ThinkabaraAll 108 prompts
🍂 November writing prompts
Grades K–2 — I am thankful for……
- I am thankful for…
- My favorite food at Thanksgiving is… because…
- If I were a turkey, I would…
- Draw and write about a leaf you found.
- Someone who helps me is…
- My favorite thing about fall is…
- I can help at home by…
- A friend makes me happy when…
- If I had a pumpkin, I would make…
- The best game to play outside in the fall is…
- I say thank you when…
- My family likes to…
Grades 3–5 — Write a thank-you letter to someone who helped you this year.…
- Write a thank-you letter to someone who helped you this year.
- Describe a perfect fall day using all five senses.
- A turkey escapes before Thanksgiving. Tell the story of its adventure.
- What does it mean to be grateful? Give two examples from your life.
- Write a recipe for a happy family dinner (ingredients can be feelings!).
- If you could invite anyone to Thanksgiving dinner, who would it be and why?
- Veterans Day is November 11. What questions would you ask a veteran?
- Explain how to rake leaves into the biggest pile ever.
- Write about a family tradition and why it matters to you.
- Which is better: pumpkin pie or apple pie? Convince the reader.
- Describe something you can do now that you could not do last year.
- Write a story that begins: “The leaves started whispering…”
Grades 6–8 — Thanksgiving means different things to different families. What does it mean to yours?…
- Thanksgiving means different things to different families. What does it mean to yours?
- Write about a time something went wrong but you are grateful for what you learned.
- What does it mean to serve your community or country? Use an example.
- Should Thanksgiving week be a full week off school? Argue your position.
- Describe a meal that tells the story of your family or culture.
- Write a gratitude letter to someone you have never properly thanked.
- The first Thanksgiving story leaves out many voices. Whose perspective would you want to hear, and why?
- What is one thing you take for granted? Imagine a week without it.
- Write a short story that takes place entirely at a crowded holiday table.
- Is gratitude a feeling or a habit? Explain.
- Describe how autumn changes your town — the sounds, sights and routines.
- What is a small act of kindness that made a big difference to you?
❄️ December writing prompts
Grades K–2 — If I built a snowman, it would look like……
- If I built a snowman, it would look like…
- My favorite holiday tradition is…
- A gift I would like to GIVE is… because…
- If it snowed candy, I would…
- Winter is fun because…
- I can be kind this month by…
- My favorite thing to drink when it is cold is…
- If I were a penguin, I would…
- The best present does not come in a box. It is…
- When it is cold outside, I like to…
- Draw and write about your dream gingerbread house.
- This year I learned…
Grades 3–5 — How does your family celebrate in December? Describe one tradition step by step.…
- How does your family celebrate in December? Describe one tradition step by step.
- Write a story about a snowflake that is different from all the others.
- What is the best gift you ever gave someone? Why was it special?
- Invent a new winter holiday. What is it called and how do people celebrate?
- Explain how to build the perfect snow fort.
- Write a letter to yourself to open next December.
- You wake up and the whole town is covered in snow — and no one else is awake. What happens?
- Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa all use light. Why do you think light matters in winter?
- Describe your perfect winter break day from morning to night.
- Should kids get homework over winter break? Give reasons.
- Write a recipe for a perfect cup of hot cocoa — and a story about who drinks it.
- What are three goals you want to reach before the end of the year?
Grades 6–8 — Look back on this year. What are you most proud of, and what would you do differently?…
- Look back on this year. What are you most proud of, and what would you do differently?
- Is it better to give or to receive? Defend your answer.
- Write about a tradition you would keep forever and one you would change.
- How has a holiday or celebration changed for you as you have gotten older?
- Write a short story where a power outage ruins — or saves — a holiday.
- What does “the spirit of the season” mean if you do not celebrate a holiday in December?
- Describe the coldest you have ever been, in vivid detail.
- What is a gift that cannot be bought? Explain with an example.
- Write a review of your year as if it were a movie.
- Should stores start holiday decorations before Thanksgiving? Argue for or against.
- Interview a family member about a December they remember. Write their story.
- Make a list of 10 things that made you happy this year, then write about one.
⛄ Winter & January writing prompts
Grades K–2 — My New Year wish is……
- My New Year wish is…
- If I could play in the snow all day, I would…
- A winter animal I like is… because…
- This year I want to learn…
- How to make a snowman: First… Next… Last…
- If my mittens could talk, they would say…
- Something new I tried was…
- I feel cozy when…
- If I were a polar bear, I would…
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. dreamed of… My dream is…
- The best thing about winter break was…
- I am a good friend because…
Grades 3–5 — Write three New Year goals and a plan for each.…
- Write three New Year goals and a plan for each.
- Describe winter where you live to someone who lives somewhere very warm.
- Dr. King dreamed of a fairer world. What is your dream for your school or town?
- A snowstorm closes school for a week. Write a diary of each day.
- How do animals survive the winter? Explain one way.
- Write a story about a sled that can go anywhere.
- What is the best way to spend a snow day? Convince the reader.
- Tell about something hard you did that made you braver.
- If you could hibernate like a bear, would you? Why or why not?
- Write a poem about the sounds of winter.
- What is one habit you want to start this year? Why?
- Write a thank-you note to a person who helps keep your town running in winter.
Grades 6–8 — Are New Year’s resolutions useful or pointless? Explain.…
- Are New Year’s resolutions useful or pointless? Explain.
- What does it take to change a habit? Use your own experience.
- Dr. King said, “The time is always right to do what is right.” Describe a time this was true.
- Write a survival story set in a blizzard.
- Winter can feel long. What helps you stay motivated when days are short?
- Describe a goal you have for the next five years and the first step toward it.
- Should schools switch to online learning on snow days? Argue your position.
- Write a letter to your future self to open in one year.
- What is a skill you would teach younger kids, and how?
- Describe the view from your window on a winter morning, then imagine it 100 years ago.
- Who is a person, living or historical, who stood up for what was right? What can we learn from them?
- Write about a fresh start you made — or want to make.
How to build a journal habit
- Same time every day. The first 10 minutes of the morning or right after lunch works well in most classrooms.
- Choice helps. Let kids draw two cards and pick one.
- Don’t grade journals for spelling. The goal is ideas and fluency; save editing for final drafts.
- Share circle. Once a week, invite volunteers to read a favorite entry aloud.
- At home: a prompt at dinner works as a conversation starter, no pencil needed.
Types of prompts on this page
Each set mixes personal prompts (“My favorite holiday tradition is…”), narrative story starters (“A turkey escapes before Thanksgiving…”), how-to prompts (“Explain how to build the perfect snow fort”), opinion prompts (“Should kids get homework over winter break?”) and gratitude and reflection prompts — the kinds of writing the Common Core asks for at each grade.
For Thanksgiving, pair the November prompts with the “I am thankful for” writing pages and the thankful turkey craft. For Veterans Day, the 3–5 and 6–8 sets include prompts about service that go well with our Veterans Day thank-you cards.
Frequently asked questions
What are good writing prompts for kids?
Good prompts are short, personal and open-ended: they ask about something kids know (their family, a favorite food, a perfect day) and leave room for imagination (“If I were a turkey…”). For older kids, add opinion prompts that ask them to take a side and give reasons.
How do I pick prompts by grade?
K–2 prompts are sentence starters kids can finish and illustrate. Grades 3–5 ask for a paragraph: a story, a how-to, a letter or an opinion with reasons. Grades 6–8 ask for reflection and argument, often connecting to history or their own growth.
What are some November writing prompts?
Try “I am thankful for… because…” (K–2), “Write a thank-you letter to someone who helped you this year” (3–5) or “Write about a time something went wrong but you are grateful for what you learned” (6–8). All 36 November prompts are on this page.
How do I use the prompt cards?
Print the cards for your grade and month, cut them apart, and put them in a jar or envelope. Kids draw a card for daily journal time or early-finisher work. The lined journal pages have space to copy the prompt at the top.
How long should kids write in a journal?
About 5 minutes for kindergarten and first grade (a sentence and a picture), 10–15 minutes for grades 2–5, and 15–20 minutes for middle school. Consistency matters more than length.