Writing Prompt Generator
Random writing prompts for K–8 by type, grade and season, with twists, sentence starters, favorites and printable cards.
Press New Prompt to get a writing prompt.
All types mixes the six everyday types. Choose Seasonal for fall, winter, spring and summer prompts.
Sentence starters: Narrative
Ways to begin when students are stuck. In presentation mode, press Sentence Starters to show them under the prompt.
- It all started when…
- Suddenly,…
- Just then,…
- Later that day,…
- I couldn’t believe…
- In the end,…
Recent prompts
Your last 10 prompts will show here. Click one to bring it back.
Favorites
Press Favorite to save a prompt here. Favorites stay in this browser and can be printed as cards.
Printables
A writing page with the prompt on screen, or cut-apart prompt cards for a writing center.
Writing page preview
A Writing Prompt Generator Made for K–8 Classrooms
Get a fresh writing prompt in one click. The bank has more than 290 original, kid-friendly prompts in seven types: Narrative, Opinion, Informative, Descriptive, Journal, What if…? and Seasonal, each written for Grades K–2, 3–5 or 6–8. K–2 prompts use short, simple words, and Read Aloud speaks the prompt with your browser’s voice. Prompts don’t repeat until every one in your set has been shown. Turn on Add a twist for an extra challenge, use the sentence starters when students are stuck, star favorites, and print a writing page with lines or a page of prompt cards. It runs free in your browser, with no sign-up.
Get a writing prompt in 3 steps
Pick a grade band and a type. Choose Grades K–2, 3–5 or 6–8, then a prompt type. All types mixes the six everyday types; Seasonal adds a Season choice: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer or All seasons.
Press New Prompt. Prompts flicker for a moment, then one lands on the board. Turn on Add a twist for a challenge such as using a set word, press Favorite to save it, or press Read Aloud.
Write, project or print. Open a 5, 10, 15 or 20 minute writing timer, press Classroom Presentation Mode for giant text, or press Download PDF for a writing page or prompt cards.
Ways to use the Writing Prompt Generator in class
Daily quick-write
Choose Journal, press New Prompt and open the 5 min or 10 min writing timer. Students write until the timer ends, then a few volunteers share. Prompts don’t repeat until the whole set has been shown.
Writing center cards
Choose Prompt cards under Printables and print the prompts from your current filters or your favorites, 8 per page with dashed cut lines. Students draw a card when they finish early.
Read-aloud prompts for K–2
Choose Grades K–2, then press Read Aloud so early readers hear the prompt. Print the writing page with Primary lines and a Drawing box so students can draw first, then write.
Projected challenge
In Classroom Presentation Mode, turn on Add a twist and press Sentence Starters to show ways to begin under the prompt. Press Space or Enter for the next prompt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the same writing prompt come up twice?
Not until every prompt in your current set has been shown. The board shows how many are not shown yet. When the set runs out it starts over on its own, and Start Over lets you reset it sooner. Recent prompts lists your last 10.
What kinds of writing prompts are included?
Narrative story starters, Opinion questions that ask for reasons, Informative how-to and explain prompts, Descriptive prompts, Journal quick-writes, imaginative What if…? questions and Seasonal prompts for fall, winter, spring and summer, each for Grades K–2, 3–5 and 6–8.
What does Add a twist do?
It gives each new prompt a small extra challenge that fits its grade band and type, such as using a set word, starting with a question, including a line of dialogue or writing from an object’s point of view. New Twist swaps it for a different one.
Can I print a writing prompt worksheet?
Yes. Under Printables, choose Writing page. It prints the prompt on screen, and its twist if there is one, under a Name and Date line, followed by Lines, Wide lines or Primary lines with a dashed midline. Turn on Drawing box to leave space for a picture. US Letter or A4.
Where are my favorite prompts saved?
Favorites, your filters and your recent prompts are saved in this browser on this device, with no account. They stay when you come back, and the Backup page can copy them to another computer.
Can students hear the prompt read aloud?
Yes. Read Aloud speaks the prompt and its twist with your browser’s built-in text-to-speech, a little slower for Grades K–2. Voices depend on the device and browser, and the button is hidden where speech is not available.