Discover ways to incorporate journaling into your social studies block using these social writing prompts.
In addition to improving writing skills, these social studies writing assignments deepen subject knowledge, encourage expression of thought, and ignite critical thinking.
That’s why these social studies writing prompts fit well as part of your collection of writing prompts.
Even reluctant writers respond well to them!
So include a few of these social studies writing prompts in your writer’s workshop lesson plans this week.
Social Studies Writing Prompts
Here you’ll find a variety of social studies writing prompts to serve your teaching needs.
1. Tell about a fun social studies project that you did this school year or last.
2. Compare and contrast any two landforms.
3. If you could create any new law, what would it be and why?
4. If there were no technological devices of any kind, what types of activities would you and your family do to say entertained?
5. Write about the advantages and disadvantages of traveling to a foreign country.
6. What is the benefit of responding to social studies writing prompts?
7. Describe the importance of community leaders such as pastors, politicians, and local business owners.
8. Summarize what you are currently learning about in social studies.
9. Write a story about a ship that goes missing in the Bermuda Triangle.
10. What’s an invention that you think the world would be better without? Why?
11. Describe what it might have been like to live in Egypt when the pyramids were built.
12. If you could start any type of business, what kind would you start and why?
13. Draft a speech convincing your classmates that you are the best choice for class president.
14. Instead of war, what are some ways that countries can resolve issues peacefully?
15. You’ve been given a time machine. Which year do you travel to and why?
16. Write a diary entry from the perspective of a pirate living at sea.
17. Brainstorm a list of questions that you would ask your grandparents about their childhood. What interests you in these topics?
18. Create a new national holiday. What’s the name, how is it celebrated, and in which month is it?
19. Draft a fictional story about a significant person in history.
20. Write a short biography about an individual who has had a huge impact on how we live today.
21. If there were no oceans, how would life be different?
22. Pretend that you are building a new city. Describe it, and explain how you will persuade people to move there.
23. What are some of the best ways to earn money as a teenager?
24. Choose a decade from your country’s history. Describe one of the most significant events or inventions that took place during this time period.
25. If you cold invent any new creation to make life easier, what would you create and why?
26. Describe how life would be different with no electricity.
27. Summarize one of the most popular tourist attractions in your city, state, or country.
28. What historical time period would you visit and why?
29. Who in history is not celebrated enough? Why do you feel this person deserves more recognition?
30. Create a short story about a world in which there is no money.
31. Describe your country’s flag. What do the colors and designs symbolize?
32. Write a letter for the school newsletter convincing classmates to recycle.
33. The front page headline of the local newspaper reads, “MLK Parade a Success Despite Downpour!”. Write the news story.
34. Explain why your country is a great place to live.
35. Draft a letter to a pen pal in another country telling her about the highlights and traditions of your country. Then ask about hers.
36. What do you think were the most challenging aspects of living 100 years ago?
37. As a citizen of your country, what are some of your civic duties? How do civic duties benefit all?
38. In your opinion, how does money motivate people?
39. What does it mean to be a good citizen?
40. Using map skills, explain how to get from one particular location to another.
41. Create a new flag for a new country. Describe it, and tell what its colors and designs symbolize.
42. Explain the benefits of using text features when reading a social studies textbook.
43. Describe what it might have been like to live during the Civil War.
Final Thoughts
Now you have a collection of social studies writing prompts to use for various writing activities.
Download lined paper to use with social studies writing prompts.
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