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1st Grade Writing Prompts

Try some new 1st grade writing prompts to get your early learners on the right track for writing! These interesting scenarios include realistic and make-believe events. Fun clip art makes the prompts come alive! Encourage students to choose their own favorite prompts. Or, assign one or two each week to spread out the fun for a long time. Please note that additional prompts have recently been added to the bottom of the page.

Text from the Printable Page

If you don't require the illustrated printable page, here is the text from this set of 1st grade writing prompts. Note that each prompt contains a bold word, from our 1st grade spelling words, 1st grade sight words, and/or our nouns/verbs/numbers/colors word lists.

See my suggestions below for using these prompts. Make sure students understand that some of these prompts are about pretend situations, such as #1, 5, 8 and others on this page.

1. What would you like to ask this green frog?

2. Name the four animals you like the best.

3. Would you like to climb a tall tree? Why or why not?

4. What can you wear on your hand?

5. Suppose you rode on a magic bus. Where would like to you go?

6. What can you say to someone who is sad to make them feel better?

7. Is the sky always blue? Why or why not?

8. What would happen if one of your toys came to life? Write two sentences.

9. What do you like about first grade?

10. What is a good name for this brown dog? Write two sentences about him.

11. Name two things that you own but you do not need.

12. What job would you like to have someday?

Want more? Here are 12 more first grade writing prompts!

NEW: Bonus Prompts!

These next 18 writing prompts are not on the printable page, but they are super-easy to use. Again, the words in BOLD are from my giant list of first grade spelling words.

13. Tell how six hens may have gotten out of their pens.

14. What makes your nose itch?

15. Make a plan to meet your mom after school.

16. Tell a funny story about a pig.

17. Could a bee ride a bike? Why or why not?

18. Make a good rule about being out in the sun.

20. What is a good game to play with a cat?

21. How far can you jump?

22. Write two more words that rhyme with top and mop.

23. What is the best time to sleep?

24. Why does water taste so good?

25. Write a thank you note to your mom.

26. You open a big surprise box. What could be inside?

27. What is one thing you like to do every day?

28. Where is the best place to hide in your house?

29. How could you help your little sister put her toys away?

30. What is the best food to put over ice cream?

Tips for using these 1st grade writing prompts:

For extra spelling practice, ask students to use the words in BOLD at least once or twice in each piece that they write.
Encourage kids to illustrate their work.
When appropriate, post student work on a classroom display. Be sure they've had the opportunity to edit their work before posting it.
Keep a folder for kids' responses. Note progress throughout weeks or months during the school year. Occasionally send the folder home for family members to read and add comments.

More Writing Resources

Try these 2nd grade writing prompts, too!

Set #1 - What will a lion say to a mouse? What's in the hole in your yard? What will you do about the panda in your pool? Assign these second grade writing prompts to your students and learn what they think!

Set #2 - What does your pet lizard like to read? When should you NOT give your teacher a big red apple? What should always do in the morning? Your early learners will love these 2nd grade writing prompts!

Literacy Worksheets for Early Learners: 3 fun reproducibles your kids can customize. Simple kindergarten or first grade writing prompts!

Worksheets for 1st Grade: 2 fun spelling practice pages! Students will practice initial consonants and visual discrimination.

Be sure to check out our collection of Fun Spelling Worksheets for grades 1 and 2. You'll find lots of all-new pages, not on the website, to help boost your first and second graders' spelling and phonics skills!

FAQs

Q: Can 1st graders actually respond to writing prompts?

A: Yes! Expect students to write short words in simple sentences. If needed, read the prompt to them orally, and then ask them to write a response of just one complete sentence. As the year progresses, expect more. Eventually, first graders should be able to write a paragraph of 3 or 4 sentences on a single topic.

Q: What are some good 1st grade writing prompts, using grade-level words?

A: The writing prompts here include words from our first grade spelling list. See our web page for more.

What would a fish say to a bird?
Would you rather ride in a car or a truck? Why?
How are a desk and a table the same? How are they different?
What's the best kind of hat to wear?
What is the best thing in the whole world to eat? Why?

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