creative thinking

Creative Writing Prompts - For Kids of ALL Ages!

Friday, January 02, 2015


Fun and engaging creative writing prompts for kids. Mix and Match Picture Prompts provide visual inspiration and scaffolding to inspire even your most reluctant writers. A free sample printable is included for you to try!

I wanted a new writing "hook" to motivate and engage my 3-5 students in the new year. Even though the majority of my students are identified as academically and/or intellectually gifted, I still have some very, (and I mean VERY), reluctant writers.

So, here's my thought . . . pictures! A picture is worth a thousand words, right? So, I created a series of visual writing prompts to engage my little learners. Each writing prompt includes 4-6 pictures with purposefully open-ended labels, such as "a science experiment," "an explosion," "an unexpected outcome," and "a bewildered student." Students combine the 4-6 elements to craft an original story. Simple, easy, and engaging. And the best part - the activity is naturally differentiated. Writers at all levels can access and interact with the prompts in the way that is most appropriate for their unique strengths and abilities.


Fun and engaging creative writing prompts for kids. Mix and Match Picture Prompts provide visual inspiration and scaffolding to inspire even your most reluctant writers. A free sample printable is included for you to try!


My hope is that these visual prompts will not only motivate my students, but also help to scaffold and support the writing process. It is also an opportunity for students to look at familiar objects and events in new ways (aka: a forced association). A forced association asks students to find similarities among items/ideas that are seemingly unrelated. By combining words that appear to be dissimilar, students are encouraged to think in new ways and to develop new perspectives and understandings. Forced associations are a great way to promote critical and creative thinking. (You can read more about forced associations here.)


Fun and engaging creative writing prompts for kids. Mix and Match Picture Prompts provide visual inspiration and scaffolding to inspire even your most reluctant writers. A free sample printable is included for you to try!


I designed the Mix and Match writing prompts in two different formats to have some flexibility with implementation. My first thought was printable pages for "Work on Writing" centers/stations, anchor activities, and independent work. I then also put each prompt in the form of a task card so that students could glue the prompt into their writing notebook.


Fun and engaging creative writing prompts for kids. Mix and Match Picture Prompts provide visual inspiration and scaffolding to inspire even your most reluctant writers. A free sample printable is included for you to try!


Want to try it out with me? If so, you can download one of the sixteen 8.5 x 11" printable pages below for FREE here.  To see the entire pack, click here.
Fun and engaging creative writing prompts for kids. Mix and Match Picture Prompts provide visual inspiration and scaffolding to inspire even your most reluctant writers. A free sample printable is included for you to try!

What kinds of writing prompts do you use with your students? Leave a comment and let me know; I'd love to learn with you!

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