5th Grade Writing Prompts

Fifth grade brings more opportunity for learning and growing. For some, fifth grade brings a first foray into middle school and more challenging academic work across many subjects. These scholars are ready for both school-based and personal growth. It’s important to ignite a love of writing through a variety of writing opportunities and topics. Use the categories of “Fantasy,” “Science Fiction,” “Changing Friendships,” “Responsibility,” “Collaboration” and “Technology” to embrace the magic of writing. Writers are encouraged to plan and review their work. Keep in mind that some prompts may demand contextualization depending on the learner’s background and needs.

5^th Grade Writing Prompts

Category 1: Fantasy

Whether it’s a magical journey, mythical creature, hidden world, or magic power, let these creative writing prompts take you further into worlds unlike ours. Writers can use these prompts to imagine encounters with mythological creatures, magical relics, wizarding worlds, and special powers.

1. Write a comic book style story about a character who discovers they have magical powers.
2. Design or depict yourself in a work of art as a fantasy character. Add animal-like and magical elements.
3. Write a story about a group of friends who discover a secret portal to a magical world in their school’s auditorium.
4. Research characters from mythology, such as a kraken, griffin, manticore, etc. Choose one and write a fantasy-based story.
5. Write a story about a character who goes on a quest to find a magical relic (artifact) that can aid in solving one of the world’s challenges.
6. Create an advertisement for a fictional school for witches and wizards.

Category 2: Science Fiction Writing Prompts

Science-fiction stories help us imagine how our world can evolve or change based on the magic and mystery of science. Writers can use these 5th grade writing prompts to imagine field trips to outer space, a wild scientist, and an underground community.

1. Write a story about a character who organizes a school field trip to a local planet.
2. Imagine that you discover a time machine that takes you to a war-torn planet. Write an article about what you observe.
3. Write a poem about a crazy scientist who creates strange concoctions.
4. Imagine that you are preparing to travel deep underground to a community of people that never come to the surface…ever. Document the journey and experience in several journal entries.
5. Write a story about a duo of characters who create a new technology that changes the world.
6. Imagine that you are part of a team that discovers an alien, brings it to a safe laboratory space, and observes its behaviors. What does the alien do and communicate? Why? Write your ideas as a scientific report.

Category 3: Changing Friendships

As we grow older, it’s true that change happens, and this is very natural– everyone experiences change. Let these creative writing prompts inspire reflections on changing relationships. Writers can use these prompts to reflect on challenging points in relationships, the task of making friends, and finding ways to reconnect after spending time apart.

1. Create a character who is struggling to make friends. What advice would you give them to help them make friends?
2. Create an infographic about ways that friends can reconnect.
3. Imagine that you suddenly had to switch schools and leave all your friends behind. How would you make new friends at your new school?
4. Reflect on how relationships change over time.
5. Write a story about a time when you and your best friend had a big argument. How did you resolve it?
6. Write a story about friends who are very different, but ultimately have a strong friendship.

Category 4: Responsibility

As we grow older we are trusted with more and more responsibility– this is one of the joys of growing up. Your independence can flourish as you learn to do more and more. Let these creative writing prompts inspire reflection on the value of responsibility and accountability. Writers can use these prompts to consider responsible behavior and decision-making.

1. Write a short story about a character who has trouble taking responsibility for their actions. Why do they struggle and what are their consequences?
2. Write about a time when you had to take care of a pet or plant for a period of time. What did you learn about responsibility?
3. Write about a time when you had to take responsibility for a mistake you made. How did you handle the situation? How did you apologize?
4. Write about one household chore or responsibility you contribute to at home. If you are not responsible for a chore, identify one chore you feel you could complete with success and consistently (regularly).
5. Write a speech advocating for something that is important to you. For instance, perhaps you see that there is not enough of a certain resource available, and you want to communicate a need for this thing.
6. Write a story about a character who learns the importance of being responsible after losing a valuable object.

Category 5: Collaboration

As we grow older, we also collaborate with others more frequently. While your sense of independence can flourish, it is also important to maintain productive partnerships. Let these creative 5th grade writing prompts inspire reflection on the value of teamwork. Writers can use these prompts to consider elements of successful collaboration.

1. Create a comic book strip about a character who is at first very hesitant to work with others, but comes to see that working together can be really beneficial.
2. Create an infographic for people who prefer to work alone, but must find ways to contribute to group projects. What would you recommend to help them along? Be solutions-oriented!
3. Write about a time when you had to work together with someone who had different ideas than you did. How did you show respect and compromise with the other person?
4. Write a news report about a group that is able to survive a terrible storm by working together and thinking about each other.
5. Write an opinion-based essay on whether or not working on group projects is fun and meaningful.
6. Write a story about a group of friends who work together to build a treehouse or fort.

Category 6: Technology

Technology is an important part of our lives. As time goes on, we tend to have more access to different types of technology, some of which can help make our world more inclusive and accessible for all. Let these creative writing prompts inspire reflections about technology. Writers can use these prompts to consider adaptive technology and create helpful tools for technology users.

1. Research and write about a technology that helps people who live with mobility challenges or require the use of mobility tools. Be thoughtful in your exploration and reporting!
2. Research and write about a technology that helps people who live with speech challenges or require the use of speech accessibility tools. Be thoughtful in your exploration and reporting!
3. Research and write about a technology that helps people who live with auditory (hearing) challenges or require the use of auditory tools. Be thoughtful in your exploration and reporting!
4. Create an infographic with five important tips for cell phone users.
5. Create an infographic with five important tips for creating presentations for school.
6. Write a persuasive essay about why schools should or should not provide every student with a laptop or tablet computer.