As the year progresses, thinking of inspiring writing topics can be challenging.  This is where the power of the internet can be very helpful.  Students often are encouraged to write more if they are shown a picture or a short video and asked to write their opinion about what they have seen.

The best writing prompts align well with what is going on in class.  Kids will need more research to complete the task when writing informative pieces.  In these cases, kids may be asked to write about what we have been learning in class, or they may be asked to read specific articles or watch a video to formulate their ideas.

As I write this post, a mysterious balloon from China is flying over the United States.  As an opinion writing piece, kids could tell their ideas for what should be done about this balloon and give their reasons why.  News like this can be an excellent opportunity for kids to practice writing.

Teaching is a high-energy job that requires a lot of multitasking.  Sometimes teachers don’t have time to plan writing prompts or find articles to read and review relevant videos.  There are times when teachers need a quick writing prompt to get the day started.  In these times, I have found that the students often have great suggestions for what they would like to write.  

There are still times when it is good to have a list of writing prompts handy, either for teachers to choose a writing topic for their students or for students to choose their own.  I asked ChatGPT to create a list of writing prompts in the three main writing categories.  Here are the prompts.

Informative Writing –

1. How to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich
2. The life cycle of a butterfly
3. How to brush your teeth properly
4. The different parts of a plant
5. How to plant a seed
6. The water cycle
7. The different types of clouds
8. The different seasons and how they affect the weather
9. The different animals that live in the ocean
10. How to properly care for a pet
11. The different types of habitats and the animals that live there
12. How to make a simple bird feeder
13. How to properly wash your hands
14. The different types of transportation
15. The different types of weather patterns
16. The different types of rocks and minerals
17. The different types of dinosaurs
18. How to recycle properly
19. The different types of fruits and vegetables
20. The different types of trees and the leaves they have
21. How to make a simple kite
22. How to grow a vegetable garden
23. The different types of houses people live in
24. The different types of jobs people have
25. How to save energy at home
26. The different types of sports and the rules for each
27. How to make a simple fort
28. How to make a simple friendship bracelet
29. The different types of landforms and how they are formed
30. How to make a simple lemonade stand
31. The different types of animals that live on a farm
32. How to properly clean up after a pet
33. The different types of tools used for different jobs
34. The different types of tools used for different crafts
35. How to properly clean a room
36. How to make a simple paper airplane
37. The different types of musical instruments and how they are played
38. The different types of food people eat from around the world
39. How to properly clean a bicycle
40. The different types of wildlife and their habitats
41. How to make a simple wind chime
42. The different types of weather instruments and how they are used
43. The different types of habitats and the plants that live there
44. How to properly care for a garden
45. The different types of fish and their habitats
46. How to make a simple birdhouse
47. The different types of pets and how to properly care for them
48. How to properly clean up litter
49. The different types of insects and their habitats
50. How to properly wash clothes
51. The different types of transportation and how they are powered
52. The different types of buildings and their uses
53. How to properly care for a pet’s bed
54. The different types of animals that live in the jungle
55. How to properly care for a pet’s toys
56. The different types of animals that live in the savanna
57. How to make a simple friendship necklace
58. The different types of animals that live in the Arctic
59. How to properly care for a pet’s food and water dishes
60. The different types of animals that live in the desert
61. How to make a simple bookmark
62. The different types of animals that live in the rainforest
63. How to properly care for a pet’s leash and collar
64. The different types of animals that live in the mountains
65. How to make a simple picture frame
66. The different types of animals that live in the grasslands

Opinion Writing

1. What is your favorite food?
2. What is your favorite color?
3. Do you like dogs or cats better?
4. Do you prefer summer or winter?
5. What is your favorite type of music?
6. What is your favorite holiday and why?
7. What is your favorite book?
8. Do you like watching TV or playing outside better?
9. What is your favorite movie?
10. Do you prefer playing video games or reading books?
11. What is your favorite subject in school?
12. Do you like going to school or staying home better?
13. What is your favorite toy?
14. What is your favorite kind of food for breakfast?
15. What is your favorite type of food for lunch?
16. Do you like spaghetti or macaroni and cheese better?
17. What is your favorite fruit?
18. What is your favorite snack?
19. Do you like pizza or hamburgers better?
20. What is your favorite type of food for dinner?
21. Do you like ice cream or cake better?
22. What is your favorite place to visit?
23. What is your favorite activity to do at home?
24. What is your favorite place to go on vacation?
25. Do you like going to the beach or going to the mountains better?
26. Do you like going to amusement parks or zoos better?
27. What is your favorite type of weather?
28. Do you like rain or snow better?
29. What is your favorite season?
30. Do you like going to the park or going to the pool better?
31. What is your favorite sport to play?
32. Do you like playing soccer or basketball better?
33. What is your favorite hobby?
34. Do you like playing with legos or blocks better?
35. Do you like playing dress-up or playing with dolls better?
36. What is your favorite thing to do outside?
37. What is your favorite thing to do inside?
38. Do you like playing with friends or playing by yourself better?
39. What is your favorite type of music to dance to?
40. Do you like playing board games or card games better?
41. What is your favorite type of art to do?
42. Do you like painting or drawing better?
43. What is your favorite type of food to eat at a restaurant?
44. What is your favorite type of food to eat at a picnic?
45. Do you like eating at home or eating out better?
46. Do you like having a big breakfast or a big dinner better?
47. Do you like sweet or salty foods better?
48. What is your favorite type of food for a snack?
49. Do you like eating fruits or vegetables better?
50. What is your favorite type of candy?
51. What is your favorite type of drink?
52. Do you like drinking juice or milk better?
53. What is your favorite type of juice?
54. What is your favorite type of milk?
55. What is your favorite type of cookie?
56. Do you like eating chocolate or vanilla better?
57. What is your favorite type of ice cream?
58. Do you like eating chocolate cake or vanilla cake better?
59. What is your favorite type of pizza?
60. What is your favorite type of sandwich?
61. Do you like eating peanut butter or jelly better?

Narrative Writing

1. Tell a story about a time you learned how to do something new
2. Write about a time you went on a trip and what you learned
3. Write about a time you helped someone else learn something new
4. Tell a story about a time you explored a new place
5. Write about a time you tried a new food and what you thought about it
6. Tell a story about a time you saw an animal in its natural habitat
7. Write about a time you tried a new activity and what you learned from it
8. Tell a story about a time you learned about a new culture
9. Write about a time you went on a field trip and what you learned
10. Tell a story about a time you learned how to do something new with your family
11. Write about a time you learned about a new type of technology
12. Tell a story about a time you learned how to cook a new dish
13. Write about a time you learned about a new type of art
14. Tell a story about a time you learned about a new type of science
15. Write about a time you learned how to do something new with your friends
16. Tell a story about a time you learned about a new type of music
17. Write about a time you learned how to use a new tool
18. Tell a story about a time you learned about a new type of sport
19. Write about a time you learned about a new type of animal
20. Tell a story about a time you learned about a new type of flower or plant
21. Write about a time you learned about a new type of vehicle
22. Tell a story about a time you learned about a new type of building
23. Write about a time you learned about a new type of currency
24. Tell a story about a time you learned about a new type of holiday
25. Write about a time you learned about a new type of food
26. Tell a story about a time you learned about a new type of weather
27. Write about a time you learned about a new type of natural disaster
28. Tell a story about a time you learned about a new type of planet
29. Write about a time you learned about a new type of mineral or rock
30. Tell a story about a time you learned about a new type of tree or leaf
31. Write about a time you learned about a new type of pet
32. Tell a story about a time you learned about a new type of job
33. Write about a time you learned about a new type of habitat
34. Tell a story about a time you learned about a new type of landform
35. Write about a time you learned about a new type of musical instrument
36. Tell a story about a time you learned about a new type of tool
37. Write about a time you learned about a new type of craft
38. Tell a story about a time you learned about a new type of transportation
39. Write about a time you learned about a new type of sport
40. Tell a story about a time you learned about a new type of building material
41. Write about a time you learned about a new type of energy source
42. Tell a story about a time you learned about a new type of wildlife
43. Write about a time you learned about a new type of bird
44. Tell a story about a time you learned about a new type of fish
45. Write about a time you learned about a new type of insect