Third graders often use more sophisticated vocabulary and grammar in their writing. They have also been learning to incorporate research from books and websites.
When kids practice writing, remember that above all, it should be a positive experience about communicating ideas. Drilling or correcting kids at this age can turn them off writing. So keep things light and emphasize the fun, quirky, or imaginative aspects of writing that will appeal most to children.
For more, check out our overview of third grade writing skills and see these real examples of third grade writing.
10 3rd grade writing prompts
So disappointed!
Where to start: This exercise asks kids to practice their narrative writing skills to tell a story by putting events in order and using descriptive words and details. It also encourages them to identify their feelings. Start with a conversation about what disappointment feels like. Can they think of a character in a book or a movie that had this feeling?
Prompt: Describe a time you were disappointed. What happened?
How to go deeper: What did you do when you had that feeling? What helped you feel better? What else could you have done? (Use the back of this page to write.)
Try, try, try again
Where to start: This writing prompt gets kids thinking about a recent accomplishment and reflecting on how things become easier with practice and hard work. Can they make a sandwich, ride a bike, climb a tree, or read a book that they couldn’t have last year? Start with a conversation about things they’re proud to be able to do themselves.
Prompt: Write about something that you know how to do this year that you couldn鈥檛 do last year. Was it hard the first time you tried it? How hard is it now?
How to go deeper: What’s something you can’t do yet that you want to be able to do by next year? How will you get there? (Use the back of this page to write.)
Secret place
Where to start: Tree houses and clubhouses 鈥� private, secret hideaways where kids rule 鈥� are a popular fantasy in children鈥檚 books. Start with a conversation about tree houses they know from books or movies.
Prompt: Describe the ultimate tree house. What would you do inside? Who would you invite in? How do you get in and out?
How to go deeper: Draw your tree house and label its different features. (Use the back of this page to draw.)
Invisible kids
Where to start: This exercise gets kids to stretch their imaginations and their narrative writing skills. Start with a conversation about the power to disappear or be invisible. Can you think of a book or a movie where this happens? What did they do?
Prompt: What is the first thing you would do if you suddenly became invisible?
How to go deeper: Would you want to be invisible? Why or why not? What are some of the things that could go wrong? (Use the back of this page to write.)
Scary, creepy, icky, gross!
Where to start: Keep things light as you start with a conversation about things that make you go, “Ewwww.” Worms? Dirty diapers? Spiders? Slime? Follow their lead as you talk about things that are icky, creepy, or scary.
Prompt: Write about something that scares you or makes you feel creeped out. What makes it so scary or creepy?
How to go deeper: Sometimes things scare us that are not really dangerous. Can you think of something that feels scary but is really safe? (Use the back of this page to write.)
It鈥檚 a mystery
Where to start: Start with a conversation about how a mystery is something that is hard to figure out or explain. Brainstorm some real-life and fictional mysteries. Can you think of a mystery from your everyday life? Do you remember a mystery from a book or a movie? What makes a mystery interesting?
Prompt: Write about a mystery. It could be from real life or from your imagination. It could even be one from a book, movie, or TV show. How did it happen? Did someone try to solve the mystery? What happened in the end?
How to go deeper: Mystery stories are exciting because they make you feel curious or nervous about what will happen next. What are some words that make stories feel exciting? (Use the back of this page to write.)
Ridiculous rituals
Where to start: This exercise invites kids to use humor and imagination to write about something routine. Start with a conversation about what silly bedtime habit they’d like to adopt. It could involve what they wear, where they sleep, or something they do just before bed.
Prompt: In Alaska in the summer, it’s light outside all night long. Bats sleep during the day, hanging upside down. What’s something weird about your bedtime routine?
How to go deeper: Draw a picture of this world where people do crazy things before bedtime. (Use the back of this page to draw.)
Rewriting the rules
Where to start: This is a good chance for kids to practice persuasive writing. Start with a conversation about how writing can be a good way to explain your point of view, and maybe convince someone to see things a different way.
Prompt: What is something that you are not allowed to do, either at home or at school, that you think you should be allowed to do? Give three reasons why you think you should be allowed to do that thing. (Use words like because, therefore, since, and for example.)
How to go deeper: What do you think are the reasons for the rule? If you were a teacher or parent, what rules would you make? (Use the back of this page to write.)
Make your own menu
Where to start: Most kids have probably seen an illustration of a plate with the optimum number of servings of different kinds of foods. This exercise invites kids to get silly and reimagine those guidelines. Start with a conversation about what they’ve learned about healthy, balanced diets.
Prompt: Imagine you’ve been asked to make a new guide for how all kids should eat. Draw a big circle and divide your “plate” into sections. Draw and describe the different foods you chose and what amounts you recommend.
How to go deeper: Write a letter to your parent about how your family should follow your new guidelines. (Use the back of this page to write.)
Start from the beginning
Where to start: Learning to summarize a story is an important skill that should be practiced with more complex stories as children get older. Start with a conversation about a recent favorite book, movie, or TV show. Talk about the details to refresh their memory, and ask why things happened the way they did 鈥� did one event cause another to happen?
Prompt: Write about a book, TV show, or movie you enjoyed recently. What was it about? What happened? How did it end?
How to go deeper: Draw and label a “story map” 鈥� a picture that puts the most important events of the story in order. (Use the back of this page to draw.)
