Grades 4–5
Pizza Gets a Job
A funny story prompt with a four-part plan: the job, the problem, the fix and the ending.
Writing worksheet · Creative writing prompts
The Teddy Bear’s Secret Diary
A diary-entry prompt: kids write in the voice of a teddy bear who has a secret life at night.
- Grade level
- Grades 3–5
- Time
- About 35 minutes
- Answer key
- Not needed: answers vary
- Kids practice
- Creative writing, Generating ideas, Story structure, Writing with voice
What kids do
“What does your teddy bear do while you are asleep? Write its diary entry for last night.”
Printed on the sheet:
- Need an idea? Check one or make up your own.
- Last night, after the lights went out,
Teacher tip
Read a short diary-style book first and point out the date line and the I voice kids will use.
How to use it
- Have kids draw a quick sketch to plan before they write.
- Share a short example story you wrote from the same prompt.
- Give a minute at the end to reread the work out loud to a partner.
Watch for
Kids copying a friend’s idea. Brainstorm three ideas together so everyone has options.
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 K–1
My Monster Comes to School
A picture starter for the youngest writers: pick a spot in the school, draw the monster there and write one sentence.
Grades 1–3
The Mermaid’s Treasure Map
An adventure prompt: kids draw the mermaid’s treasure map, decide what the treasure is and write the hunt.
Grades 2–4
Shrunk to the Size of an Ant
A tiny-world prompt: a giant thing to climb, a bug to meet and a way to get big again, then the story.
Free for teachers
Get the free Classroom Drawing Kit
12 printable pages: six step-by-step lessons, a grid activity, draw-and-write sheets and teacher notes, sent with your welcome email. After that, new classroom printables by email.