Writing can be daunting for children, and it's hard to know where to begin. With intimidating topics such as grammar rules, spelling, and punctuation, your children may struggle to bring their ideas to life in writing. They need something entertaining and engaging to help them start off on the right foot. With 67 Fun & Exciting Writing Prompts for Grade 1 (Chinese & English), your children can get a personalized learning experience that helps them have fun while they practice. Stimulating topics tailored to their interests will spark their creativity and guide them through their first steps of writing!
Related: 22 Fun and Interactive Ways to Teach Kids Writing Chinese Characters
My daughter does not enjoy writing and often resists when asked to complete her homework. As writing is an important skill, I searched for ways to help improve her ability despite her reluctance.
I discovered that she has a passion for unicorns, magic, and potions, so I suggested she write how to create a potion. This simple suggestion sparked her enthusiasm and she wrote several pages, eventually creating a whole book. I was amazed to see how this topic inspired and unlocked her writing skills.
Since then, I have been trying different writing prompts to help express herself and her love of writing journey began from there.
67 Writing Prompts for Grade 1
If you're looking for some creative and engaging journal writing prompts for your kids, then this post is perfect for you! I've compiled a list of 67 writing prompts for grade 1 available in both English & Chinese that are designed to spark the imaginations of 6 to 7-year-olds to get their pencils moving.
I have divided the writing prompts into 10 different categories:
- 11 Narrative Writing Prompts
- 11 Expository Writing Prompts
- 10 Research Writing Prompts
- 5 Unicorn-Themed Writing Prompts
- 5 Dinosaur-Themed Writing Prompts
- 5 Mermaid-Themed Writing Prompts
- 5 Vehicles-Themed Writing Prompts
- 5 Space-Themed Writing Prompts
- 5 Super Hero-Themed Writing Prompts
- 5 Magic-Themed Writing Prompts
11 Narrative Writing Prompts for Grade 1
Narrative essay prompts for Grade 1 can provide an engaging and creative outlet for children to express themselves, explore their imaginations, and develop their writing skills. These prompts may focus on a child's own experiences, such as a special event or something they have recently learned, or they may explore more abstract topics like dreams and goals. By using narrative essay prompts, children can practice writing stories in a way that is both entertaining and educational.
- The day I met my best friend. ๆ้่ฆๆๆๅฅฝ็ๆๅ็้ฃไธๅคฉใ
- The funniest thing that ever happened to me. ๆ็ถๆญท้็ๆๆ่ถฃ็ไบๆ ใ
- My first day of school. ๆไธๅญธ็็ฌฌไธๅคฉใ
- A special person in my life and why they are important to me. ๆ็ๅฝไธญไธๅ็นๅฅ็ไบบๅ็บไป้บผไป/ๅฅนๅฐๆๅพ้่ฆใ
- A time when I showed kindness to someone else. ็ถๆๅๅ ถไปไบบ่กจ็พๅบๅๆ็ๆๅใ
- The most exciting adventure I have been on. ๆ็ถๆญท้็ๆๅบๆฟ็ๅ้ชใ
- A time when I overcame a challenge. ๆไธๆฌกๆๅ ๆไบๆๆฐใ
- The day I lost my first tooth. ๆๅคฑๅป็ฌฌไธ้ก็็้ฃๅคฉใ
- A time when I helped someone in need. ๆไธๆฌกๆๅนซๅฉไบๆ้่ฆ็ไบบใ
- A day at the beach. ๅจๆตท็ๅบฆ้ไธๅคฉใ
- A time when I felt really brave. ็ถๆๆๅฐ้ๅธธๅๆข็ๆๅใ
11 Expository Writing Prompts for Grade 1
Expository essay prompts provide an opportunity for Grade 1 to practice their non-fiction writing skills. These topics may involve exploring a variety of objects, ideas, people, or themes. By writing on these prompts, children can learn more about the world around them and improve their writing abilities during the process.
- What is my favorite color and why? ๆๆๅๆญก็้ก่ฒๆฏไป้บผ๏ผ ็บไป้บผ๏ผ
- What do I like to do on a rainy day? ๅจไธ้จๅคฉ๏ผๆๅๆญกๅไป้บผ๏ผ
- What is my favorite animal and why? ๆๆๅๆญก็ๅ็ฉๆฏไป้บผ๏ผ ็บไป้บผ๏ผ
- What are some of my favorite things to do with my family? ๆๆๅๆญกๅๅฎถไบบไธ่ตทๅๅชไบไบๆ ๏ผ
- What is my favorite book and why do I like it? ๆๆๅๆญก็ๆธๆฏไป้บผ? ็บไป้บผๆๅๆญกๅฎ๏ผ
- What is my favorite outdoor activity? ๆๆๅๆญก็ๆถๅคๆดปๅๆฏไป้บผ๏ผ
- What is my favorite holiday and why? ๆๆๅๆญก็็ฏๆฅๆฏไป้บผ๏ผ ็บไป้บผ๏ผ
- What is my favorite food and why do I like it? ๆๆๅๆญก็้ฃ็ฉๆฏไป้บผ๏ผ ็บไป้บผๆๅๆญกๅฎ๏ผ
- What is my favorite game to play with my friends? ๆๅๆๅๅๆๅๆญก็ฉ็้ๆฒๆฏไป้บผ๏ผ
- My favorite place to go on a family vacation. ๆๆๅๆญก็ๅฎถๅบญๅบฆๅๅฐๆนใ
- What is one thing that makes me happy and why? ่ฎๆ้ๅฟ็ไธไปถไบๆฏไป้บผ๏ผ ็บไป้บผ๏ผ
10 Prompts for Research Writing
Research writing prompts can be a great way to introduce Grade 1 to the world of academic writing. Research writing involves researching and exploring a topic in detail, then using this information to write an essay or report on the subject. These prompts provide an opportunity for children to practice their research skills, while also introducing them to new topics and ideas.
- What are the different types of insects and their habitats? ๆๅชไบไธๅ็จฎ้ก็ๆ่ฒๅไปๅ็ๆดป็ๅฐๆนๆฏไป้บผ๏ผ
- Pick a famous person or character and research their life or story. ้ธๆไธๅๅไบบๆ่ง่ฒ๏ผ็ ็ฉถไปๅ็็ๆดปๆๆ ไบใ
- What are some fun facts about animals that live in the ocean? ๆตทๆดๅ็ฉๆๅชไบๆ่ถฃ็ไบๅฏฆ๏ผ
- How do plants grow and what do they need to survive? ๆค็ฉๅฆไฝ็้ท๏ผ้่ฆไป้บผๆ่ฝ็ๅญ๏ผ
- Research about a type of food and write about where it comes from and how it is made. ็ ็ฉถไธ็จฎ้ฃ็ฉ๏ผๅฏซๅบๅฎไพ่ชๅช่ฃก๏ผๅฆไฝ่ฃฝไฝใ
- What are some different types of weather and how do they affect us? ๆๅชไบไธๅ็จฎ้ก็ๅคฉๆฐฃ๏ผ ๅฎๅๅฆไฝๅฝฑ้ฟๆๅ๏ผ
- What are some fun facts about the human body? ๆๅชไบไบบ้ซๆ่ถฃ็ไบๅฏฆ๏ผ
- What are some different types of fruits and vegetables and how do they benefit us? ไธๅ็จฎ้ก็ๆฐดๆๅ่ฌ่ๆไป้บผๅฅฝ่๏ผ
- Pick a musical instrument and research its parts and how it is played. ้ธๆไธ็จฎๆจๅจ๏ผ็ ็ฉถๅฎ็้จไปถๅๆผๅฅๆนๅผใ
- Learn about a country or culture and write about its traditions and customs. ๅญธ็ฟไธๅๅๅฎถๆๆๅ๏ผๅฏซๅบไปๅ็ๅณ็ตฑๅ็ฟไฟใ
5 Unicorn-Themed (็จ่ง็ธ) Writing Prompts
This session is especially for unicorn lovers. Writing about unicorns can be a fun and creative way for second graders to express their imaginations.
- Describe what I think a unicorn looks like and draw a picture of it. ๅฝขๅฎนๆๆณ่ฑกไธ้ป็จ่ง็ธ็ๆจฃๅญ๏ผไธฆ็ซไธๅน ๅใ
- If I had a pet unicorn, what would I name it and why? ๅฆๆๆๆไธ้ป็จ่ง็ธๅฏต็ฉ๏ผๆๆ็ตฆๅฎๅไป้บผๅๅญ๏ผ็บไป้บผ๏ผ
- If I could use a unicorn's magical powers for a day, what would I do? ๅฆๆๆไธๅคฉๆๅฏไปฅไฝฟ็จ็จ่ง็ธ็้ญๅ๏ผๆๆๅไป้บผ๏ผ
- Write a poem about a unicorn and what makes them so special. ๅฏซไธ้ฆ่ฉฉ้ๆผ็จ่ง็ธๅไปๅๆไป้บผ็นๅฅใ
- Imagine I am a unicorn: what would I do all day and where would I go? ๆณๅไธไธๆๆฏไธ้ป็จ่ง็ธ:ๆๆๅไป้บผ? ๆๆๅปๅช่ฃ๏ผ
5 Dinosaur-Themed (ๆ้พ) Writing Prompts
This session is intended for those who have an interest in dinosaurs. first graders can use writing about dinosaurs as a fun and imaginative way to express themselves.
- Imagine I am a dinosaur: what would I do? Write a story about it. ๆณๅไธไธๆๆฏไธ้ปๆ้พ: ๆๆๅไป้บผ๏ผๅฏซไธๅ้ๆผๅฎ็ๆ ไบใ
- What is your favorite type of dinosaur? ไฝ ๆๅๆญก็ๆ้พ็จฎ้กๆฏไป้บผ๏ผ
- Write about what I think it would be like to live during the time of the dinosaurs. ๅฏซไธๆ่ช็บ็ๆดปๅจๆ้พๆไปฃๆๆฏไป้บผๆจฃๅญ
- Write a story about a group of dinosaurs who go on an adventure together.ๅฏซไธๅ้ๆผไธ็พคๆ้พไธ่ตทๅ้ช็ๆ ไบใ
- What are some different types of dinosaurs and what did they look like? ๆๅชไบไธๅ็จฎ้ก็ๆ้พ๏ผๅฎๅ้ทไป้บผๆจฃๅญ๏ผ
5 Mermaid-Themed (็พไบบ้ญ)Writing Prompts
This session is designed for first graders who love mermaids. It will be an enjoyable and imaginative activity that involves writing about these mythical creatures.
- Draw a picture of what I think a mermaid looks like, and write about her features and abilities. ็ซไธๅผตไฝ ๆณ่ฑก็็พไบบ้ญ๏ผๅฏซไธๅฅน็็นๅพตๅ่ฝๅใ
- Imagine I found a mermaid's treasure chest – what would be inside? ๆณๅไธไธๆ็ผ็พไบไธๅ็พไบบ้ญ็ๅฏถ็ฎฑ – ่ฃก้ขๆๆฏไป้บผ๏ผ
- Write a story about a day in the life of a mermaid – what does she do all day? ๅฏซไธๅ้ๆผ็พไบบ้ญ็ๆดป็ๆ ไบ – ๅฅนๆดๅคฉๆๅจๅไป้บผ๏ผ
- Write about what I think a mermaid's home looks like, and what kind of plants and animals live there. ๅฏซไธๆ่ช็บ็พไบบ้ญ็ๅฎถๆฏไป้บผๆจฃๅญ๏ผไปฅๅ้ฃ่ฃก็ๆดป่ไป้บผๆจฃ็ๆค็ฉๅๅ็ฉใ
- Create my own mermaid character and write about her personality, talents, and interests. ๅตๅปบๆ่ชๅทฑ็็พไบบ้ญ่ง่ฒไธฆๅฏซไธๅฅน็ๅๆงใๆ่ฝๅ่่ถฃใ
5 Vehicles-Themed (ๆฑฝ่ป) Writing Prompts
This session is ideal for first graders who have an interest in vehicles. It will encourage first-graders to use their creativity and broaden their horizons by writing about these topics.
- Draw a picture of my favorite vehicle and write about why I like it. ็ซไธๅผตๆๆๅๆญก็ๆฑฝ่ป็ๅ็๏ผๅฏซไธๆๅๆญกๅฎ็ๅๅ ใ
- If I could design my own vehicle, what would it look like and what special features would it have? ๅฆๆๆๅฏไปฅ่จญ่จ่ชๅทฑ็่ป่ผ๏ผๅฎๆๆฏไป้บผๆจฃๅญ๏ผๆๆไป้บผ็นๆฎๅ่ฝ๏ผ
- Write a list of all the different types of vehicles I know and what makes each one unique. ๅฏซไธๆๆ็ฅ้็ๆๆไธๅ้กๅ็่ป่ผไปฅๅๆฏไธ็จฎ่ป่ผ็็จ็นไน่ใ
- If I could be a race car driver for a day, what race would I compete in and what would it be like? ๅฆๆๆๅฏไปฅๆ็บไธๅ่ณฝ่ปๆ๏ผๆๆๅๅ ๅชๅ ดๆฏ่ณฝ๏ผ้ฃๆๆฏไป้บผๆจฃๅญ๏ผ
- Draw a picture of a city filled with vehicles, and write about all the exciting things that happen there. ็ซไธๅน ๅ ๆปฟ่ป่ผ็ๅๅธ็ๅ็ซ๏ผไธฆๅฏซไธ้ฃ่ฃก็ผ็็ๆๆไปคไบบ่ๅฅฎ็ไบๆ ใ
5 Space-Themed (ๅคช็ฉบ) Writing Prompts
This writing prompt session is designed to encourage first graders to explore the vastness of space through imaginative writing.
- Draw a picture of my favorite planet and write about it. ็ซไธๅผตไฝ ๆๅๆญก็่กๆ็ๅ็๏ผๅฏซไธไฝ ๅฐๅฎ็ไบ่งฃใ
- Imagine I could travel to any planet in the solar system – which one would I choose and why? ๆณๅไธไธๆๅฏไปฅๅๅพๅคช้ฝ็ณปไธญ็ไปปไฝไธ้ก่กๆ – ๆๆ้ธๆๅชไธ้ก๏ผ็บไป้บผ๏ผ
- Create my own alien character and write about their appearance, personality, and abilities. ๅตๅปบๆ่ชๅทฑ็ๅคๆไบบ่ง่ฒไธฆๅฏซไธไปๅ็ๅค่กจใๆงๆ ผๅ่ฝๅใ
- What are some fun facts about space? ๅคช็ฉบๆๅชไบๆ่ถฃ็ไบๅฏฆ๏ผ
- What are some interesting things about the moon? ๆ็ๆไป้บผๆ่ถฃ็ไบๆ ๏ผ
5 Super Heroes-Themed (่ถ ็ด่ฑ้) Writing Prompts
In this session, first-grade children will be prompted to use their creativity and imagination to write about superheroes.
- Create my own superhero character and write about their powers, backstory, and their mission to save the world. ๅตๅปบๆ่ชๅทฑ็่ถ ็ด่ฑ้่ง่ฒ๏ผไธฆๅฏซไธไปๅ็ๅ้ใ่ๆฏๆ ไบไปฅๅไปๅๆฏๆไธ็็ไฝฟๅฝใ
- Draw a picture of a city under attack from a supervillain, and write about the hero who saves the day. ็ซไธๅน ๅๅธๅๅฐ่ถ ็ดๆกๆฃๆปๆ็ๅ็ซ๏ผไธฆๅฏซไธๆฏๆไธ็็่ฑ้ใ
- If I could have any superpower, what would it be and how would I use it? ๅฆๆๆๅฏไปฅๆๆไปปไฝ่ถ ่ฝๅ๏ผๅฎๆๆฏไป้บผไปฅๅๆๅฐๅฆไฝไฝฟ็จๅฎ๏ผ
- Write a story about a superhero team-up, where different heroes come together to save the world. ๅฏซไธๅ้ๆผ่ถ ็ด่ฑ้ๅ้็ๆ ไบ๏ผไธๅ็่ฑ้่้ๅจไธ่ตทๆฏๆไธ็ใ
- Imagine I have the power to grant wishes – what kind of wishes would I grant, and how would I use my powers for good? ๆณๅไธไธ๏ผๆๆ่ฝๅๅฏฆ็พ้กๆโโๆๆๅฏฆ็พไป้บผๆจฃ็้กๆ๏ผไปฅๅๆๅฐๅฆไฝๅฉ็จๆ็ๅ้ไพๅๅไบ๏ผ
5 Magic-Themed (้ญๆณ) Writing Prompts
This session is designed to capture the imaginations of first-graders and encourage them to explore the possibilities of magic.
- Write a story about a magic potion that can make dreams come true – what ingredients would you need and how would you brew it? ๅฏซไธๅ้ๆผๅฏไปฅ่ฎๅคขๆณๆ็็็ฅๅฅ่ฅๆฐด็ๆ ไบ – ๆ้่ฆไป้บผๆๅไปฅๅๅฆไฝ้้ ๅฎ๏ผ
- Imagine I could create my own magic spell – what would it do and when would I use it? ๆณๅไธไธ๏ผๆๅฏไปฅๅตๅปบ่ชๅทฑ็้ญๆณๅ่ช – ๅฎๆๅไป้บผไปฅๅไฝๆไฝฟ็จๅฎ๏ผ
- Create a list of ingredients I would use to make a love potion and write about what would happen if someone drank it. ๅตๅปบไธๅ็จๆผ่ฃฝไฝๆๆ ่ฅๆฐด็ๆๅๅ่กจ๏ผๅฏซไธๅฆๆๆไบบๅไบๅฎๆ็ผ็ไป้บผใ
- Write a recipe for a potion that can turn someone into an animal – what kind of animal would it be and why? ๅฏซไธไปฝๅฏไปฅๆไบบ่ฎๆๅ็ฉ็็ฅๅฅ่ฅๆฐด็้ ๆนโๅฎๆๆฏไป้บผๆจฃ็ๅ็ฉ๏ผ็บไป้บผ๏ผ
- Imagine I found a mysterious bottle with a potion inside – what would it do and how would I use it? ๆณๅไธไธ๏ผๆ็ผ็พไบไธๅ็ฅ็ง็็ถๅญ๏ผ่ฃก้ข่ฃๆ่ฅๆฐด – ๅฎๆๅไป้บผไปฅๅๆๅฐๅฆไฝไฝฟ็จๅฎ๏ผ
How Many Sentences Should a 1st Grader Write?
The exact number of sentences that Grade 1 should write will depend on the specific writing task, as well as the individual child's learning abilities and interests. Generally speaking, first graders may be asked to write anywhere from one sentence to a few paragraphs. Writing tasks can vary from handwriting practice to short stories or essays.
In addition to focusing on sentence structure, grammar, and punctuation, it is also important to encourage first graders to write creatively. Creative writing tasks may involve writing stories, poems, or even expressing their thoughts in a diary format. As they become more confident in their abilities, you can gradually increase the length of their writing assignments.
Overall, remember that each child is unique and should be given the freedom to express themselves through writing. Additionally, encouraging children to write freely will help them develop a lifelong passion for writing.
Are There Any Tips for Teaching Writing to Grade 1 Children?
Yes! Here are some tips to help you teach writing to first graders:
- Encourage creativity: Let your first graders explore their imaginations and write about topics that interest them.
- Model good writing: Show your first graders how to structure a sentence, use proper grammar, and punctuate correctly by providing examples of well-written text.
- Make it fun: Use games and activities to make the process of learning more enjoyable for your first graders.
- Give them feedback: Offer your first graders positive reinforcement and constructive criticism to help them improve their writing skills.
- Use visuals: Visual cues can help first graders understand the structure of a sentence and how punctuation works.
- Provide practice opportunities: Allow your first graders to practice their writing skills in different formats, such as stories, poems, or essays.
- Consider their interests: When assigning writing tasks, think about topics that will engage your first graders and make the learning process more enjoyable.
Following these tips can help you create an effective and engaging writing program for your first-graders. With the right guidance and support, theyโll be able to develop their cognitive skills and become confident writers.
Want More Writing Prompts?
- Fun Writing Prompts for Kids: 30-Day Kids Writing Challenge – Childhood101
- 107 Creative writing topics for kids: Imaginative & Fun – KidsnClicks
- 30 Narrative Writing Prompts for 1st Grade – Journal Buddies
- 52 Journal Prompts For Kids – Curly Bun Mom
The Last Thing about Journal Writing Prompts for Grade 1
Writing is a crucial skill, and engaging children at a young age can make a significant impact on their skills development. These 67 journal writing prompts available in both English & Chinese for grade 1 are designed to spark the imaginations of six to seven-year-olds. By encouraging kids to write creatively about their thoughts and experiences, they can develop their writing skills and enjoy the process. So, grab those pencils and let your first-graders start writing today! Please leave a comment to share your experiences with your children.
