why do you like it?
• What is something that you worry about at night?
• Make a list of ten things you love about yourself.
• Write a story from the point of view of your shoes.
• Write about a time when you gave in to peer pressure.
• Describe the last time you got hurt. What happened?
• Tell a story about a time when you got caught doing something you weren’t supposed to.
• Which person in your family are you most similar to? How are you alike? How are you different?
• Describe a time when you felt embarrassed.
• Invent a new sandwich. Write about how to make it, and try to convince others to try it.

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101 Exciting 4th Grade Writing Prompts for 2023 (Free Printable!)

Use them for journal writing, essay topics, and more!

Fourth grade is a time for students to continue to hone their writing chops as they put to use the skills they’ve learned and gain confidence in their abilities. We’ve collected this list of fourth grade writing prompts—including opinion, persuasive, informational, and narrative—to spur your students’ imaginations and get them writing!

You can get 50 of these fourth grade writing prompts in a free PowerPoint slideshow bundle! They make it easy to share these writing ideas with your students.  Grab your free PowerPoint bundle by submitting your email here .

• Persuasive and Opinion Writing Prompts
• Descriptive and Expository Writing Prompts
• Narrative and Personal Writing Prompts
• Creative Writing Prompts
• Current Events Writing Prompts

Persuasive and Opinion 4th Grade Writing Prompts

Would you rather be good at sports or good in school? Why?

Would you rather have lots of money or lots of friends? Why?

What is your favorite subject in school? Why?

Are fourth graders ready to stay home alone? Why or why not?

Name two characters from different books that you think might be good friends. Why?

Which is more important for success, skill or luck?

Should kids be paid an allowance to do chores around the house? Why or why not?

Why are classroom rules important?

If you had a time machine, what era of history would you visit?

Why is math important?

Why is science important?

Should fourth graders have cell phones? Why or why not?

If you could open a store, what type of store would it be and why?

Which would you rather read: a scary story that gives you goosebumps or a funny story that cracks you up? Why?

What is the hardest thing about being a fourth grader?

If I were the ruler of the world, the first law I would pass would be … because …

If you found a backpack filled with dollar bills, what would you do?

Is it ever OK to tell secrets? Why or why not?

What animal makes the best pet? Why?

Is it better to spend an hour a day reading or an hour a day exercising? Why?

Descriptive and Expository 4th Grade Writing Prompts

If you had a YouTube channel, what would you talk about?

What’s the best book you’ve read recently? What was it all about?

If you won a million dollars, how would you spend the money?

Describe what you think of as perfect weather.

Describe how to build a birdhouse step by step.

Write five rules for staying organized.

What is the worst book you ever read?

Describe the physical appearance of someone in your family in detail.

Imagine you are in a hot-air balloon above your house. Describe everything you can see.

Describe how to play your favorite board game.

There’s an old saying: “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.” What do you think this saying means?

Describe your perfect day.

One of your little cousins is very nervous about starting kindergarten. What would you tell them to make them feel better?

Imagine you are an adult and describe your dream job.

Explain your morning routine in detail, from waking up to arriving at school.

Describe the perfect meal, including what you’d eat and where you’d dine.

Share what you do on a typical non-school day.

Explain the right way to do one of your household chores, like making your bed or cleaning your room.

Describe your favorite room at home in detail.

How do you prepare for a big test? Describe the ways you study or practice.

Narrative and Personal 4th Grade Writing Prompts

Share one of the stories your family has told you about when you were a baby.

What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you?

Write about an adult you look up to.

What’s the nicest thing anybody has ever done for you?

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Write about a time you felt like quitting but didn’t. How did you keep yourself going?

Do you like nonfiction books or fiction books better? Why?

What makes your family unique?

What would you say is your greatest strength? Greatest weakness?

Are you a patient person? Why or why not?

What is something you’ve never done that you would like to try?

What is the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you?

Write about a time you tried something new and how you felt before, during, and after.

What is your earliest memory?

What’s your favorite holiday? What makes it so special?

Write about a time when you felt proud of yourself.

Tell the story of your favorite field trip of all time.

If you could relive any day in your life, what would it be? Would you want it to be the same or different?

What holiday is important to your family? Describe how you celebrate it together.

What’s the best gift you’ve ever gotten? How did it make you feel?

Creative 4th Grade Writing Prompts

If you met an alien, what three questions would you ask them?

Pretend you drank a magic potion that made you as tiny as an ant. Where would you go and what would you do?

Pretend you ate a magic pill that made you as tall as a redwood tree. Where would you go and what would you do?

Write a story that includes these five words: keys, spaghetti, uncle, jellyfish, spaceship.

What would the world be like if dinosaurs still existed?

If you could invent something new the world really needs, what would it be? How would it work?

Retell a classic story, making the villain the hero instead.

Imagine that one day you woke up and found everyone in the world could no longer talk. What would happen next?

Write a new chapter of your favorite book, with yourself as a new character.

Imagine you woke up one morning with a superpower, like invisibility or the ability to fly. Describe your experiences learning how to use that power.

Use these words to start a story: “When I opened the box that came in the mail, I never expected to find …”

Describe a world where it rains fruit juice and snows M&Ms.

Come up with the most ridiculous excuse possible for why you are unable to turn in your homework today.

Describe a world where all the adults are robots, but kids are still human kids.

Imagine a conversation between yourself and a talking animal.

Describe the kind of creature you’d create if you were a mad scientist. Would it be scary and mean? Nice and friendly?

Invent a new kind of candy. Give it a name, and write a commercial jingle for it.

Write about a day where kids are in charge instead of grown-ups.

Imagine you’re lost in a haunted wood, and tell the story of your escape.

Tell a story that ends with these words: “… and that’s how we all learned to fly.”

Describe a night in the life of the tooth fairy.

Current Events 4th Grade Writing Prompts

If you made a time capsule for this year, what would you put in it?

Describe something that you saw in the news recently and how it made you feel.

Tell about an event that happened recently at your school or in your town.

What do you think is one of the world’s biggest problems right now, and how would you solve it?

Read a news story about something happening in another country and summarize it.

Write a news article about something important that happened to you this week.

Create a poem about something in the local news right now.

Write a letter to the editor about a current issue, explaining your opinion.

Find a “good news” story, and share why it makes you happy.

What living famous person do you most admire and why?

What do you think kids today can do about climate change and global warming?

Learn about an endangered animal, and describe what we can do to help it.

What does the word “racism” mean to you?

What is one thing you would do to make your school or town a better place?

Choose an upcoming sports event, and explain who you think will win.

Describe a current fashion trend or something that’s very popular in your school right now, and how you feel about it.

What can we do to help people with different opinions get along with one another better?

Interview a grown-up you know, and write a news article about them.

What do you think is the best new song right now? The worst? Why?

Describe an event that’s happening in the world right now that you don’t understand. What questions would you ask a grown-up about it?

How do you use writing prompts with your students? Come share your ideas and ask for advice in the We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook .

Also check out 57 awesome 4th grade books you’ll want to share with students ..

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60 Narrative Writing Prompts for Kids

2. Write to tell of a day when you were the teacher.  What did you do?

3. Write a story about trading places with your favorite TV, movie, or rock star.

4. One day a spaceship lands on the playground of your school . . .

5. Your shoe must have a story to tell.  Tell it.

6. Your class grew plants as a science project.  One day you looked at your plant and saw

something really strange had grown there.

7. Write a story about what it would be like if you woke up one morning with wings.

8. On your birthday, a strange-looking lady came to you door and handed you a wrapped present.  You rattled it.  It made a noise.  Write a story about this present.

9. Your teacher one day announced that your class was going on a wonderful field trip.  Write a story about this field trip.  In your story, you can have your class go anywhere you wish.

10. One day, as you were petting and talking to your friend’s dog, it answered back!  Write a story about this.

11. Write a story about yourself as a hero.  What did you do to become a hero?  Tell your story.

12. As you walked down the hallway at school, you heard some strange music coming from the custodian’s closet.  What was it?  Write a story about it.

13. Tell a story about children who live in a world where there is no such thing as television, computers, or electronic games.

14. A distant relative bequeathed you a strange ring.  As you put this ring on, you discover that it has strange powers.  What does it look like? What does it do?  Tell a story about this ring.

15. Tell a story about your ideal place to live.  What would it be like to live here?

16. The teacher comes into the room and places a bag on her desk then leaves.  The bag moves and wriggles.  Write a story about what is in the paper bag.

17. Everyone has a day in his or her life that was extra special or dreams about what he or she would do on a special day.  Write a story about a special day you have had or imagine you might have.

18. Every day you pass a door.  It’s always closed and locked.  One day, as you pass, you notice that the door is open.  You step inside.  Write a story about what was on the other side of that door.

19. Tell a story about what happened when you traveled on a wagon pulled by horses.

20. Tell a story about a day in which everything went wrong.

21. Imagine you could travel to the future and live there.  Think of what you think the future would be like.  How different would it be from today?  Now, write a story about living in the future.

22. Imagine you could go to any place you wanted for as long as you wanted any time you wanted.  What place would you visit?  Think about what you would do there.  Write a story about a visit to a really neat place.

23. Pretend that you lived in colonial times.  Think about what your life would be like, how it would be different living more than 200 years ago.  Now, write a story about a young person (or yourself) living in George Washington’s day.

24. Novels are fun to read because the action keeps you interested, and the characters almost become your friends.  Think of a book you really liked.  Imagine that you were a new character in this book {choose a book your class has read}. Write a story about what happened.

25. Imagine you woke up one morning and found that you had switched places with a dog or a cat.  Think what it would be like.  What would you do?  Write a story of your day as a dog or a cat.

26. What if you had a personal genie who would grant your every wish? What would your life be like?  Think of some of the details.  Write a story about having a personal genie.

27. Imagine you had a car that would take you anywhere you wanted to go for one day.  Think of where you went in that car and what you did. Write a story about that day.

28. Everyone has a favorite season of the year.  What is your favorite season?  What do you like to do?  Write a story about your favorite season.

29. Imagine one morning there’s a knock at your front door.  You open the door, and to your great surprise, you find an alien standing there. What do you do?  What does it look like?  Write

a story about your encounter with this alien.

30. On your way to school one morning you see a huge truck speeding down the road.  Suddenly, the back door of the truck opens and a large, mysterious box falls off the back of the truck.  It sits there in the road.  What is in the box?  What do you do?  Write a story about this mysterious box.

31. One spring day a skunk wanders into your classroom.  What are the results?  Write a story about the skunk that visited school.

32. Imagine you had a time machine that you could take only to the past. Where would you choose to go?  Think of what you would do there, what it would the like.  Write a story of your adventure in the past.

33. One day you are sitting under a large tree.  An acorn hits you on the head, and you look up.  There, on the branch above you sits a squirrel, laughing at you.  The squirrel then looks you square in the eye, begins to talk to you, and asks you to return its acorn.  What would you do?

What would happen if you encountered a talking squirrel?  Write a story about the experience.

34. Imagine a world where there was no money.  What would people do? What would life be like?  Write a story about living in a world without any money.

35. There are times when we all wish, even for just a moment, that we could be someone else for a day.  Who would you choose to be for that day?  What would you do?  Think of some details of your day.  Now write a story about what your day was like as that person.

36. In a recent disaster, there were some kids who did some heroic things.  Think what constitutes (makes) a hero.  Imagine yourself as one.  Now write a story in which you were a hero/heroine in a tough situation.

37. A little old lady gave you and a friend some magical glitter and told you to sprinkle it on your hair and something special would happen. What happened when you tried it?  Write a story about this mysterious magical glitter.

38. One day you and your friends walked up to an old, seemingly abandoned house.  You couldn’t see inside due to the dust and cobwebs on the windows.  You decide to see if the door is locked.  You try the knob, and it turns.  The door creeks open as if it has not opened in years . . .  What happens next?  What do you find?  What do you and your friend do?  Write a story about entering that old, seemingly abandoned house.

39. Love comes in all forms.  We can love our parents, a boyfriend or girlfriend, a favorite pet, a brother or sister, a place, even a thing. Thing about someone or something you love.  Write a story about that person or thing that involves your feelings.

40. Imagine that your sense of smell was more highly developed than everyone else’s.  What experiences might you have?  How might your life change?  What would you be able to smell?  Write a story about a person with a very highly developed sense of smell.

41. Imagine yourself temporarily lost in a foreign country where you do not know the language.  How do you manage to communicate?  What might happen to you?  Write a story about a day you might have spent lost in a foreign country without knowing the language.

42. Imagine a city project to have every school student do some hours of community service as a part of the required curriculum.  What would you choose to do?  What do you think it would be like?  What people might you meet?  What would you be doing to help?  Write a story about your day of community service.

43. Sometimes family members or friends embarrass you when other people are around.  Think of some times this has happened to you. Think of what could happen.  Write a story about some embarrassing incident you might have had and how you coped with it.

44. Now and then you, without meaning to do so, break something that belongs to someone else.  Think about what might be broken.  Think about what might happen as a result.  Now, write a story about accidentally breaking something that belonged to someone else and the story of what happened as a result.

45. One day your teacher must go home.  Your teacher leaves, telling you that someone else will teach the class for the rest of the time.  Who do you think will replace the teacher?  What happens as a result? Write a story about a time your teacher had to go home, and someone

else took over the class.

46. Imagine you opened your own restaurant. Tell the name of your restaurant. Explain what the restaurant looks like, who works there, and what you serve.

47. Describe your favorite character from a book, a movie, or television.

48. Write a story titled, “My Journey on a Pirate Ship.” You and your friends can star in the story.

49. If you could have any animal for a pet, what would it be? Describe the pet and how you would take care of it.

50. Do you have any brothers or sisters? If you do, tell what they’re like. If not, tell whether or not you would like to have a brother or sister.

51. If you could have lunch with any famous person who would it be? What would you talk about with this person?

52. How old were you four years ago? Describe some things you can do now that you could not do then.

53. If you could be on any game show, what would it be? Describe what happens when you’re on the show.

54. Describe several ways a person your age can earn money.

55. If you could spend an afternoon with one member of your extended family, who would it be? Tell why you chose this person and tell what you do together.

56. Which superpower would you most like to have– invisibility, super strength, or the ability to fly? Describe what kids of things you would do with your powers.

57. Think of a time when you’ve won something. Tell what you won and how you won it.

58. Invent a new kind of sandwich. Describe what is on it and how you would make it.

59. Describe one thing you’re really good at.

60. Imagine you were twenty feet tall. Describe what life would be like. How would it be different from your life now?

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101 thoughts on “ 60 Narrative Writing Prompts for Kids ”

Fantastic! I love the variety of topics. 🙂

it is the best narrative ideas!:)

Thank you! Happy to share!

hi i like this

Why nothing about gi joe

Yeah, there pretty good!

Good job to Squarehead Teachers for making this.

It’s meh not a lot of depth to the prompts kids have trouble carrying it on to a story without rambling on and on

Ok that’s a little harsh ;-;

you’re nice

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20 Prompts for Narrative Writing That Spark Creativity

Using prompts for narrative writing motivates kids and gets them excited to write. Read on to learn more about narrative writing, mentor texts, ideas, and assessments. Plus you will find 20 fun prompts for narrative and personal narrative writing. These will be sure to spark student’s creativity and imagination!

What’s Narrative Writing?

Narrative writing tells a story using a beginning, middle, and end.  It includes elements such as characters, setting, problem, and solution.  The author’s purpose is usually to entertain or teach a lesson.  Narrative writing can be fact or fiction but the process is the same.  When it’s a real story from the author’s life, it is considered a personal narrative.  

Examples for Narrative Writing

There are so many wonderful examples of narrative writing.  Some are even written as personal narratives.  Below you will find a list of mentor texts for elementary school.  It’s helpful to immerse students in the genre before and during a narrative writing unit.  These books model different strategies that kids can try in their writing.

Narrative Writing Mentor Texts:

• Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
• Come on, Rain! by Karen Hesse
• Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts
• Fireflies! by Julie Brinckloe
• Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems
• Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
• Enemy Pie by Derek Munson
• Blackout by John Rocco

Narrative Writing Teaching

There are many features to include in narrative writing, but it depends on the grade level being taught.  For the lower grades, it’s important to start with the concept of beginning, middle, and end written in sequential order.  Then you can expand to the introduction, body, and conclusion using details.  Other important elements are character, setting, problem, and solution.  As the student’s abilities increase the number of sentences will grow and expand to paragraphs.

For the older grades, you can introduce plot structure.  It follows the beginning, middle, and end format but on a higher level.  This story arc includes exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.  Use the diagram below to see how these features overlap.

Plot Structure

Topics for Narrative Writing

The possibilities are endless when it comes to narrative writing ideas.  Kids can create a fiction piece or write about an experience in their life.  Check out some writing prompt ideas below for narrative and personal narrative writing. You might also like this blog post about opinion writing prompts: 20 Prompts for Opinion Writing That Motivate Kids

Writing Prompts for Narratives

• I was taking my friend’s picture in front of the volcano when all of a sudden . . .  
• What if you were given 3 wishes but couldn’t use them on yourself.  Tell a story about what you would wish for and why.
• Write a story called, “The Luckiest Day of My Life.”
• Imagine you went to the zoo and could take home any animal for the day.  Tell a story about your time together.
• Write a silly story that uses these words: airplane, grapes, elephant, and book.
• You have just been shrunk down to the size of an ant.  Write a story including the good and bad things about being so small.
• Think about your favorite character from a book.  Tell a story about getting to meet them for the first time.
• What would happen if you lived during a time when there was no electricity?  Write a story about your school day.
• Finish this story: The pirates set sail on their ship in search of . . .
• Suppose you were teacher for a day.  Write a story about the changes you would make.

Writing Prompts for Personal Narratives

• Have you ever been so proud of yourself for learning something new?  Write a story about a time this happened.
• Write a story about a time you felt your heart race.  What happened and how were you feeling at the end?
• What was your most memorable vacation?  Tell a story from part of that trip and why it stands out in your mind.
• Have you ever done something you knew would get you in big trouble?  Write a story about a time this happened and how you felt about it.
• Write a story about the strangest thing that has ever happened to you.  Why was it so unusual?
• What was your most memorable moment from this year?  Write a story telling why it’s so special.
• Tell a story about a time when you were so excited and couldn’t wait for an event to happen.
• Write a small moment story about a time you had with your favorite person.
• Write about a time that you lost something important.  Tell whether or not you found it.
• Think about the worst day you ever had.  What made it so terrible and did it get better by the end?

Rubrics for Narrative Writing

I often hear from teachers that one of the most difficult parts of teaching writing is how to assess it.  Assessments should be accurate and helpful for both the student and teacher.  When it comes to narrative writing, there are many different approaches.  Some teachers prefer to do a more informal assessment for daily writing pieces and then a formal assessment for the final copy.  Informal assessments can be completed with written comments or student-teacher conferences.

It would be very difficult to use a rubric for every narrative writing a student completes in their notebook.  Instead, most teachers prefer to choose one to three writing pieces to assess with a rubric.  These assessments are ideal for benchmarks, progress reports, and report cards.  Below you will find three types of narrative writing rubrics.  Check out this blog post to learn more about student-friendly, teacher-friendly, and time-saving rubrics: 3 Types of Writing Rubrics for Effective Assessments

Narrative writing enables kids to be creative and use their imagination. They can write a fiction story or about a real event from their life. Writing prompts are a helpful tool to get kids engaged and ready to get started. Did you grab your Free Writing Prompt Guide yet? I love using prompts for morning work, writing time, centers, or as a homework assignment. The possibilities are endless! Be sure to try these prompts for narrative writing with your students!

Genre Based Prompts

Related Articles:

• 20 Prompts for Opinion Writing That Motivate Kids
• What is Narrative Writing
• A Complete Guide to Narrative Writing
• Personal Narrative Writing for Elementary School
• Narrative Writing: How to Teach a Story Arc That’s as Exciting as a Roller Coaster

Angela Sutton

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