Elementary school marks the formal beginning of students’ writing journey.
During this phase, teachers have a variety of exciting and engaging writing activities at their disposal to lay a strong foundation for writing skills.
These writing activities for elementary students not only set the stage for academic success but also equip students with invaluable skills applicable throughout their educational journey and beyond.
When designing your lessons for writer’s workshops, add some fun and creativity to students’ writing journeys by blending in some of these elementary writing activities that empower students to evolve as confident and skillful writers.
Writing Activities for Elementary Students
1. Create a Glossary.
Have your elementary students compile glossaries for specific topics or subjects.
This activity improves vocabulary acquisition and organization skills, as students define and explain terms in a clear and concise manner.
2. Write a Book Recommendation.
As your students to become mini literary critics as they write persuasive book recommendations.
By summarizing plots, discussing characters, and sharing personal insights, students practice the art of convincing others to read their favorite texts.
3. Make a Timeline.
Prompt your students to explore sequential writing by creating timelines of historical events or personal experiences.
Doing so will strengthen their ability to present information chronologically and to organize events coherently.
See more sequencing activities.
4. Create an Affirmations Book.
This activity involves elementary students writing affirmations that promote self-confidence and growth.
By writing affirmations and compiling them into a book, students engage with positive self-talk and self-reflection.
5. Do a Class Collaborative Story.
Teach students about story structure with this activity. Initiate a story chain where each student contributes a sentence to create a collective story.
Related Content: Writing Prompts for Elementary Students
6. Write in Nature Journals.
Take students outdoors to observe nature, and then have them write journal entries describing what they saw, heard, and felt.
7. Draft a Research Report.
Students will explore a favorite topic and research it.
By compiling information and presenting it in an organized manner, they learn to communicate their findings effectively.
See a list of research ideas and topics for elementary students.
8. Recall a Personal Experience.
Have your elementary students tap into their own experiences and memories, sharing personal stories that develop their narrative writing skills.
By describing events, emotions, and lessons learned, your young writers will practice expressing their experiences in a relatable and engaging way.
9. Summarize the Best Things.
Ask students to list and describe the “best things” in various categories, from favorite books to cherished memories.
They will then summarize each list into one to three paragraphs.
10. Write a Story.
Ask students to draft their own stories.
Of all the elementary writing activities, this one seems most familiar to students.
That’s why it’s a great writing activity for all ages.
From fun adventures to everyday scenarios, students will develop their creativity, character development, and plot-building skills while engaging readers with their narratives.
11. Practice Descriptive Writing With Show and Tell.
Ask students to bring in a small item and then write a paragraph describing it in detail.
12. Write Letters.
Elementary students will express their thoughts, feelings, and ideas effectively through personal or persuasive letters.
Whether writing to a friend, family member, or fictional character, students will use the power of words to connect and communicate while practicing the conventions of letter format.
Fun Writing Activities for Elementary Students
13. Write Friendly Letters to Book Characters.
Encourage conversational writing by inviting students to write letters to their favorite book characters, expressing their thoughts, asking questions, and/or giving advice.
14. Share a Recipe.
Integrate writing with real-life skills by asking students to write recipes for their favorite dishes.
They may want to compile all of their recipes into a cookbook as a literacy keepsake.
15. Make Top 10 Lists.
Prompt students to create “Top 10” lists related to various topics, such as favorite books, places, or hobbies.
Afterward, they will summarize why these items are on their Top 10 list.
16. Create Your Own Superhero.
Ask students to invent their own superhero or character with special powers. They will write origin stories, describing their character’s background and adventures.
17. Design a Guide.
In this engaging activity that helps students practice giving clear directions and interesting facts, elementary students step into the shoes of a guide.
They will write descriptive and informative texts that lead readers through a chosen location, event, or topic.
This may be in the form of a how-to guide or manual.
18. Design a Menu.
Immerse students in the culinary world by having them design menus.
Using enticing descriptions, your elementary students will practice using descriptive language to make food options appear more attractive to consumers.
19. Create a Comic Strip Creation.
Provide templates for comic strips and encourage students to create their own stories using dialogue and illustrations.
20. Prepare Historical Character Interviews.
Assign students a historical figure to research, and then have them write interview-style conversations between themselves and the historical character.
Creative Writing Activities for Elementary Students
The following elementary writing activities stretch students’ imaginations and encourage them to think outside the box.
21. Write Using Story Stones.
Have students create a set of story stones with pictures or words on them.
They will select a few stones at random and use them as inspiration to create an original story.
22. Publish a Mini Book.
Have students write and illustrate their own mini-books on various topics.
They can bind their creations, feeling proud of their accomplishment as a book author.
23. Create Text for Wordless Picture Books.
This activity, perfect for elementary-aged students, encourages them to interpret visual cues and create their own narratives.
Provide wordless picture books and ask students to write their own stories based on the illustrations.
24. Create a New Ending.
After reading a story or book, challenge students to come up with a different ending and explain their reasoning.
25. Make Personal Narrative Collages.
Have students create collages using images from magazines, and then write personal narratives based on the collages.
26. Compose Rhyming Poems.
Encourage your students to explore poetry through rhyming.
Ask them to write short poems using rhyming words to express their thoughts or tell stories in a rhythmic manner.
27. Create a Book of Poems.
This activity also invites elementary students to explore poetry.
Whether composing individual poems or a series, students will experiment with composing different poetic forms and themes, strengthening their figurative language skills.
Consider hosting a poetry open mic day so that students can share their creations with classmates, friends, and family.
Final Thoughts On Elementary Writing Activities
Utilizing these creative and engaging writing activities for elementary students, you’ll make writing a fun and educational experience for young learners.