Over 100 visual and video writing prompts for grades 6-8. Here’s a one-minute preview video:
One of the best aspects of being a teacher is watching students go from saying, “I hate writing,” to being so passionate about writing that they refuse to stop when the bell rings. In these moments, it can feel like magic. While there are many ways to spark the love of writing, one of my favorite strategies is a video or visual writing prompt. For over a decade, I have been creating authentic, teacher-tested writing prompts to spark the love of writing with even the most reluctant writer.
Right now, you can download a set of 100+ writing prompts (plus 30 video prompts) for free. Simply add your email address and click “submit” and I’ll send you a PowerPoint, Keynote, and PDF with the prompts.
Creative Writing Prompts
Some of the prompts focus on creative writing, like this prompt:
Personal Narrative
Other prompts use creative methods to help students feel safe sharing their story.
Persuasive Prompts
Other posts focus on persuasive techniques
Or this video prompt:
Social-Emotional Learning
Some of the prompts help guide students in self-reflection and social-emotional learning.
Creative Thinking
I also include prompts to spark creative thinking:
Science and Social Studies Integration
Some of the prompts tie into social studies, like this one:
Others connect to science:
Get the writing prompts:
Thank you so much!! Wow! 🙂
Quite useful information although I am Hindi IB teacher but I will use it maximum thank you, John Spencer.
John, I love your writing prompts. I teach grade 7 ELA and I always start off my year with 5 Things I want my Teacher to Know About me (I show the video). It is a great way to get to know my students – and this year I have 125 of them! Thanks for the ideas. Jen
I’m wondering if you have a version for elementary, specifically 2nd grade. I’m going to try some of the middle prompts and see how they do.
My plan is to eventually create a 2-3 version, a 4-5 version, and various high school versions. My daughter is the third grade and she loves most of these, though.
I can’t wait for the 2/3 version – I’m already thinking how to adapt the ones you created for my 3rd grade class!
My 3rd grader loves the visual writing prompts and after writing about his city in the sky he recruited his friend, shared his story and they recreated the story in Minecraft.
I teach third grade and most of my students love these as they are! I have to maybe add in a little scaffolding, but most of them work! I am, however, excited to see your other versions, John!
Middle school? These would work great in high school as well!
Thanks! Feel free to use it in high school as well.
Thanks so much for sharing!
Can’t wait to check them out!
These look great! Thanks for these! I can’t wait to get mine!
Thanks so much for this and for all the great material you always share.
Greetings from Chile!
Jhon you have the best prompts ever I am a fith grader and I love to write and type!!!!!!!!!!!!
I used the Number 1 writing prompt on the Dog Diary with my 8th grade AVID students last week and they had so much fun! These are so creative and fun for our kids. Number 9 on the sales pitch for a new flavored frappuccino also had great student responses, some of the funniest sales pitches you will ever hear are from kids!
Thank you for sharing these free resources! I think they can easily be adapted or used as they are with 3-6 graders.
Thanks! What a cool resource.
Awesome! I use a ton of your videos, and they never disappoint. Even my senior creative writing kids like them!
Thanks for sharing these free resources, It’s highly appreciated. I will try my third graders! Very effective!!!
Hey John,
Love your writing prompts and find them to be highly engaging. I am wondering what app/program you use to create these? With the possibility of blended delivery in the fall, I would like to start turning some of my teaching into videos like these and am wondering where to get started?
Thanks for all you do!
Absolutely love your ideas, John! Thank you for making these videos available to others. I am sure that my middle and high school English Language learners will enjoy your prompts and will become more motivated to write.
These are amazing! So many great conversations!
Not sure how to gain access to the quick writes. My students would love these.
Thanks!
I would love these
These look awesome!
Greatly appreciate this!
I am so excited for my students! They are going to love these prompts! How do I gain access to them?
Thanks so much!! I can’t wait to share it with our teachers!!!
Simply brilliant! Bravo to you for your creation and bravo to you for sharing!
Thanks for sharing!
Amazing resource!! Well done and thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much! I look forward to checking out these resources.
I teach ESL to adults, but I think they will enjoy some of these. I certainly do. Thanks so much!
Thank you so much for all the prompts . Iam looking forward to make a great start and all the strategies.
These look amazing!
Thank you!
This is fascinating. Thank you very much for sharing this. Anyway, I couldn’t open the keynotes for the writing prompts. I wonder: What’s the matter?