Writing in fourth grade becomes more complex as kids incorporate more sophisticated grammar and descriptive vocabulary into their storytelling, informative writing, and opinion writing. Writing, especially the rough-draft stage, should be fun and focused on expressing ideas and thoughts. When kids revise and refine a formal assignment, you can be more exacting about getting the spelling and grammar just right. But writing practice should be fun. The more kids enjoy the process, the more they’ll want to keep writing 鈥� and that’s what will make them better writers!
For more, check out our overview of fourth grade writing skills and see these real examples of fourth grade writing.
10 4th grade writing prompts
Rules rule
Where to start: This exercise calls for opinion writing skills. Start with a conversation about rules. What are some of the rules that kids have to follow at home and at school? Are they always fair? Do kids sometimes have to do things they don’t want to do? Should kids have a say? Be as specific as you can, and encourage a discussion of the whys behind the rules.
Prompt: “Rules should be obeyed without argument.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why?
How to go deeper: Is it ever okay not to follow the rules? Can you come up with an example of someone who broke the rules and now is considered a hero? (Use the back of this page to write.)
Picture this
Where to start: Descriptive words make writing come alive. Start with a conversation about sensory words 鈥� adjectives that describe things using all five senses: taste, touch, vision, hearing, and smell.
Prompt: Describe your favorite food to a visitor from outer space who has never seen or heard of that food before. What does it look, smell, taste, and feel like? What’s so great about it?
How to go deeper: Play a game of name-that-food: Take turns writing a description of a food without naming it, and seeing if the other person can guess what it is. (Use the back of this page to write.)
Mad scientist
Where to start: This writing exercise, which asks kids to express their opinion and be creative, will appeal to animal lovers and budding scientists. Start with a conversation about domestic animals (animals such as dogs, cats, horses, and sheep, that have been bred to live around humans) vs. wild animals (animals that have not been bred to be “tame” around humans). What makes a good pet? Does it need to be cuddly? Or do tarantulas and turtles make good pets? What if you could pick and choose the qualities you wanted in a pet?
Prompt: Imagine you鈥檙e a scientist combining the DNA from different animals to make yourself the perfect pet. Which animals would you combine, and why?
How to go deeper: Draw your pet and label some of its special qualities. (Use the back of this page to write.)
A sense of justice
Where to start: Children at this age have a keen sense of what is fair, and they are beginning to be able to apply it to what they see happening in the world around them. Start with a conversation about fairness. Rather than defining “fair,” first ask what they think it means.
Prompt: Describe a time that you experienced or observed something unfair. Why was it unfair?
How to go deeper: In the example you just wrote about, what did you do? Would you do the same thing again, or is there something you would do differently next time? (Use the back of this page to write.)
Would you rather…
Where to start: This exercise is a variation on a popular game where players have to choose between two difficult scenarios. This prompt asks kids to reflect on the kinds of things they like to work hard at. Start with a conversation about activities that are fun but challenging. What makes them enjoyable and worth the hard effort? Does everyone have the same idea of what’s enjoyable?
Prompt: Would you rather put together a 1,000 piece puzzle or hike for 5 hours up a mountain? Why?
How to go deeper: What’s something challenging that you’d rather do than either of those two things. Describe what’s involved in doing that activity. What’s fun about it? (Use the back of this page to write.)
Friend drama
Where to start: Friendships can sometimes be intense and complicated! At this age, many kids will have formed a close knit group of a few best friends. This exercise asks kids to reflect on their experiences with peers. Start with a conversation about friend groups. What are the benefits and drawbacks to having one best friend vs. a small group or a big group of friends?
Prompt: What is the best number of close friends to have? Explain why.
How to go deeper: What are some of the qualities of a good friend? (Use the back of this page to write.)
Role modeling
Where to start: Tweenagers are becoming more aware of the people around them and who they admire. They may have a favorite musician, actor, politician, athlete, scientist, YouTuber, or TikToker. Start with a conversation about the qualities of this person.
Prompt: What public figure do you most admire and why?
How to go deeper: Often when someone is a public figure, we don’t see every part of their life. Even when they share private things on social media, there are things we don’t see, like something they’re worried about or struggling with, their messy bedroom, a pimple, a fight with a family member. Do you think it’s important for public figures to always put their “best face forward” and always show the good? Would they be less admirable if you knew more details about their life? (Use the back of this page to write.)
Teacher for the day!
Where to start: From morning till night, kids follow a schedule they don’t have control over. This exercise asks them to get creative about how they’d spend their time. Start with a conversation about what their real schedule looks like.
Prompt: Imagine that your teacher is absent and the school couldn’t find a substitute. The principal has asked you to plan the day’s schedule for your class. How will the day go?
How to go deeper: Would you want to take over this job for the rest of the year? Why or why not? (Use the back of this page to write.)
The moral of the story
Where to start: Start with a conversation about fables or stories with morals. You can name a few to get the conversation started. How many can you think of? What is the purpose of stories like these?
Prompt: Do you think “cautionary tales” or stories and fables with a moral at the end make kids behave better? Explain why or why not.
How to go deeper: Choose a “lesson” you want to impart and write a fable to illustrate why it’s important. (Use the back of this page to write.)
You’re the expert
Where to start: This exercise asks kids to reflect on their knowledge base. What’s something they know a lot about? It could be a childhood passion like trains or dinosaurs, something they learned about in school, or a toy, video game, or TV series. It could be a place, such as a neighborhood park, or a person, such as a sports figure or a baby sibling.
Prompt: What’s something you know a lot about? Write three surprising facts about that topic.
How to go deeper: How did you become an expert on this topic? What could you do to learn even more about it? (Use the back of this page to write.)
