Grades 1–3
Where Did the Unicorn’s Horn Go?
A silly mystery to plan and write: who took the unicorn’s horn, where it is, and how she gets it back.
Writing worksheet · Creative writing prompts
What Is the Robot Building?
A picture starter for the youngest writers: draw the robot’s invention, then finish one sentence on handwriting lines.
- Grade level
- Grades K–1
- Time
- About 20 minutes
- Answer key
- Not needed: answers vary
- Kids practice
- Creative writing, Generating ideas, Story structure, Writing with voice
What kids do
“The robot has a big plan. Draw what it is building. Then finish the sentence.”
Printed on the sheet:
- Draw what the robot is building
Teacher tip
Let kids dictate their sentence to you if they are not ready to write it, then have them trace your words.
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.
- Model the first answer on the board, thinking out loud as you write.
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
A Day as the Class Mouse
A point-of-view prompt: kids write one school day as the class pet mouse, from morning to after school.
Grades 3–5
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.
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.
Free for teachers
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