Sixth grade marks a big transition in students’ lives. They’re no longer little kids, but they’re not quite teens either–that’s what middle school is all about. To help your students bridge this transition with ease, it’s important to give them plenty of opportunities to practice their writing skills since they’ll be doing a lot of writing in high school and beyond.
Over and above that, writing can be the perfect way for kids to express themselves and explore the world around them. That will only happen if you give them the space to do so, though, so here are 50 engaging 6th-grade writing prompts to help your students get their creative juices flowing.
Narrative Writing Prompts
Narrative writing revolves around telling a story with a plot that has rising action, a climax, and a resolution. These narrative writing prompts will give your 6th-grade students plenty to think about–and write about.
Story Starters
Students will often struggle with where to start their stories. These story starters will help them get past that initial hurdle by giving them some ideas to get their narratives going.
1. I had the biggest fight with my best friend yesterday. It all started when…
2. My first trip to the beach wasn’t what I expected. I thought it would be…
3. I’ll never forget the time when I was lost in the city. It was…
4. I had the biggest surprise of my life when…
5. My family went on the craziest road trip last summer. We started out by…
As you guide your students through their writing journey, make sure to encourage them to be creative and have fun with it – but still have them include the essential elements of a story, like rising action, a climax, and a resolution, so that their stories are well-rounded and engaging.
Personal Narrative Prompts
Personal narratives are all about giving students the opportunity to tell their own stories in descriptive ways. Here are writing prompts to get them started.
6. What’s the best (or worst) birthday you’ve ever had? Why was it so great (or terrible)?
7. What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done? What made you do it?
8. Think about your future self–where do you see yourself in 1 year? Write about it.
9. Think about the best day you’ve ever had. What made it so special?
10. Describe a time when the weather was really extreme. Describe it.
Reflective Writing Prompts
Reflective writing is a lot like journaling–it gives students the opportunity to process their thoughts and feelings on a given topic. These reflective writing prompts/journal prompts will encourage thoughtful reflection in your students while giving them some fun.
11. Make a list of your favorite things about yourself.
12. Take a walk in nature and describe what you see. What emotions does it evoke in you?
13. Describe your sports or extracurricular activities. What have you learned from them all?
14. Make a list of all the emotions you experience throughout the day.
15. Make a record of your daily objectives. Consider which one was the most simple to accomplish.
Journal prompts are usually effective because they make you think about a certain topic in a different, more introspective way, and so students should be encouraged to approach these writing prompts with open minds and hearts.
Informational Writing Prompts
Informational writing is an essential skill for middle-schoolers, especially as they head into high school and college, where they’ll be expected to write long-form essays rather than fiction. These informational writing prompts will give your students plenty of practice with this type of writing.
Expository Prompts
Expository writing is a type of nonfiction writing that requires students to investigate an idea, assess evidence, expand on the idea, and present an argument concerning that idea in a clear and concise manner. These prompts will help your students hone their expository writing skills.
16. Compare and contrast two of your friends.
17. Choose a challenge at your school. What’s the ideal solution for it?
18. Discuss a problem in a movie you enjoy. What was the outcome of the situation?
19. What was the cause of a recent argument you had? What was the effect?
20. Find an interesting story/narrative in your local newspaper and tell it in your own words.
Research Prompts
Next, research writing prompts will help students practice their research skills by investigating a given topic and finding credible sources to support their claims. These research writing prompts will allow your students to conduct investigative research and write about what they’ve found in detail.
21. How long can fish survive without water?
22. What animals are on the verge of extinction?
23. What’s the history of your favorite sport, and how did it develop?
24. What are people’s civil rights, and who has fought for them?
25. Explore your dream career. What skills would you need to succeed in it?
This may be a good time to introduce your students they could use to reference their information and give credit where it’s due. Inform them that not all sources are created equal, and brainstorm some tips for evaluating the credibility of a website.
Procedural Prompts
As their name suggests, procedural writing prompts provide students with the opportunity to write clear and concise instructions on a given topic. These prompts will help your sixth graders learn the essentials of procedural writing.
26. Make a user guide for anything you use frequently (e.g., your computer, smartphone, video game console).
27. Write a set of instructions for cleaning your room.
28. Teach a younger reader how to do homework without wasting time.
29. What’s the quickest way for you to go to the library if you’re in your classroom now?
30. Describe the steps involved in tying a shoe.
Argument Writing Prompts
The next type of writing prompt is argument writing. Argumentative writing is a type of nonfiction writing that requires students to investigate a topic, collect evidence, and assess their findings to defend a point of view while also considering the perspectives of others.
These argumentative writing prompts will give your young writers practice with this type of persuasive writing.
Argumentative Essay Prompts
The most common type of essay prompt on standardized tests is the argumentative essay question since it’s intellectually challenging. In these questions, students will be given a prompt and they’ll be asked to take a position on an issue or topic.
They’ll then need to provide satisfactory evidence from their research to support their position. Here are some prompts to get them started.
31. Should school uniforms be required in all schools?
32. Is it ever okay to break the law?
33. Do you think people should be required to vote? Why or why not?
34. Is Monday through Friday the best school schedule?
35. Is it important to learn science?
Persuasive Prompts
Emotional appeals can be a powerful tool in persuasive writing. In these prompts, students will need to use their powers of persuasion and other rhetorical strategies to convince their readers to see their point of view. Here are persuasive prompts to put your students’ powers of persuasion to the test.
36. Make a case for or against year-round schooling.
37. Should there be a limit on the amount of homework students can receive?
38. Persuade your parents to let you choose your own bedtime.
39. What’s the best way to deal with bullies in schools?
40. Who’s the greatest sports athlete of all time?
Poetry Prompts
Poetry prompts are a great way to get your students to write creatively. These prompts will help your students tap into their imaginations and write poems that are both beautiful and moving. Whether in free verse or strict meter, your students will be sure to impress you with their poetic prowess.
41. Write about how you’re feeling right now in a haiku.
42. Create a poem in memory of a book, TV, or film character who has died.
43. Choose an onomatopoeia and use it five times in a poem.
44. Consider a metaphor for the current school year and create a poem about it.
45. Write a friendship poem in which every line includes a rhyme for “friend.”
Creative Writing Prompts
Last but not least, creative writing is all about using imagination to create a piece of writing that’s unlike anything else. This creative writing prompts will help your students tap into their imaginations and write some truly unique pieces revolving around self-expression.
46. If I could have any superpower, it would be…
47. Write about a day in the life of your favorite cartoon character.
48. If you could be a historical figure for a day, who would you choose to be?
49. Write a family story from the perspective of your pet.
50. Invent a new holiday and describe how it’s celebrated.
Jump In: Better prepare your 6th graders for this activity by improving their reading comprehension first! Proceed to read my list of fun comprehension exercises here — 11 Fun 6th Grade Reading Comprehension Activities (& Games).
Dust Off Those Pencils and Get Ready to Write!
While many students lose motivation as their first middle school year goes on, these 50 6th grade writing prompts will help keep them excited about writing all year long. With tons of different genres and modes of writing to choose from, there’s something here for everyone! So get those pencils sharpened and those minds thinking—it’s time to start writing!
Last Updated on July 24, 2022 by Emily
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