As students improve their writing skills, it is important that they explore various types of writing—including narrative writing. Narrative writing is an important step not only in learning to write but also in learning to reflect and think deeper.
Whether students are journaling or making story charts and discussing their answers in class, the following writing prompts are a great place to start with your 3rd graders.
Using These Prompts
You can use these prompts as journaling prompts for your students during your writing practice, but they also make great discussion questions.
Students might feel awkward about expressing some of their emotions, and this is a great way to help them come out of their shell and realize that we’re all more alike than we realize.
Here are a few ways you can use this guide in your classroom:
- Assign one prompt per table group. Give students time to write down their thoughts, and then have them share with the rest of their table.
- Challenge your students to use prompts that they find uncomfortable, as those are often the most important ones for them to work on.
- Ask your students to write using one prompt each day for the entire school week.
- Don’t grade these assignments; the emotional reflection and self-realization are more important than the grade.
The Prompts
- Write about the strangest thing that has ever happened to you.
- What do you think a typical day would look like if you were seven feet tall?
- Write about a time when you felt very sad. How did you make yourself feel better?
- Have you ever lost an important game? Write about what happened and how you felt.
- When you play with friends, what do you like to play?
- Do you think it’s important for kids to play pretend?
- Write about your favorite holiday memory.
- Write about a time when you felt very scared.
- Have you ever witnessed someone being bullied? What did you do?
- Why is it important to stick up for yourself?
- What are some ways that you like to relax on the weekend?
- Do you speak another language? Do you think all students should learn a foreign language in school?
- Which Disney character do you relate to most? Why?
- Which Marvel character do you relate to most? Why?
- If you could be any color, which color would you be? Why?
- Describe your perfect family vacation.
- Why is it important to help those in need?
- Have you ever had stage fright? What happened?
- What is a fun fall activity that you like doing with your family?
- Which season is your favorite? Why?
- If you could instantly learn one skill, what would it be? Why?
- Do you prefer board games or card games? Why?
- What would you do if you woke up tomorrow and could speak to animals?
- Write about a time when someone close to you hurt your feelings.
- Write about a challenge you’ve faced. What did you do to overcome it?
- What do you do for fun when you don’t have screens or technology to entertain you?
- What is your favorite food? What makes it so special?
- What is your least favorite food? Why don’t you like it?
- What do you do when your feelings are hurt? Do you think this is a good way to handle your emotions?
- Have you ever received an award? What was it for? How did it make you feel?
- Write about your favorite book. What makes it so special?
- What is one thing you would change in your classroom?
- What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
- Write about something that seemed bad at first, but turned out to be good.
- Write five ways you can help someone in need.
- What are some important skills you need to master to move on to 4th grade?
- What is the most important thing you’ve learned this year?
- Would you rather it rain glitter or snow birdseed? Why?
- Write about the last vacation you took with your family.
- Do you have a blanket or stuffed animal that is special to you? Write about where it came from and why you love it.
- Do you prefer Star Wars or Harry Potter? Why?
- Write five things you can do to calm yourself down when you feel angry.
- Write about something that makes you laugh.
- Write about a conflict between you and your best friend. How did you resolve it?
- Who do you enjoy spending your time with? What makes your time so special?
- Write about a time when you tried something new. How did you feel?
- Do you play a sport? What do you enjoy about it?
- Write five things you can do to feel better when you are sad.
- Have you ever been in an argument where you knew you were right, but the other person wouldn’t agree? What happened?
- If you were the teacher for a day, what would you do?
- What is your favorite animal? What do you think this says about your personality?
- If you were responsible for cooking breakfast for your entire family, what would you cook? Why?
- Why is it so important for siblings to get along? Do you get along with your siblings?
- Write about the best gift you’ve ever received.
- What are five things you can do to feel better when you are scared?
Looking For More?
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