creative writing images for grade 3

70 Picture Prompts for Creative Writing (with Free Slides)

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Visual writing prompts help young writers generate new ideas and overcome writer’s block. We’ve put together 70 picture prompts for creative writing that you can use in your writing centers or lesson plans to get your students’ creative juices flowing.

Picture Writing Prompts for All Ages

Writers of all ages and experience levels can get stuck thinking about what to write. Writer’s block is not just a challenge for reluctant writers. Even professional writers have days when they feel less than inspired.

Visual prompts can result in a vast array of story ideas. A single image viewed by ten writers will result in ten completely different stories. Even if you use verbal cues to get students thinking about the picture, each student will still write a unique response to the image.

Visual creative writing prompts are fantastic for elementary school because younger students often relate more to a pictorial prompt than a written one, but don’t shy away from using these with high school and middle school students as well. Pictures make a fun alternative to your typical writing prompts and story starters and can help shake up your regular routine.

How to Use Picture Prompts for Creative Writing

There’s no limit to the ways you can use writing prompts. Here are some of our favorite ways to incorporate image prompts into your weekly lesson plans .

• Writing Center. Print cards or writing pages with these images on them and put them in a writing center for your students to discover at their own pace.
• Specific Skills. Use story picture prompts to help kids work on specific writing skills. For example, you could work on descriptive writing by having them describe the setting of the picture in detail. Or you could work on character development by having them make up a history for a person in a picture.
• Warm-up Activity: You could pop the pictures into Google slides and project an image on a screen or whiteboard for the first fifteen minutes of class and have students work on a short story as soon as they enter the class.

No matter how you decide to use them—whether at home or in the classroom—photographic writing prompts are a great way to cultivate a daily writing habit and encourage kids to explore new topics.

70 Pictures for Writing Prompts

We’ve selected 70 of the most interesting pictures we could find for this exercise. When choosing photos for writing prompts, we look for high-quality photos with intriguing subject matter, but we try to go beyond that. We want to share images that suggest a story, that make the viewer ask questions and wonder why things are the way they are.

We want to feel propelled to explore questions like, What happened before the photo that led to this moment? What are we witnessing in this photo? What’s about to happen?

A photo doesn’t make much of a story starter if it doesn’t suggest that there might be a bigger picture lurking beneath the surface.

We hope you and your students love these picture prompts for creative writing as much as we do. If you love them, go ahead and scroll to the bottom to grab your own copy.

We’ve included a couple of questions with each picture that you could use to spark pre-writing conversations in your classroom, which can be helpful when working with younger students who might need a little more direction.

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Whose cat is this? What is he looking at? Where is he?

What is the owl thinking about? Is he alone? What does he hope to eat for dinner?

Who are these frogs? What is their relationship with each other? Why are they taking photos?

How did the dog get a phone? Why is he taking selfies? What is he doing with the pictures he takes?

This cat doesn’t look too happy. What’s bugging him? Did he get too many phone calls or is he waiting on an important call that’s taking too long to come?

What do these chicks think of the dog? What does the dog think of the chicks? Do you think they can communicate with each other? If so, what would they say?

Where do these lemurs live? What are they looking at? What is something unusual that might happen to them?

What is this fox doing? Is he yawning and stretching or is he trying to scare someone away? What kind of mischief does he like to get up to?

Is this wolf alone? If not, who is with him? What is he planning to do? Does he have a family to feed or protect?

What is this child doing on the laptop? Can he actually read and type or is he just playing? If he can read and type, how did he learn that at such a young age? What other cool things can he do?

Where is this woman? Is she lost? How did she get to this street? What interesting things might she discover as she explores this new city?

Why is the dog wearing glasses? Can he see through them? What are he and the girl doing? How does he feel about it?

Who are these two little boys? What is their relationship with each other? What is the teddy bear’s story?

Who are these children? Why are they running? Is it a race or are they playing a game? Who’s going to win?

Whose horse is this? Does the little boy own it or does he just visit it? Can the horse talk? How does the boy feel when he’s with the horse?

What is this boy reading? Does the book have magical powers? Does the boy? Do the stories in the book become real or does something else special happen?

Where is this man? How did he get there? What is he looking for?

Who is walking over the bridge? What’s on the other side? Is it worth the risk?

What are these people doing on the elephant? Where are they? Are they tourists or is the elephant their pet? What would life with an elephant be like?

Who made this map? It looks old. Has it been hidden away for a long time? Who discovered it and how? What does it lead to?

Whose typewriter is this? What important or secretive thing might they be working on? What could happen if the wrong person finds their work?

Who are these three stuffed animals? Are they living? What is their story?

Whose ukulele is this? Why did they leave it here? Who might find it?

Where is the owner of the bike? Where does this path lead? What if the bike’s not there when the owner returns?

Whose shoes are these? Why did they leave them here? Why are they so dirty?

Who was reading the newspaper? What was the most interesting thing they read? Where have they disappeared to?

Who put this sign on the old truck? What do you think of it? How did the truck end up in its current condition and location?

Who set the table? Who are they expecting? What special occasion are they celebrating? What could go wrong?

Whose birthday cake is this? Are they having a party? Who is there? Who did they want to have there that didn’t show up?

Who lives here? How do they access their home? What is their life like?

Who built the igloo? Where is it? How does it feel to spend the night inside it?

What is the history of this castle? Who lives in it now? Does it have any special or magical features?

Is this barn abandoned or do people live on the property? What kind of animals might live here? How do they keep themselves entertained?

What is it like living on a houseboat? What kind of community do you think forms among the neighbors? Imagine you live on one of these boats and think about how your daily life might change. What interesting things could you do if you lived here? What would you miss the most?

Where is this hut? Who lives here? What mystery might unfold if a stranger came knocking at their door?

What is this lighthouse called? Who runs it? How often do they leave? What is the most memorable experience they’ve had as a lighthouse operator?

How did this house get here? Does anyone live in it? What would life be like here?

Where is this festive street? Are the people there celebrating something? Where is everybody?

Who lives here? How did they build this house? Are they hiding from something? What does it look like inside?

Whose notebook is this? Why did they leave it here? What’s written in it and how might it change the life of the person who finds it?

What are these women doing? What are they supposed to be doing? Will they be in trouble if they get caught?

Who might be represented in this statue? Why is she being pulled by lions? What amazing things might she have done to deserve a statue in this prominent place?

Where is this? Who is riding in the hot air balloons? Where are they going and why?

How old is this tree? Where is it? What are some of the most fascinating stories it could tell?

Where is this carousel? Who is riding it? Can you think of a special or strange story about how it came to exist in this particular place?

What are these people thinking about? What’s at stake for them? What happens if one of them sneezes?

Where are these penguins? What are they talking about? Which one of them is the leader?

What is this place? Was it designed to be open like this or was it once part of someone’s home or a public building? How have people’s opinions of this place changed over time?

Who are these kids? Is this what they’re supposed to be doing? What happens when their teacher sees them?

Who is supposed to ride in this boat? Where are they going? Will they make it there?

Is this plane special to someone? What did they have to do to get it/build it? Where will they fly to in it?

Who decorated this train car? Which passengers will fill it up? What will they talk about?

Whose skis are these? Why are they sticking out of the snow? How did their owner get down the mountain without them?

Where does this gondola go? Who rides it? How does it feel to ride it?

Who’s driving the monster truck? Why is it at the beach? What is it going to crush? Who is watching?

Where is the boat going? Who is on it? What is their mission?

What city is the helicopter flying over? Why? Is the driver looking for something specific or do they have a special delivery?

What’s the little boy doing in the boat? Is he alone or is someone with him? Where is he trying to go?

Who is in the sub? What’s it like inside? What are they doing?

Whose book is this? What’s it about? What’s happening to it?

How did that piece of land with the house on it break off from the rest of the world? Why? Where is it going? Is anyone in the house?

Who is this girl? Where is she? Who is she shooting at?

Where does this scene take place? Is the lizard/dragon good or bad? What is its relationship with the girl?

What do these books represent? What kind of world is this? What (or who) is inside the books?

What are these dinosaurs discussing? Where are they? What do they do for fun?

Whose cottage is this? Do they still live there? If not, where have they gone? If so, what do they do there?

What is the moth thinking about? Is it alone? What’s the biggest challenge it faces in this moment?

Who is the owl looking at? Has it read these books? What is its greatest talent?

Where are these trees? Why are they pink? Do they have any special powers or features?

What do you think? Which kind of pictures do you like best for creative writing prompts ? Let us know in the comments.

Tuesday 5th of March 2024

I LOVE these! My daughter has always struggled with written story prompts and an internet search this week convinced me of the value of picture prompts for reluctant readers/writers (https://youcanjournal.com/journal-picture-prompts/ if you're interested!). I'll definitely be using these to help improve her writing skills. Thanks so much!

Tuesday 26th of December 2023

I think the idea of using picture prompts is a great idea. It initiates oral language thus building vocabulary. It allows lends itself to students working in small groups to stimulate new ideas. The prompts engage the students and gives the teacher the opportunity to focus on specific writing skills.

luke elford

Wednesday 13th of December 2023

cloey mckay

Tuesday 17th of October 2023

I tried this with myself and my 6th-grade students, and they love it. it gives room for so much creativity.

Nayyar Abbas

Tuesday 30th of May 2023

This is very good idea and it really works, viewing these one try to think one's own way that what these pictures are telling or asking? I also recommend that this idea should also be given to the students for building their creative instinct.

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50 Creative 3rd Grade Writing Prompts (Free Printable!)

Taking the leap from the primary level to the intermediate grades.

Third grade is a huge transitional year in elementary school. Third grade writers have learned foundational concepts and skills and have had time to practice. Now they are developing more complex skills as they dig deeper, learn to make connections, and analyze the topics they write about. Here are 50 third grade writing prompts to help your students master and refine their writing skills.

If you’d like even more upper elementary writing prompts, we publish new ones twice a week on our kid-friendly site: the Daily Classroom Hub . Make sure to bookmark the link!

(Want this entire set in one easy document? Get your free PowerPoint bundle by submitting your email here, so you’ll always have the prompts available!)

1. Tell about a special event in your life.

2. What are you best at?

3. What do you want to learn more about?

4. I could never live without______.

5. If you could go anyplace in the world, where would you go and why?

6. Interview one of your parents or grandparents and ask them to tell you a story from their childhood. Share their story here.

7. Describe one of your favorite book characters. Tell three things about their personality.

8. Do you think third graders should have to do chores at home? Why or why not?

9. What is something you would change about school if you could?

10. Tell about a time you helped somebody.

11. Tell about a time somebody helped you.

12. Tell about a memorable “first” in your life. For example, the first time you ate a particular kind of food, the first time you met your teacher, etc.

13. Describe step by step how to make a pizza.

14. What does it mean to be a hero?

15. I am afraid of _______ because_______.

16. What is the difference between being polite and rude? Give three examples.

17. What is the most important rule in the classroom?

18. What are the three most important qualities you look for in a friend?

19. Do you think kids should be assigned homework? Why or why not?

20. Nature gives us many beautiful things—plants, animals, water, weather, stars and planets, etc. What is one of your favorite things in nature and why?

21. If I were a spider, I’d _______.

22. Three things that make me happy are ______.

23. What is your favorite holiday and why?

24. Tell about one of your family’s unique traditions.

25. If you could have a pet, what would you choose? How would you take care of it?

26. Write about a dream you recently had.

27. Tell about a person that inspires you and why.

28. Name five things you are thankful for and why you are thankful for them.

29. What are ways you can be a good citizen?

30. When you and a friend disagree, how do you work it out?

31. What do you think the world will be like in one hundred years?

32. What is your favorite type of weather? Why?

33. What superpower do you wish you had? Why?

34. What famous person would you like to meet? Why?

35. In your opinion, which animal makes the best pet? Give three reasons for your answer.

36. If someone gave you $100, how would you spend it?

37. Should third graders have cell phones? Why or why not?

38. If you could be an Olympic athlete, what sport would you participate in?

39. Write about your “getting ready for school” routine.

40. Write about your “getting ready for bed” routine.

41. If you could travel through time like Jack and Annie in the Magic Tree House, where would you go?

42. In your opinion, what does a perfect weekend look like?

43. Write about the last time you felt really angry. What happened and how did it all work out?

44. Pretend there was a special zoo where animals could talk. Which animal would you talk to and what are three questions you would ask?

45. What is your favorite thing with wheels? Why?

46. Tell the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears from the point of view of Baby Bear.

47. What do you think would grow if you planted a magic bean?

48. Which would you rather be able to do—fly or read people’s minds? Why?

49. Tell about an adult in your life that you admire.

50. If you were traveling for a week and could only bring a backpack, what would you pack?

Get My Third Grade Writing Prompts

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• Image Prompts

85+ Picture Writing Prompts For Kids (+ Free Printable)

A picture is worth a thousand words. So how many words can you write for these 85 picture writing prompts for kids and grow-ups alike! Pictures, whether something as simple as an apple or as complex as an action scene can spark the imagination in more ways than one.

Of course, when looking at pictures you can take the literal route, and describe whatever you see in front of you. Or you can explore your imagination, and think about the ‘What Ifs..’ of a picture. What if that person is actually upset? What if this picture is of a broken family? What if the world looked like this years ago? A picture can have so many hidden meanings and can hide so many secrets. The slightest detail could mean everything. Just imagine you’re a detective solving a crime from one picture alone. Examine every detail, write it down and think why? Only then can you fully understand a picture.

For more inspiration take part in our daily picture writing prompt challenge . Each day you will be given a new picture prompt to write about.

Picture Prompt Generator

In this post, we have included a mix of simple pictures, story picture prompts, photographs, fantasy images and even some action-packed images.

You can find the complete list of our picture writing prompts below. We’ve also created a smaller PDF version that includes 30 random picture prompts. Download the printable PDF here .

You might also be interested in the following posts:

• 30 Christmas Pictures To Get You Writing ‘Tis Jolly Season
• 25+ Halloween Image Prompts For Mastering Horror Stories
• How to Use Image prompts To Inspire You

150 Picture Prompts To Inspire

Over 85 picture prompts for creative writing, story-telling and descriptive writing assignments:

How to Use these Prompts

Picture prompts are the perfect writing stimulus especially when you hit writer’s block . Here are a number of ways you can use these picture writing prompts to spark your imagination:

• Descriptive Writing: Directly describe everything you see in extreme detail. You could even go beyond the physical appearance of things, and explore your other senses, such as smell, hear, feel and taste.
• Story-Telling: Pick just one image, and tell a whole story based on this one image.
• Story Starter: Similarly you can pick one image, and use it as the starting place of your story.
• Collaborative Story-Telling: In a group of 5 – 7 students, each student can have a random picture. The first student uses their picture as the story starter, and then the next student continues the story based on their own image. Keep going until the final student ends the story.
• Idea Generation: Pick one image and try to think of at least 3 story ideas related to that one image. 
• Daily Writing Challenge: Give your students 7 images, and tell them to write a description for each image every day. 

These are just some ways to use images as writing prompts. You can also check our post on 8 fun story-telling games using image prompts for more ideas.  Did you find our picture writing prompts useful? Let us know in the comments below!

Marty the wizard is the master of Imagine Forest. When he's not reading a ton of books or writing some of his own tales, he loves to be surrounded by the magical creatures that live in Imagine Forest. While living in his tree house he has devoted his time to helping children around the world with their writing skills and creativity.

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Grade 3 Writing Prompts

25 great third grade writing prompts.

These Grade 3 writing prompts will transform your child into a budding young author! Keep scrolling for the following categories:

• Sentence starters

Descriptive Writing

Journal prompts, personal narrative writing, general prompts, sentence starters.

• If I was in charge of the world…
• If I could make the rules in my house…
• School is interesting because…
• If I could be friends with a celebrity we would…
• If all the trees were made of candy…
• Invent a new game. Describe how you play it?
• Describe a goal you have for yourself.
• Describe your perfect pet.
• Describe your dream job.
• If you had all the money in the world, describe what you would do.
• If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
• What makes you most happy?
• If someone was to describe your personality, what would they say?
• What is your proudest accomplishment?
• How do you show others you care about them?
• Have you ever been hurt? What happened?
• Write about a time when you felt you worked really hard.
• Think about a time when you were sick. What did you do to get better?
• Describe your favorite memory from when you were little.
• Do you have a favorite holiday memory? Describe it.
• If you could bring home any wild animal, what would it be?
• What do you like to do in your free time?
• If you and a friend were laughing, what would it be about?
• Go for a walk outside. Using your five senses, what did you experience?
• What would happen if you were trapped in a store overnight?

How Night Zookeeper can help

Night Zookeeper makes writing fantastically fun for children aged six to twelve!

Our language arts program for kids includes thousands of award-winning writing activities, from creative writing prompts, to interactive lessons, to writing games that your child will love!

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More writing prompts & activities

• Grade 3 Picture Writing Prompts
• Grade 3 Writing Activities
• Creative Writing Prompts for Kids
• Elementary Writing Prompts
• Elementary Writing Activities

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Picture Prompts

Over 140 Picture Prompts to Inspire Student Writing

By Natalie Proulx

• May 23, 2019

Sign up for our free Learning Network newsletter. Receive new writing prompts in your inbox every week.

Updated: May 31, 2019

Think The New York Times is only for readers at a high-school reading level? Think again.

Besides written articles, The Times also offers a rich collection of visuals — photos, illustrations, graphics, GIFs and short videos — that are accessible to learners of all levels. Since 2016, we’ve been featuring these images in our daily Picture Prompts : short, image-driven posts that invite a variety of kinds of student writing.

Teachers tell us they use these prompts in all kinds of ways. Some use them to encourage students to develop a daily writing habit . Others as an exercise to practice inferences , spark discussion or support reading . This year, one elementary school music teacher told us how her class used the visuals as inspiration for writing short stories accompanied by music .

For more ideas, we have a lesson plan on how to teach with Picture Prompts and other Times images, as well as a free, on-demand webinar that explores how to use our thousands of writing prompts for everyday low-stakes writing practice across the curriculum.

Below, we’ve categorized the 140+ prompts we published during the 2018-19 school year based on the type of writing they primarily ask students to do — whether it’s penning short stories and poems, sharing experiences from their own lives, telling us their opinions, or interpreting an image’s message. All are still open for comment.

You can find even more images in our Picture Prompt roundups for the 2016-17 and 2017-18 school years.

If you use this feature with your students, or if you have other ideas for how to use photos, illustrations and graphics to encourage writing, let us know in the comments section.

What story could this image tell? Use your imagination.

Three Dots Balloon Face Oars and S’mores Conversation Spaceship at the White House Around the Campfire Special Key Computer Screen 17-Foot Python Batman on a Couch Hanging With Friends Hole in the Ceiling In a Crowd Opossum Among Shoes Your Food Obsession Tech Gadgets Carrying a Letter Reaching Through the Wall Sledding in the Mountains Trees, River, Cottage and Sheep The Ride Headphones Leap In the Stands Shade Under the Table Security Line At Their Computers Tiny Stories Tarot Cards Haunted House? Driver and Bicyclist Red Ball Kneeling and Reaching A Letter in the Mail Campfire

Share experiences from your own life.

One Last Adventure Amusement Park Dog in a Backpack Generation Z Breakfast A New App Met Gala Tidying Up Take Your Child to Work Day New Homes Photos From Space Social Media Star Signs of Spring Literary Protagonists The Story of Your Name Dream Home Momo Gym Class Nostalgic Places Price Tags Night Owl or Early Bird Lunar New Year Rescue Pets Polar Vortex Facing Rejection Dreams Superstitions Holiday Season Astrology Favorite Books Journaling Caffeine Giving and Getting Candy Around the World Journeys Saying Thank You Nutrition ‘The Simpsons’ Man, Seal, Octopus Weddings The Night Sky Remembering 9/11 World’s Largest Prairie Dog

What do you think this image, chart or cartoon is saying?

Falling Bottles Focus Here Emojis Eagle and Gender Symbols Hand and Fist Jungle Gym Stacks of Money Magnifying Glass ‘Freedom From Want’ ‘The Writer’s Block’ Watching Walking Down the Street Gun Parts Globe and Books Head Full of Stuff Tight Rope Adventure New Faces Leaping Over Binoculars Brexit Floating Coins Giant Machine Blue Water Other People’s Burdens In a Maze Chalk Outline Hands on Their Shoulders Past and Future Pieces of a Flag From a Hole to a Balloon

What’s your opinion on this issue?

Spy Cams Jack-of-all-trades Gender Expectations Game Show Winner Royal Baby Movie Theaters Tiger Woods Wins ‘The Image of the Revolution’ Final Four Referees $430 Million Deal Student Climate Strikes Women’s History Month Legos and Battlebots Cash Reward Brushing Beagle Book Covers Super Bowl Commercials Math Fast-Food Buffet The ‘Bird Box’ Challenge Hands-On Parenting 2018 in Pictures The Outspoken N.B.A. Online Video Games Standout Steer California Wildfire Election Day Public Libraries Champions A Computer in Everything Snail Mail Fashion Trends Sleep Deprivation Household Chores Gymnastics on Horseback Song of Summer Giant Ice Disk

Want more writing prompts?

You can find our full collection of writing prompts, added as they publish, here . We also have a list of over 1,000 writing prompts for narrative and persuasive writing gathered from our daily Student Opinion questions . Plus, we have a collection of “ 40 Intriguing Images to Make Students Think ,” taken from four years of our weekly “ What’s Going On in This Picture? ” feature.

16 Visual Writing Prompts

A picture says a thousand words, or so the saying goes more or less.

And there is something to that for sure – we all know it.

We have all experienced it – looking at a striking image which immediately conjures up a story in our mind.

So let’s take advantage of our extremely visual brains, and use a range of very different images to inspire the creative process, and get interesting unique stories started in no time at all!

Why use these?

However you find inspiration to write a story can be useful.

Visual prompts are fantastic to help spark a creative direction for a new story you or your students are writing.

As with any learned skill, the more time we put into the art of writing, the better we’ll become.

So, encourage writing every day, through the whole range of methods we’ve got here for you to use for free!

How to use these prompts:

• Try going through the whole selection and seeing what strikes a chord with the aspiring writers in the room.
• Print a small number of them, and distribute as challenges for your students.
• Use 7 prompts for a weeks daily writing challenge.
• Provide them all, and let your writers select the prompt that grabs them.

The point is – there is no hard and fast rule to inspiration.

And that’s just it after all, it’s all about getting inspired so that the story just flows directly out of the writers mind.

So let’s get into it.

UPDATE: You’ll also want to check out our latest collection of picture prompts – I just know you’ll love them.

Here are a selection I hope you’ll enjoy…

16 Visual Writing Prompts:

• Where did this cat come from?
• What does it want?
• Who wears a cat hat anyway?

Tree House Island

• Trapped on an island?
• How long have they been there?
• How have they survived?

Kayak Trip Into The Unknown

• Silently cutting through the water.
• Totally isolated.
• Where are they going?

Lake Swing Jump

• What are the sounds you can hear?
• How hot is the day?
• What is going through their mind?

Dog In Disguise

• Who is he hiding from?
• How long has he worn a disguise?
• When did it all start?

Hot Air Balloon Convoy

• Who is in them?
• When will they land?

Waterfall Adventurer

• Hero stands
• What is behind the waterfall?
• How long has it taken to find?

Monkey Guard

• What is he guarding?
• Where are the other monkeys?
• How can you make friends?

Dog River Crossing

• Who is he looking back at?
• Why did he have to swim across the river?
• When will he find what he is looking for?

Boy’s Jungle Hut

• How far away are other people?
• What has brought them out here by themselves?
• When will they leave?

Awkward Swamp Bird

• How did it end up like this?
• What was it trying to do?
• Which other animals are nearby?

Ancient Ruins

• What is he hoping to find inside?
• Who might he meet?
• When is this happening?

Underwater Adventure

• What have they found?
• How did they get here?
• Where are all the fish going?

Strange Little House

• How did the little house end up here?
• Where is their front door?
• Who lives here?

Cow Close Up

• Why is the cow so curious?
• What happens next?
• Who else is here?

Rock Climbing Escape

• Where are they?
• Why do they need to climb out of here?
• How long have they been climbing?

Happy writing to you all

I hope you found our visual writing prompts inspiring for your creative writing.

UPDATE: Check out our latest collection of picture prompts to inspire creative writing .

Please do check back regularly as we are releasing great new content several times a week.

Don’t forget to bookmark and Pin, and it would mean the world to us if you’d share this with your friends!

Thanks, Matt & Hayley

30 Fun And Creative Writing Prompts For 3rd Grade

Writing prompts can be incredibly beneficial for third-grade students as they not only stimulate their imaginations but also enhance their critical thinking and writing skills. By presenting them with different scenarios, characters, and situations, writing prompts encourage children to delve deep into their creativity and explore various narrative possibilities.

As a teacher, the key to activating third-grade students’ imaginations is to give them fun writing prompts to get them excited about writing. Below you’ll find 30 fun and creative writing prompts for 3rd-grade students that are guaranteed to spark your students’ imaginations and get their creative juices flowing.

Writing Prompts For Third Grade

• Imagine you wake up one morning to find out you’ve become a superhero. What are your powers and how would you use them?
• Write a story about a magical tree that grows in your backyard. What is special about it?
• What would you do if you could fly for a day? Describe your journey in detail.
• If animals could talk, what would your pet or a favorite animal say? Write a conversation you might have.
• Imagine that you have been given the task of redesigning your school. What changes would you make and why?
• Write a story about a character who lives in a world where colors have been lost. How do they restore colors back to their world?
• Write a letter to your future self. What advice would you give?
• Imagine that you found a door in your house that you’ve never seen before. Where does it lead to?
• Write about a day in the life of your favorite dessert. Make it as fun and wacky as possible.
• Write a story from the perspective of a raindrop on a rainy day.
• You have been given a magical pen that makes everything you draw come to life. What do you draw first and why?
• Imagine you are an astronaut exploring a new planet. Describe what you see, hear, and feel.
• If you could be any mythical creature for a day, what would you be and why? Describe your day.
• Write a story about a mischievous ghost who lives in your school.
• You’re a detective and you’ve been assigned to solve the case of the missing cookies. Who are your suspects?
• Your favorite toy comes to life! What adventures do you two have together?
• What if you woke up one day and everything was upside down? Write about your day.
• Write a story about a magical flower that only blooms once every hundred years. What happens when it blooms?
• If you had a pet dragon, what would a day in your life look like?
• Write a story about an adventure in a submarine deep under the sea. What creatures do you see?
• Imagine you could swap places with your teacher for a day. What would you do?
• Your shoes suddenly gain the ability to talk. What stories do they tell you about where they’ve been?
• Write a diary entry for a pirate sailing the seven seas in search of treasure.
• If you could invent a new holiday, what would it be, and how would people celebrate it?
• You find a magic pebble that grants you three wishes. What do you wish for and why?
• Write a story about a visit to a planet made of candy.
• What would it be like if animals were in charge and humans were pets?
• Write about a day in the life of a coin. Where does it go? What does it see?
• You have been chosen to host a party for all the fairytale characters. How would you plan and organize it?
• Imagine you could breathe underwater. Write about your adventures under the sea.

Tips For Using These Writing Prompts In Class

As a third-grade teacher, you are likely aware that merely providing students with a writing prompt may not yield the most effective outcomes. To help students fully tap into their creative writing abilities, consider these actionable strategies.

Offer Clear Instructions

Make sure to explain the prompt clearly and in a way that your students understand. If the prompt is complex, break it down into smaller parts. Ensure they understand the task at hand before they start writing.

Create a Safe Environment

Encourage creativity and originality. Let your students know that it’s okay to make mistakes and they should not be afraid of expressing their unique ideas.

Provide Examples

Sometimes, students may find it challenging to start. Providing an example or two can help them understand the prompt better and stimulate their own ideas.

Use Prompts as Conversation Starters

Discuss the writing prompts in class before students start writing. This will help stimulate ideas, and hearing their peers’ thoughts can inspire students who may be having difficulty.

Use Visual Aids

For younger students, visual aids can be really helpful. Draw a picture, show a video or use storyboards to help illustrate the prompt and get their creative juices flowing.

Allow Choices

If possible, offer more than one writing prompt at a time. Giving students the ability to choose their writing topic can make the task more engaging and personal for them.

Encourage Peer Reviews

After students have written their pieces, encourage them to exchange their stories with their classmates for peer review. This can help students learn from each other and also improve their editing and critiquing skills.

Provide Constructive Feedback

Giving feedback is crucial. Praise students for their efforts and provide constructive criticism to guide them on how to improve their writing.

Include Prompts Related to Current Lessons

While creative prompts are excellent, try to include some prompts that relate to what students are learning. For example, if they’re learning about animals’ habitats, include a prompt about it.

Schedule Regular Writing Time

Make writing a regular activity. Consistency can help students get into the habit of writing and improve their skills over time.

More Writing Prompts

Thanks for reading! I hope your students have lots of fun creating awesome stories using these writing prompts. Before you go, check out these related articles for writing prompt ideas: 1st Grade Writing Prompts 4th Grade Writing Prompts Adventure Writing Prompts Fantasy Writing Prompts

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3rd Grade Creative Writing

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Creative Writing Worksheets for 3rd Graders

Printable Creative Writing Worksheets for 3rd Graders aligned with Common Core Standards. SplashLearn is an award-winning learning program used by more than 40 million children.

CONTENT TYPE

• Lesson Plans
• Math (1,020)
• Number Sense (121)
• Compare Numbers (18)
• Compare 3-Digit Numbers (9)
• Order Numbers (21)
• Order 3-Digit Numbers (10)
• Skip Counting (2)
• Skip Count By 10 (2)
• Even And Odd Numbers (24)
• Place Value (33)
• Round Numbers (21)
• Round Numbers To The Nearest 10 (10)
• Round Numbers To The Nearest 100 (10)
• Addition (146)
• Addition Properties (6)
• Addition Strategies (19)
• Add Using Multiples Of 10 (8)
• Add Three Whole Numbers (18)
• 2-Digit Addition (21)
• 3-Digit Addition (87)
• 3-Digit Addition Without Regrouping (22)
• 3-Digit Addition With Regrouping (42)
• Subtraction (155)
• Subtraction Strategies (25)
• Subtract From 10 Strategy (4)
• Subtract Using Multiples Of 10 (6)
• 2-Digit Subtraction (40)
• 2-Digit Subtraction Without Regrouping (11)
• 3-Digit Subtraction (98)
• 3-Digit Subtraction Without Regrouping (40)
• 3-Digit Subtraction With Regrouping (25)
• Multiplication (250)
• Multiplication Strategies (89)
• Multiplication With Equal Groups (25)
• Multiplication With Arrays (23)
• Multiplication Sentences (50)
• Repeated Addition To Multiply (15)
• Times Tables (63)
• Multiplication By 2 (5)
• Multiplication By 3 (6)
• Multiplication By 4 (5)
• Multiplication By 5 (8)
• Multiplication By 6 (5)
• Multiplication By 7 (4)
• Multiplication By 8 (5)
• Multiplication By 9 (4)
• Multiplication By 10 (5)
• Multiplication Properties (64)
• Commutative Property Of Multiplication (10)
• Distributive Property Of Multiplication (31)
• Multiply By Multiples Of 10 (18)
• Estimate Products (8)
• Multi-Digit Multiplication (8)
• Multiply 2-Digit By 1-Digit Numbers (8)
• Division (111)
• Divide On A Number Line (10)
• Division Facts (47)
• Estimate Quotients (5)
• Long Division (3)
• Divide 3-Digit By 1-Digit Numbers (3)
• Fractions (101)
• Fractions Using Models (42)
• Fractions On A Number Line (15)
• Compare Fractions (11)
• Order Fractions (18)
• Order Fractions Using Models (10)
• Equivalent Fractions (14)
• Equivalent Fractions Using Models (6)
• Fractions Operations (3)
• Geometry (20)
• Shapes (17)
• 2D Shapes (17)
• Attributes Of 2D Shapes (5)
• Partition Into Equal Parts (2)
• Data Handling (16)
• Measurement (31)
• Length (10)
• Measure Lengths Using The Ruler (8)
• Estimate Lengths (2)
• Capacity (4)
• Conversion Of Measurement Units (8)
• Perimeter (5)
• Time In Quarter Hours (10)
• Time To The Nearest 5 Minutes (6)
• Time To The Nearest Minute (1)
• Digital Clock (14)
• Elapsed Time (2)
• Multiply And Divide Money (2)
• Algebra (10)
• Factors And Multiples (9)
• Word Problems (160)
• Addition Word Problems (44)
• 2-Digit Addition Word Problems (18)
• 3-Digit Addition Word Problems (18)
• Subtraction Word Problems (16)
• Subtraction Word Problems Within 20 (1)
• Multiplication Word Problems (42)
• Division Word Problems (12)
• Multi-Step Word Problems (19)
• Reading (98)
• Phonics (3)
• Diphthongs (2)
• Reading Comprehension (96)
• Cause And Effect (4)
• Inference (8)
• Prediction (18)
• Sequencing (8)
• Story Elements (6)
• Authors Purpose (6)
• Compare And Contrast (4)
• Ask And Answer Questions (13)
• Point Of View (3)
• Reality And Fantasy (4)
• Using Illustrations (5)
• Using Text Features (3)
• Context Clues (4)
• Writing (305)
• Handwriting (259)
• Word Tracing (83)
• Sentence Tracing (50)
• Cursive Writing (126)
• Cursive Words (74)
• Cursive Sentences (52)
• Creative Writing (46)
• Opinion Writing (15)
• Descriptive Writing (20)
• Writing Paragraphs (45)
• Grammar (193)
• Adverbs (27)
• Adjectives (23)
• Singular And Plural Nouns (16)
• Pronouns (14)
• Parts Of Speech (6)
• Prepositions (6)
• Punctuation (7)
• Tenses (32)
• Article A An The (2)
• Spelling (16)
• Common Misspellings (6)
• Unscramble (7)
• Vocabulary (73)
• Affixes (4)
• Commonly Confused Words (2)
• Compound Words (9)
• Figures Of Speech (4)
• Synonyms And Antonyms (9)
• Word Puzzles (45)
• Word Search (34)

Complete the Story Worksheet

Complete the story by examining pictures. Enjoy this engaging and interactive task to enhance your storytelling skills. Join the adventure today!

Let's Predict: What Happens Next?

Engage your child with this printable reading worksheet to enhance their prediction skills with a fun writing activity.

Prediction Practice: What Happens Next?

Inspire children to practice prediction with this engaging spaceship-themed worksheet, designed to build comprehension skills.

Predict the Mystery: Sarah's Midnight Adventure

Discover the joy of creative writing and practice prediction with our fun worksheet on a midnight adventure.

Making Predictions: What Will Happen Next?

Introduce kids to the skill of prediction with this fun worksheet while reading a story about a strange discovery in a jungle.

Can You Predict What Happens Next?

Build creative writing skills with our fun worksheet on prediction and read a story to predict where a map leads.

Predict the Discovery: Dr. Anderson's Science Marvel

Explore the world of creative writing with our fun science-themed worksheet focused on developing prediction skills.

Read and Predict: The Mansion on the Hill

Advance your child's creative writing skills with our exciting prediction worksheet with a story about a mansion on the hill.

Read and Predict: Daniel the Explorer

Develop creative writing skills with our fun prediction printable while reading about the adventures of Daniel the explorer.

Let's Predict: The Talking Tree

Practice creative writing with our fun worksheet, while honing your prediction skills using the story of a talking tree.

Let's Predict: Museum Mysteries

Encourage creative writing practice with our exciting museum-themed worksheet, focusing on the skill of prediction.

Opinion Writing: My Favorite Food

Improve your child's creative writing practice with our fun worksheet, focusing on writing about their favorite food.

Opinion Writing: My Favorite Hobby

Strengthen your child's creative writing practice with our hobby-themed printable worksheet focusing on writing sentences.

Opinion Writing: My Favorite Season

Help your child learn opinion writing with our enjoyable printable worksheet, focusing on writing about their favorite season.

Opinion Writing: My Favorite Festival

Practice opinion writing with this engaging printable worksheet centered on writing about your favorite festival.

Opinion Writing: My Favorite Animal

Refine your kid's opinion writing skills with our printable worksheet as they write all about their favorite animal.

Opinion Writing: My Favorite Movie

Master opinion writing practice with this engaging, movie-themed printable worksheet for honing creative writing skills.

Opinion Writing: My Favorite Book

Elevate your child's opinion writing practice with this engaging worksheet, focused on writing about their favorite book.

Opinion Writing: Favorite Holiday Destination

Excel in opinion writing practice with our printable worksheet focused on writing about a favorite holiday destination.

Opinion Writing: Favorite Flavor of Ice-Cream

Augment your kid's opinion writing practice with our fun, printable worksheet themed on their favorite flavor of ice-cream.

Opinion Writing: Favorite Sport

Boost your child's opinion writing practice with our exciting sports-themed worksheet, perfect for enhancing writing skills!

Opinion Writing: Favorite Teacher

Improve your child's opinion writing with this engaging creative writing worksheet to write about their favorite teacher.

Opinion Writing: Favorite Board Game

Engage in creative writing practice with our fun, board game-themed printable worksheet focused on opinion writing.

Opinion Writing: Favorite School Subject

Inspire children with this printable worksheet, focusing on opinion writing as they write about their favorite school subject.

Opinion Writing: Favorite Restaurant

Discover the joy of creative writing with our opinion writing practice worksheet, and enjoy writing about a favorite restaurant.

Opinion Writing: Favorite Pet Animal

Introduce your child to opinion writing with our enjoyable worksheet focused on writing about their favorite pet animal.

Descriptive Writing: A Day at the beach

Excel in creative writing with our printable worksheet, focusing on writing a picture description about a day at the beach.

Descriptive Writing: A Snowy Day

Augment creative writing with this engaging printable worksheet, while writing about a snowy day.

Descriptive Writing: At the Park

Boost your kid's creative writing practice with our printable worksheet while writing a description about a day at the park.

Descriptive Writing: At the Zoo

Improve creative writing practice with this engaging printable worksheet, focusing on writing about a day at the zoo.

Descriptive Writing: Camping with Friends

Engage in creative writing practice with our enjoyable printable worksheet while writing about a camping trip with friends.

Descriptive Writing: A Visit to the Farm

Inspire your child with this printable worksheet, enhancing creative writing practice while writing about a farm visit.

Descriptive Writing: Out on a Hike

Discover the world of creative writing with our engaging practice worksheet, and write about a fun hike.

Descriptive Writing: Museum Adventures

Introduce creative writing skills with our fun practice worksheet, while writing about a visit to the museum.

Descriptive Writing: A Memorable Performance

Build creative writing skills with our engaging printable worksheet, while writing about a memorable stage performance.

Descriptive Writing: Christmas Celebrations

Explore creative writing practice with this worksheet, and write about your special Christmas celebrations.

Descriptive Writing: Helping the Community

Boost your child's creative writing skills with our fun, practice worksheet while learning about helping the community.

Descriptive Writing: Science Fair

Develop your creative writing skills with this engaging science fair-themed printable worksheet for writing practice.

Descriptive Writing: Family Trip

Learn creative writing with our engaging printable worksheet, focusing on descriptive writing about a family trip.

Descriptive Writing: Theme Park Fun

Build creative and descriptive writing skills with this engaging printable worksheet on the theme of theme parks!

Descriptive Writing: Art Class

Elevate your child's creative writing skills with our engaging printable worksheet, while writing about a fun art class

Descriptive Writing: At the Lemonade Stand

Develop creative writing skills with this fun printable worksheet as you write about what happens at the lemonade stand.

Descriptive Writing: Chefs at Work

Discover the world of picture descriptions with our engaging creative writing worksheet as you write about chefs at work.

Descriptive Writing: Family Meal

Elevate creative writing skills with our engaging picture-based printable worksheet while writing about a family meal.

Descriptive Writing: Tree House Time!

Engage in creative writing practice with our printable worksheet while writing a descriptive paragraph about tree house time.

Descriptive Writing: Off to School

Refine your child's picture description skills with this printable writing worksheet, while write about being back at school.

Your one stop solution for all grade learning needs.

Free Printable Creative Writing Worksheets for 3rd Grade

Creative Writing: Discover a world of imagination with our free printable Reading & Writing worksheets for Grade 3 students. Enhance their skills and inspire young minds to express themselves through words.

Explore Creative Writing Worksheets by Grades

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Explore printable Creative Writing worksheets for 3rd Grade

Creative Writing worksheets for Grade 3 are an essential tool for teachers looking to inspire and develop the imaginative skills of their students. These worksheets provide a variety of engaging activities and prompts that encourage young minds to explore the realms of fiction writing, while also honing their reading and writing abilities. By incorporating these resources into their lesson plans, educators can help their Grade 3 students build a strong foundation in storytelling and narrative techniques. Additionally, these worksheets can be easily adapted to suit the needs of individual learners, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to excel in their creative pursuits. In summary, Creative Writing worksheets for Grade 3 are a valuable asset for teachers who want to foster a love of literature and writing in their students.

Quizizz is an innovative platform that offers a wide range of educational resources, including Creative Writing worksheets for Grade 3, to support teachers in their mission to cultivate a passion for reading and writing in their students. This interactive tool allows educators to create engaging quizzes and games that can be used alongside traditional worksheets to reinforce key concepts and assess student progress. By incorporating Quizizz into their teaching strategies, teachers can provide a more dynamic and enjoyable learning experience for their Grade 3 students, helping them to develop a deeper understanding of fiction writing and other related skills. Furthermore, Quizizz offers valuable analytics and insights to help educators track their students' performance and identify areas for improvement. Overall, Quizizz is an excellent resource for teachers seeking to enhance their Grade 3 students' creative writing abilities through a combination of worksheets and interactive activities.