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Spark fictional stories with writing prompts for characters, settings, mysteries and imagined situations. Find direct story starters alongside reading lessons with creative writing extensions.
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Choose from 24 prompt slides and write a very short story (no more than 1000 words, up to 3 characters, one setting, one conflict, one or two rising actions, and a resolution) within a timed writing session; optionally share stories in small groups for feedback.
Answer factual research questions about the solar system (using internet or encyclopedia), then write a narrative story or diary entry imagining a space flight, guided by provided notes on what to describe (launch, travel, arrival, etc.).
Choose one or two prompt slides (each giving a character, situation, prop, setting, and phrase) and write a short story or flash-fiction piece incorporating those elements; teacher's suggested use is 25-30 minutes of writing on 3-4 slides at a time, later sharing drafts in small groups for feedback.
Study writing-craft guidance on planning fiction (audience, genre, purpose, paragraph structure, connectives, person/point of view), read a complete model short story, then plan and write an original follow-up story about the clown character escaping the painting into the modern world, using a provided structure guide…
Write stories, poems, or descriptions responding to image/text prompts (e.g. personifying a raindrop or rainbow, describing a leap of faith, autumn leaves, finding a labeled box in a new bedroom, personifying an object in one's room, a fading imaginary friend, being lost and found, a path through a forest, two…
Students review fiction-writing tips (audience, genre, structure, connectives, first/third person), read the model story 'The Creepy House', write their own ending to its cliffhanger, then plan and write their own original ghost story.
Review tips for writing fiction (openings, characters, setting, plot, suspense, dialogue, sentence variety, first/third person, connectives), then use a provided story plan (characters Frank and Dad, setting a closing-down sale, a numbered plot outline through Frank grabbing the last game box) to write their own…
Study notes on non-fiction writing types and descriptive technique, review a model descriptive passage ('The Present') with two alternate endings, review writing tips (paragraphing, topic sentences, five senses, imagery, suspense-building), complete a scaffolded fill-in-the-blank version of the passage, and…
Write stories, poems, or scenes in response to image/text prompts (e.g. a murmuration of starlings, an animal-face-in-the-mirror scenario, a misunderstanding between two people, friends caught in a storm on a lake); discuss/complete a 'must have vs. can have' elements-of-fiction chart; review dialogue punctuation…
Complete themed writing activities such as a point-of-view mystery story, a nature poem, a narrative dialogue, haiku and cinquain poems, science-fiction reporting, a first-person narrative, a limerick, humorous commercials, and a play scene, following prompts and extension suggestions.
Complete themed writing activities such as journal writing, a time-capsule list activity, science-fiction writing, alphabet/acrostic and concrete poetry, haiku, developing believable characters and dialogue, first-person narrative, story endings, fables, and figures of speech, following prompts and extension…
Respond in writing to prompted topics (e.g. 'I Was Scared Silly', 'You Are a Restaurant Critic', 'If I Won the Lottery', 'Are Proverbs True?') across fiction and nonfiction genres, each developed as a full writing activity.
Read a nonfiction passage, answer fill-in-the-blank comprehension questions and true/false questions with textual justification, define/give synonyms for vocabulary words, then write one or more full essays (opinion, comparison, or creative) responding to prompts tied to the passage.
Students assemble an Egypt-themed folder, write their name in hieroglyphs as a secret message, build a 3-D Nile barge model from a template using popsicle sticks, make a mummy craft and place it in a folded sarcophagus, write a fiction story about finding their mummy, write a story about what might be under the…
Read a multi-paragraph informational passage about Jules Verne (biography and major science-fiction novels) (including quoted commentary from named experts/fans), answer short-answer and true-or-false comprehension questions citing the text, write synonyms for target vocabulary words, then complete one or more longer…
Free download For each of the 6 lessons (A Friend's Promise; The Rumor; Finishing Together; Seniors Acting; Funland; Back to School), students answer pre-reading discussion questions, respond to during-reading prompts, learn and apply story vocabulary via vocabulary and vocabulary-question exercises, answer writing questions…
Free download For each of the 6 lessons (Olympics; Tryouts; Big Brienne; A Skate on the Lake; Baseball Boy; Running), students answer pre-reading discussion questions, respond to during-reading prompts, learn and apply story vocabulary via vocabulary and vocabulary-question exercises, answer writing questions, complete a creative…
Complete chapter summaries, comprehension questions, 'Digging Deeper' setting/character/plot analysis, creative writing tasks, and non-fiction research tasks (swamps, poaching, hunting, black bears).
Free download For each of the 10 lessons (The Principal; Fear; Warm Welcome; Funny Photos; Gold Star; Sub Teacher; President Lina; Devon's Science Project; On the Stage; Eve's Amazing Day), students answer pre-reading discussion questions, respond to during-reading prompts, learn and apply story vocabulary via vocabulary and…
Free download For each of the 10 lessons (Donny's Glasses; Hare & Bear; Maggie's Turtle; New Pup; Naughty Cat; Ella's Baseball Bat; Ola the Rabbit; Ethan and the Puppies; Endangered Animals; Chinese New Year), students answer pre-reading discussion questions, respond to during-reading prompts, learn and apply story vocabulary via…
Complete before-reading background activities on the Florida Keys, read chapter summaries, answer comprehension questions, do setting/character 'digging deeper' analysis, complete creative writing tasks, and complete non-fiction tasks on water pollution, the Florida Keys, green flash, and loggerhead turtles.
Free download For each of the 10 lessons (Birthday Lessons; Funny Cousin; Favorite Aunt; Grandma Can Dance; Sisterly Love; A Not So Relaxing Hike; On the Coaster; Grandma's Tulips; Father's Day; Healthier Lifestyle), students answer pre-reading discussion questions, respond to during-reading prompts, learn and apply story…
Free download For each of the 6 lessons (Bring on the Snow; Walk through the Woods; Nature Photographer; Nature's Beautiful Colors; Flower Fun; Picking Cherries), students answer pre-reading discussion questions, respond to during-reading prompts, learn and apply story vocabulary via vocabulary and vocabulary-question exercises…
Extend a viewing of Interstellar with activities that connect new vocabulary, personal responses, and narrative writing. Students record film details and word meanings, then reflect on a favorite scene and the movie as a whole. The diary task asks students to retell three scenes from a chosen character’s perspective. Discuss the character’s thoughts and feelings first, then use those ideas to support the written response.