Sometimes, creative writing assignments aren’t just confusing for the student.
What should a 3rd grader write about?
What should your expectations be? How can you help your student succeed?
Today’s post is all about helping you source creative writing topics that are perfectly suited for third grade (or upper elementary).
What Makes Creative Writing Different?
Creative writing can be tricky to explain to a student, especially if you’re working with a child who is used to thinking conventionally.
In a nutshell, it differs from academic or essay-style writing in that it highlights the writer’s imagination and creative invention.
The artistic nature of creative writing can make some students nervous. That’s why clear-cut creative writing examples are incredibly helpful.
get this picture prompt printable for free!
It’s also helpful to let them read or listen to creative short stories to provide ideas of how to begin. Seeing examples illustrates how to write creatively better than trying to explain it in words.
Another important aspect of creative writing is that it doesn’t have to be true – or even based on fact. It can be difficult for a third grader to believe it’s okay to stray from reality. Eggs and ham aren’t green, so why pretend they are?
Discuss potential story writing topics with your child so you can help him or her break down those restrictions.
Sharing examples will help them see the liberty (and fun!) that creative writing offers.
Creative Writing Tips and Techniques for Grade 3
For elementary students, good topics for creative writing are broad enough for the student to use his imagination but not so broad that he has no idea where to begin.
Instead of just handing him a topic such as “outer space,” try a narrower topic, such as “tell me a story about boy in the future who travels to the moon with his class for a science field trip.”
Here are a few more tips to help while you’re working on creative writing with your own third grader:
- Story writing ideas or topics can range from telling a made-up story about what happened at dinner last night to creating an amazing adventure or imaginary world.
- When you teach writing to 3rd graders, it’s helpful to give them several creative writing ideas to unleash their imaginations.
- Try recording your students as they tell a story. More than likely, just talking about the story they want to write will help them gather their thoughts.
- If you’re not sure how to start an introduction paragraph for a third grader, have her look at examples of her favorite books to see how the authors pique her interest immediately.
- Discuss the elements of the story beforehand to help it feel more real to your student. Ask him questions about the setting—when it’s happening and where—as well as the plot. Talk to him about the main characters, guiding him with questions that help him see through the characters’ eyes and better envision what they might do.
- If your student really can’t get started, set a timer and just have him write whatever comes to mind. There’s nothing uncorks writer’s block faster than just sitting down and writing—even if it starts out as nonsense.
- Encourage your student to use literary devices such as similes and metaphors, even if she doesn’t know those terms. Explain how a teddy bear’s fur can be “like a cloud” or that a hard worker can be a “busy bee.”
Above all, to encourage successful creative writing, encourage your students to write about topics they enjoy. Their pleasure will reflect in their stories.
12 Creative Writing Topics for Third Grade That Inspire Imaginative Stories
Speaking of enjoyable topics, here are some examples of creative writing topics paired with question prompts to get your student started:
1. Imagine you step outside, and all the grass has turned blue. What do you do?
The key to a good creative writing topic is, well, creativity! Whimsical topics inspire students to unleash their imagination and enjoy writing.
If your third grader has been reluctant to write lately, it might be time to pull out a fantastical scene like this one and “let them loose” so to speak.
Encourage your student to brainstorm a bit before writing.
These prompts can help:
- What made the grass turn blue?
- Is it a good thing? Does it cause problems?
- Can you fix it? Will the grass ever be green again?
2. What if you woke up and realized you had switched bodies with someone else in your family?
A topic like this is a great exercise for the mind. It may even help him gain a little empathy as he writes and realizes how different a parent’s day is from a child’s.
Some prompts to help him get going:
- Which family member do you think would be most interesting to trade bodies with for a day?
- Would it be exciting or scary to wake up as that person?
- Would your characters keep it a secret?
3. What if your pet could talk but only to you?
Some of the more appealing creative writing topics for kids are those where students can easily form ideas (which builds confidence).
Most children already talk to their pets, so it’s not a huge leap to imagine them talking back. Use that headstart to build a story.
4. What would you do if you found a treasure map?
Finding a treasure map can inspire many tales. The plots are endless!
A few questions to get your child started:
- Where was it found?
- Was it put there by pirates, a king, or your great grandmother?
- Is it in code?
- How do you figure out where the treasure is?
5. What if there was a sweet, lovable, non-scary monster who lived under your bed?
This creative writing topic takes the monster-under-the-bed and transforms him into a friend.
- What if every night, after Mom and Dad tuck you in, you get to spend some time with an interesting creature known only to you?
6. What if your closet door is really a door to another world?
This Narnia-style prompt inspires students to describe a secret fantasy world. Help them get into the groove by discussing the many characters they encounter.
- Are they magical creatures or copies of everyday people he knows now?
- What kind of world lies on the other side of his closet?
- What’s happening there?
- Is it similar to our world or vastly different?
7. Create an imaginary friend and take him on some adventures with you.
This type of freewriting prompt for 3rd grade students allows for more exploration. It’s a broader topic for the child who already thinks creatively and won’t be overwhelmed by its broadness.
If your student likes this topic but still needs some inspiration, here are some questions to ask:
- How old is your friend?
- Is it a boy or a girl?
- What type of creature is he – human, animal, bug, robot, or something else?
- What’s something you’d love to do with a friend if you could do anything you want to do?
8. Rewrite a fairy tale so that it takes place today in your own town.
This writing topic alleviates some uncertainty a third grader may have in getting started. Once your student chooses a fairy tale, then it’s just a matter of re-forming the characters and setting.
It’s a wonderful topic for students who need more structure than the average creative writing assignment provides.
9. Explore and describe the dusty old attic of a dilapidated mansion.
This topic is one of the more descriptive writing topics for grade 3. It’s compelling to think about, but it doesn’t have to be too bizarre.
(Check out this post for examples of descriptive writing.)
Your student can be as creative and imaginative as he or she desires.
Your third grader can create descriptions of realistic objects found in an old attic, or he can dive deep and paint images of ancient or other-worldly artifacts.
10. Imagine your parents won a million dollars. How would your life change?
Let his imagination soar, describing the planes he plans to pilot around the world or the mansion in which he’ll entertain world leaders.
Perhaps he’ll purchase a private island and find hidden treasure or build an orphanage in a third-world country.
11. What if your dolls have their own secret lives when you’re not around?
This creative writing topic has, of course, been explored by many published authors, which just proves it’s a captivating one.
Questions to get started:
- What do your dolls do when they “wake up”?
- Do they go anywhere?
- Do they have jobs?
12. Imagine your older cousin is getting married and asks you to be a bridesmaid (or groomsman). Tell me all about the wedding and your part in it.
Creative writing prompts for grade 3 can also be about a realistic but fictional situation, like participating in a wedding.
Third grade girls, especially, may enjoy planning a fantasy wedding. She may even wish to pen her own wedding!
Have her describe the dresses, the flowers, the decorations, the ceremony, and anything else she’s interested in.
If your child chooses this topic, be sure to tuck her written work away for later—what a fun story to share at her own “real life” wedding!
