writing prompts
One focus of ELA is to help students hone writing skills. But to do that, students must have a topic. The following websites and tools may help you find interesting writing prompts.
PicLit
PicLit is a photo-based prompt website. It gives students a random photo and allows them to write a caption. Students can use a drag and drop method (see example at left), or they can use the freestyle selection (see example below) and write as much as they want. Students can create an account and save their PicLit, or email it.
PicLit is a photo-based prompt website. It gives students a random photo and allows them to write a caption. Students can use a drag and drop method (see example at left), or they can use the freestyle selection (see example below) and write as much as they want. Students can create an account and save their PicLit, or email it.
My suggestion would be to use the snipping tool or screenshot and save the writing as a JPG file. Students could paste their screenshot into a word processor and continue the writing.
PicLit is a good creative writing starter for use with any grade level.
PicLit is a good creative writing starter for use with any grade level.
Photo Prompts
Photo Prompts is a blog that shares a different photo each day with an accompanying writing prompt. Some of the prompts are narrative in nature (see example at left).
Photo Prompts is a blog that shares a different photo each day with an accompanying writing prompt. Some of the prompts are narrative in nature (see example at left).
Other prompts are informational or persuasive in nature (see example at right).
The teacher could display one prompt for the entire class, or have students choose their own. Unfortunately, most of these photos are hosted on Flickr, and the blog is hosted by Tumblr, both of which may be blocked by many school filters. Teachers could get around that by taking screenshots or using the snipping tool and putting examples into a PowerPoint or Google presentation, which could be accessed by students.
Photo Prompts could be used by any age group, for either a warm-up activity or the main writing assignment.
The teacher could display one prompt for the entire class, or have students choose their own. Unfortunately, most of these photos are hosted on Flickr, and the blog is hosted by Tumblr, both of which may be blocked by many school filters. Teachers could get around that by taking screenshots or using the snipping tool and putting examples into a PowerPoint or Google presentation, which could be accessed by students.
Photo Prompts could be used by any age group, for either a warm-up activity or the main writing assignment.
365 Pictures
365 Pictures is similar to the Photo Prompts described above. Each day, the website displays one photo and writing prompt. Users cannot scroll through the photos, which is different from other sites. Still, this is a usable site for writing ideas.
365 Pictures is similar to the Photo Prompts described above. Each day, the website displays one photo and writing prompt. Users cannot scroll through the photos, which is different from other sites. Still, this is a usable site for writing ideas.
Five Card Flickr
Five Card Flickr sounds like a game, but it is a photo-based writing prompt generator. Users are presented with five random photos (see below) and are instructed to choose one. This occurs five different times until users choose a total of five random photos.
Five Card Flickr sounds like a game, but it is a photo-based writing prompt generator. Users are presented with five random photos (see below) and are instructed to choose one. This occurs five different times until users choose a total of five random photos.
After choosing five photos, the site displays a form with a space for a title and explanation, which would be the story itself.
Students have the option of saving/sharing their work. If they choose to save it, they will be given a unique URL and embed code, which can be used on a class blog. Here's a student example of a finished "story."
Students have the option of saving/sharing their work. If they choose to save it, they will be given a unique URL and embed code, which can be used on a class blog. Here's a student example of a finished "story."
Five Card Flickr would be best used for upper level and high school classes, as the photos are random and may be difficult to use. Because the site uses Flickr, many school filters may limit or block its usage. While it appears to be a good site to use as a prompt for writing, there's no guarantee that it's 100% student-friendly (appropriate). If you use this site, test it first and use your best judgement.
Toasted Cheese
Toasted Cheese offers a month's worth of writing prompts in calendar format. Most of the writing prompts are geared toward upper grade levels. There's nothing fancy about the website, but many of the writing prompts are unique.
Toasted Cheese offers a month's worth of writing prompts in calendar format. Most of the writing prompts are geared toward upper grade levels. There's nothing fancy about the website, but many of the writing prompts are unique.
Writing Prompts
Writing Prompts is another Tumblr blog full of photos and writing prompts. It's very similar to the Photo Prompt site listed first (above). Like that site, it's hosted on Tumblr, which may be blocked by many school filters.
These prompts can be used for creative writing, narrative, or informational. They are aligned with CCSS.
Writing Prompts is another Tumblr blog full of photos and writing prompts. It's very similar to the Photo Prompt site listed first (above). Like that site, it's hosted on Tumblr, which may be blocked by many school filters.
These prompts can be used for creative writing, narrative, or informational. They are aligned with CCSS.
One Word
One Word gives students a single word and sixty seconds to write. It's a good opportunity to practice on-demand writing. Students can capture a screenshot when they're done, or they can save it. This writing is very short and demanding. If you're looking for a prompt for a longer piece of writing, this won't work. But if you want to practice on-demand writing or have a spare couple of minutes, this site works well.
One Word gives students a single word and sixty seconds to write. It's a good opportunity to practice on-demand writing. Students can capture a screenshot when they're done, or they can save it. This writing is very short and demanding. If you're looking for a prompt for a longer piece of writing, this won't work. But if you want to practice on-demand writing or have a spare couple of minutes, this site works well.
Story Starters
Scholastic's Story Starters offers multiple options for narrative writing prompts. Once students choose a genre, they are asked to enter their name and grade level. (Note: this site has prompts for grades K-6.) Using a "slot machine" set-up, students can spin for random parts to their prompt.
Scholastic's Story Starters offers multiple options for narrative writing prompts. Once students choose a genre, they are asked to enter their name and grade level. (Note: this site has prompts for grades K-6.) Using a "slot machine" set-up, students can spin for random parts to their prompt.
The example (right) was started using the "sci-fi" genre.
Once students are happy with their prompt, clicking "next" brings another round of options. (see below)
Once students are happy with their prompt, clicking "next" brings another round of options. (see below)
Students can choose a different format rather than just relying on a lengthy narrative.
This website goes one step further - it provides students a place to type their actual story online rather than waiting to write offline. This helps to motivate reluctant writers!
This website goes one step further - it provides students a place to type their actual story online rather than waiting to write offline. This helps to motivate reluctant writers!
Students can draw directly on the website, can add pages to their work, or can switch formats if they decide they don't like the one they have. When students are done, they can print or download their narrative.
Overall, this is a great option for writing practice that most elementary students would find engaging. The one downside is that students cannot save their work. Everything must be done in one sitting.
Scholastic also has a teacher's guide with helpful suggestions for classroom use.
Overall, this is a great option for writing practice that most elementary students would find engaging. The one downside is that students cannot save their work. Everything must be done in one sitting.
Scholastic also has a teacher's guide with helpful suggestions for classroom use.