Are you looking for some teaching ideas and creative writing activities for your elementary writing workshop or literacy centers? This list of 45 kindergarten and first-grade fall writing prompts is sure to get the kids in your classroom engaged and excited to write!
Fall Writing Prompts – Labeling
One of the first genres of writing for kindergarten and first grade should be labeling. When students label a picture it gives them the opportunity to sound out words and listen for the different letters in each word. Beginning writers should always start by writing one or two words rather than a complete sentence. Here are 10 simple labeling activities for fall:
- Label an apple
2. Label a squirrel
3. Label a fall tree
4. Label a pumpkin or pumpkin patch
5. Label a witch
6. Label a football player
7. Label a monster
8. Label a cheerleader
9. Label a haunted house
10. Label a bat
Fall Writing Prompts – Writing A List
Another easy genre for beginning writers is creating a list. When students write a list they are still learning how to sound out and write words, but in the process, they're learning that words can go together in a way that makes sense. Creating a list gives students the opportunity to think of different words that will go together for a certain topic. Here are a few ways students can make a list in the fall:
11. Make a list of foods you can make with apples
12. Make a list of fun fall activities
13. Make a list of things you can make with pumpkins
14. Make a list of food we eat at Thanksgiving.
15. Make a list of things you're thankful for
16. Make a list of animals that hibernate
17. Make a list of things that are orange
18. Make a list of the colors of leaves
19. Make a list of your favorite Halloween candy
20. Make a list of the best Halloween costumes
Want more ideas for writing prompts you can use all year long? Grab the ultimate list of writing prompts here.
Fall How To Writing Prompts
The next step for beginning writers is procedural writing or sometimes called “how-to” writing. Procedural writing gives students the opportunity to teach the reader something by giving step-by-step directions. In this type of writing students learn how to use sequence words such as first, next, then, and last. Take a look at these fall how to writing prompts:
21. How to make applesauce – Do you take a field trip to the apple orchard in the fall? Buy a bag of apples and make applesauce with your students. Afterward, have them write how to make applesauce!
22. How to rake leaves – this is the perfect writing activity when the leaves begin to change color and fall from the trees!
23. How to stuff a scarecrow – Your students will love helping you stuff a scarecrow! Grab an old pair of jeans, a pillowcase, a flannel shirt, and a small bale of hay! You can have students help you stuff your scarecrow on the playground and then put him outside of your classroom door for a fun fall display. To make it even more fun, have the rest of your school participate and then have a scarecrow contest to see who has the best one!
24. How to make pumpkin pie – This is a great fall writing activity near Thanksgiving. Pick up the ingredients for an easy, no-bake pumpkin pie to make with your students and then have them write the steps for how to make pumpkin pie!
25. Another fun fall writing activity is how to make a caramel apple!
26. How to carve a jack-o-lantern – head to the pumpkin patch for the best Halloween pumpkin! Have your students help you carve your own classroom jack-o-lantern and then write the steps in this how-to writing activity.
Need more ideas? Grab the ultimate list of writing prompts freebie here.
27. Write the life cycle of a pumpkin
First Grade Fall Opinion Writing Prompts
Let's take a look at opinion writing. It's a good idea to choose topics that they already know about and have them answer questions like “Would you rather…….?” and “What do you like best….?”. Teach students when writing their opinion to use the OREO model – state their opinion, give a reason they feel this way, give some examples and then finish my restating their opinion.
28. What do you like better – apple pie or apple sauce?
29. What do you like better – pumpkin pie or pumpkin cake
30. Do you like fall – why or why not?
31. Which is scarier – a ghost or a witch?
32. Would you rather visit a haunted house or go on a hayride?
33. Which do you prefer for Thanksgiving dinner – mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes?
34. What is your favorite holiday? Halloween or Christmas
Need more opinion writing prompt ideas? Grab the ultimate list of writing prompts freebie here.
First Grade Fall Informational Writing
Fall is a great time to learn about nocturnal animals, fall weather, and animals that hibernate! Gather some nonfiction books on these topics and have students do a little research and informational writing. When you're teaching this type of writing to students they should learn that a report must have a title, an opening sentence, 2-3 facts about the topic and a closing sentence.
35. Bats – students love these creepy, flying animals of the night! Why not read the classic fiction tale Stellaluna, compare it to real bats and then have students write a simple report about bats.
36. Squirrels and Chipmunks – Two of my favorite fall books are Flying Squirrel At Acorn Place and Chipmunk At Hollow Tree Lane. These are great books to learn about how animals prepare for winter and to compare and contrast squirrels and chipmunks. Have your students write a simple report about one of these animals for a great fall informational writing lesson.
37. Owls – Your students will love learning about owls in the fall. Students can read and learn all about these nocturnal creatures and write a simple informational report.
First Grade Fall Narrative Writing
Finish out your fall writing with some narrative writing activities. Give students some simple sentence starters or creative writing worksheets to help them get started or simply let them come up with a story on their own! Here are a few fall narrative writing ideas:
38. The leaf that refused to fall from the tree…..
39. The day I adopted a monster…...
40. One day an apple rolled down a hill…..
41. The tiniest pumpkin in the patch
42. The biggest pumpkin in the patch
43. The witch who lost her broom
44. The bear who forgot to hibernate…….
45. The ghost who couldn’t fly
Are you ready to get your students excited about writing this fall? Grab these writing center activities that include creative writing worksheets for labeling, making lists, personal narrative writing, opinion writing, and more!
