Free Elementary School Creative Writing Centers

Ready to give your students a spook-tacular writing experience? These 10 Halloween-themed story starters are designed to spark imagination and creativity in your classroom. Perfect for grades 4 and up, these engaging prompts are open-ended, allowing students to create their own spooky, mysterious, or magical tales.

Use these story starters as:

• Bell ringers to jumpstart creative writing sessions
• Writing centers or stations for independent work
• Extension activities when students need an extra challenge
• Fun, seasonal writing prompts for October or Halloween-themed lessons

Included Story Starters:

• “As I walked through the dark forest, I saw a glowing jack-o’-lantern with a note attached. The note said…”
• “One rainy Halloween night, I heard a mysterious knock at the door. When I opened it, there was a box with something moving inside.”
• “While trick-or-treating, I came across a house that no one ever visits. The door creaked open by itself, and I decided to…”
• And 7 more eerie and thrilling prompts!

Why You’ll Love This Resource:

Easy to Use: Just print and go! No prep needed.
Engaging & Fun: Each prompt invites students to explore their creativity with a Halloween twist.
Flexible Use: Great for writing centers, independent work, or creative group activities.
Perfect for Fall: Bring the spooky season into your classroom with these seasonal story starters.

Don’t miss out on this FREE Halloween resource that will keep your students’ creativity brewing all month long! Download today and let the spooky storytelling begin!

Four creative writing prompts with winter coloring pictures. Promotes writing skills, creative thinking, and on-demand prompt writing. Use with mini-lessons to teach basic skills or for assessment of writing skills. Share in small or whole group settings and display students' writings for all to read.

Students will color their raindrop then dictate to the teacher the answer to one of the writing prompts. Students who can write and do so directly on their raindrop. This makes a great wall display.

There are two writing prompts included with this packet.

These finish the story writing prompt papers will help bring writing to life during the spring season! These no-prep narrative writing prompts are perfect for easy writing activities, writing centers, writer's workshop, early finisher activities, daily journaling, morning work and more! These prompts are great for first grade, second grade, third grade and fourth grade students! Students will love using the story starter prompts to creatively write an ending to their own story.

**⭐**Save 30% with the Finish the Story Year Long Bundle!⭐

What's included:

• 3 spring themed finish the story writing prompts
• 2 versions per prompt (one with a space for a picture + one with lines only)

Finish the Story Example:

• I like to look at different kinds of bugs. I think of how they all have their own tiny worlds. One day I was sitting in the grass with my magnifying glass. Suddenly, I heard a tiny voice. "Hey, down here!" I looked down only to find...

More Writing Resources:

Spring Finish the Story Writing Prompts

Summer Finish the Story Writing Prompts

More Spring Resources:

Spring Zoomed In

Spring Would You Rather

Spring Guess the Emoji Phrase

Spring Mega Activity Bundle

*Note this product may be used in brick and mortar classes as well as virtual systems like Outschool

This packet includes 2 essay templates that are useful for students who are just beginning to write an essay or for students who are going to write a rough draft after brainstorming.

If you download this product and like it, please leave me a quick positive review! :)

Enhance collaboration, writing and public speaking skills with Story Starters! This AVID resource provides engaging story starters that encourage students to finish a story and present it to their peers. This activity fosters collaboration and communication within small groups or whole class settings, while also providing a fun way to improve public speaking skills. Download the Google Slides digital resource today and see the positive impact it can have on your students' teamwork and confidence!

*Check out the full version including 100 Story Starters HERE!

*Save 30% with this Public Speaking Bundle!

*Save 30% with this Public Speaking Card Game Bundle!

*Save over 30% with the AVID bundle!

Directions:

• Display the Google Slide Story Starter OR print them out so students have different stories to choose from.
• Students will complete the engaging story starter by writing for 3 minutes.
• Students can use the picture provided to help guide them in their stories, or choose to take a different route and be creative on their own.
• Students will be split into groups of 4-6.
• Each student will present their story to their small group while practicing public speaking skills.

What's Included:

• 3 Story Starter Prompts with Images
• 1 Directions Page

*This resources is available for Outschool teachers to purchase without the need for extra licenses.

Check out other AVID resources HERE!

Check our other Writing Resources HERE!

Check out more Collaboration resources HERE!

Check out more Public Speaking resources HERE!

Looking to spark creativity in your classroom this Thanksgiving season? These 10 Thanksgiving-themed story starters are perfect for getting your students' imaginations flowing! Designed for grades 4 and up, these engaging and open-ended prompts let students craft their own festive, adventurous, and even magical stories.
Use these story starters as:

• Bell ringers to jumpstart creative writing sessions
• Writing centers or stations for independent work
• Extension activities when students need an extra challenge
• Fun, seasonal writing prompts for November or Thanksgiving-themed lessons

Included Story Starters:

• “While preparing the Thanksgiving feast, you discover the turkey is enchanted! It starts talking and asks you to help it break a 100-year-old curse. What will you do?”
• “A UFO lands in your backyard on Thanksgiving Day. The aliens are friendly, but they want to join your dinner. What happens next?”
• And 8 more fun and imaginative prompts!

Why You’ll Love This Resource:

• Easy to Use: Simply print and go! Perfect for quick lesson planning.
• Engaging & Fun: Each prompt is designed to capture students’ attention and foster creative thinking.
• Flexible Use: Ideal for writing centers, bell work, or independent writing projects.
• Perfect for November: Add a festive twist to your writing lessons during the Thanksgiving season.

This FREE resource will keep your students engaged and excited about writing. Download today and watch their Thanksgiving tales come to life!

FREE!!! 21 journal prompts and/or discussion starters with Thanksgiving themed prompts and visuals for ELA and history/social studies. .

This Groundhog's Day freebie is a great twist on tradition Groundhog's Day creative writing. We all know what it means when a Groundhog sees its shadow, but what happens when teachers see their shadows?  Let your students answer this question with these creative writing pages!

This freebie has writing prompts in 2 different formats, one set with primary lines and one set with regular writing lines.

Check out more Groundhog's Day Activities

Groundhog's Day Activities

This packet includes 4 paragraph templates that are useful for students who are just beginning to write a paragraph. 4 templates are included to fit the length of each student's paragraph.

If you download this product and like it, please leave me a quick positive review! :)