Grades 1–3
The Lost Alien Needs Help
A helping-hand story: where the alien landed, what it needs and how kids get it back to its ship.
Writing worksheet · Creative writing prompts
The Magic Paintbrush
A magic-object prompt: what kids paint, what comes alive and what goes wrong, then the story.
- Grade level
- Grades 1–3
- Time
- About 30 minutes
- Answer key
- Not needed: answers vary
- Kids practice
- Creative writing, Generating ideas, Story structure, Writing with voice
What kids do
“You found a paintbrush. Everything you paint comes to life! Plan your story, then write it.”
Printed on the sheet:
- What do you paint first?
- What does it do when it comes alive?
- What goes wrong?
- Write your story
- I picked up the old paintbrush and painted a
Teacher tip
Make sure kids plan what goes wrong. A magic object is only exciting when it causes trouble.
How to use it
- Read the prompt aloud with lots of drama, then give two minutes of quiet thinking.
- Let kids talk the story to a partner before they write a word.
- Read the directions aloud so the sheet is about writing, not decoding the directions.
Watch for
Stories that never get past the beginning. Ask what happens next and what the problem is.
Talk about it
- What was the funniest idea you had?
- Which sentence on your sheet are you proudest of? Why?
Take it further
Hold an author’s chair where volunteers read their stories aloud.
US Letter, prints well in black and white. Free for home and classroom use: print as many copies as you need.
More creative writing prompts
Grades 2–4
The Day Gravity Turned Off
A what-if prompt: kids imagine a day with no gravity in three places, then write the floating story.
Grades 2–4
The Sneaky Sock Thief
A silly mystery prompt: three clues, the sock thief and why it wants socks, then the story.
Grades 3–5
My Robot Twin
A funny swap story: the robot twin’s school day, the moment it gets caught and how the day ends.
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