81 Great Fourth Grade Writing Prompts

Check out this quality collection of fourth grade writing prompts that give students plenty of great ideas to write about.

These prompts encourage critical thinking, develop writing skills, and motivate fourth graders to express themselves.

That’s why they make a great addition to your collection of writing activities.

So pencil into your lesson plans this week a few of these fun fourth grade writing prompts.

Fourth Grade Writing Prompts

Even reluctant writers enjoy responding to these fourth grade writing prompts!

1. Tell about the best science experiment you’ve done this year.

2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being in the fourth grade?

3. Draft a letter to your grown-up self.

4. Write a combination of metaphors and similes to describe your dad.

5. Tell about a time when you helped someone with something they couldn’t do on his own. 

6. Compare this year to last year. What is the same? How is it different?

7. How did you meet your best friend?

8. Draft a letter to students giving tips for how to be successful in school.

9. Give instructions for how to organize one’s desk.

10. What social media hashtag can you create that best represents fourth grade? Explain how it symbolizes your grade level.

11. What is one new thing you learned about yourself this year?

12. Retell a disagreement you had with a sibling or friend.

13. Do you think cats or dogs are smarter, and why?

14. Write about your favorite smell, and explain why you like it so much.

15. Share your after-school routine.

16. Write your favorite fairy tale from another character’s point of view.

17. What would you pack if you could only bring one bag on a week-long vacation?

18. Recall a time you were angry. How did you calm down?

19.  Step-by-step, give instructions for how to make a sandwich.

20. What makes a good team player?

21. Write about the last trip you took with your family.

22. What would you do if you had a time machine?

23. Describe your experience learning to ride a bike.

24. What is the earliest memory you have?

25. What are you most looking forward to doing as a grown up? Why?

26. Write a diary entry from the perspective of somebody who has landed in her favorite video game and can’t get out.

27. Write a story from the perspective of a duck that grew up with cats.

28. What things do you miss most about being in the previous grade level?

29. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose to live and why?

30. Describe the strangest gift you’ve ever received.

fourth grade writing prompts
fourth grade writing prompts

31. Share a fun memory from science class.

32. Explain how to receive a good score on fourth grade writing prompts.

33. Tell about a time when you were sad.

34. Which animals make awful pets and why?

35. Explain how to make a good grade on a spelling test.

36. Write a story using these words: automobile, walking, faster, fly

37. Explain your favorite recess game to someone who doesn’t know how to play.

38. The answer is “The First Day of School”. Write five different questions.

39. Tell about the most important person in your life.

40. Do you think that playing sports makes you a better person? Why or why not?

41. How is watching a play different than watching a movie?

42. Share a fun holiday memory.

43. Do you think it’s better to be old or young? Why?

44. If you could read someone’s mind, but only one person, whose mind would you want to read and why?

45. What are three bad things about being invisible.

46. What do you think people would miss most about you if you disappeared tomorrow?

47. Tell the characteristics of a good friend.

48. What do you think the world would be like if there was no color in it? Describe it.

49. Describe what you think cars will look and sound like 100 years from now.

50. What makes your family special?

51. What does it mean to have an imagination, and what can you do with an imagination?

52. Compare and contrast an ocean and a river.

53. What do you think life is like on Mars? Talk about the sights, smells, and sounds you might find there. 

54. What makes someone a true hero?

55. Draft a story about a child who gets lost in the woods.

56. What would the world be like if humans could fly?

57. Would you rather live in the city or near a forest, and why?

58. Write a diary entry from the perspective of a house plant.

59. Tell about a hobby you do when you’re at home that you can’t do at school.

60. Using all five senses, describe chocolate-flavored ice cream.

61. What do you like best and least about responding to fourth grade writing prompts?

62. Write about a time when you helped someone.

63. Write a story in 10 sentences about the best day of your life. 

64. Explain the helpfulness of using text features when reading non-fiction texts.

65. Write a new scene for your favorite movie or read aloud book.

66. What are the best things about being a fourth grader? Why?

67. Write a story in 10 sentences about the worst day of your life. 

68. Compare and contrast two different grade levels.

69. Describe the similarities and differences between a mother, aunt, grandmother, and sister.

70. Retell the time you when on a fun scavenger hunt.

71. How do you add two improper fractions? Explain the steps.

72. What important lesson have you learned so far this school year?

73. Write an article for the school newspaper giving tips to fourth graders about how to use study skills to improve grades.

74. Write about a typical day from the perspective of a pencil.

75. Summarize the best book you ever read.

76. Describe how it feels to play outside. 

77. Would you rather ride a roller coaster or watch a good movie? Why?

78. Write a letter to the principal, persuading her to allow scooters during recess.

79. What does being a good person mean to you?

80. Describe things about yourself that make you fun to be around. 

81. Why would people want to be friends with you?

Final Thoughts: Fourth Grade Writing Prompts

Now you have a ready-supply of fourth grade writing prompts to use for various writing activities.

If you liked these 4th grade writing prompts, you might find helpful … best read aloud books for fourth grade.

Related: 500+ writing prompts for 4th graders