5th Grade Creative Writing Centers

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!

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!

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.

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This FREE Sample of the Pull a Prompt activity uses the novelty of a pull tab flier but with 10 fun narrative writing prompts, all based on a single character. It’s low-prep, easy for new teachers and subs, fun for elementary kids, and allows for student choice. Included are a PDF file with the Maddy & Sam the Superheroes story characters (includes color and B&W versions) with 10 writing prompts, 2 Word Bank levels with 20 words per level, and a Google Slide that includes the color version of the character, a setting, and a song to help set the mood.

To use, teachers print out the character flier in either color or B&W and cut apart the prompts. If desired, print out the word banks and cut apart. Then students team up, select which prompt they want to write about and a word bank, and that’s it! To really help set the mood, display the character Google Slide on the board and crank the volume up. 

In my own 5th grade classroom, I asked my students to pair up in 10 teams, which meant I had teams of 2s and 3s. Ahead of time, I’d printed out a single copy of the flier and cut the strips apart, and printed a few of each of the word banks. Each team came up, selected a prompt to tear off the page and a word bank, and then got to work. On my interactive TV, I displayed the image and let the music play on a loop. While the kids discussed the prompt with their partners, they cut the words apart and determined which words they would use and how/when. Kids collaborated and wrote for nearly an hour and still begged for more time.

This resources includes:

• 1 Character flier (included both in color and a similar photo in B&W) with 10 different writing prompts for students to choose from.

• Word banks: 2 different levels of word banks with 20 words per bank.

• Google slideshow with 1 slide that include the color character image , a background setting image, and a song or soundtrack to help set the mood.

If you like this sample, you may like the full product:

Pull a Writing Prompt

You may also like: (links to similar products)

• FREE Picture Writing Prompt Sampler
• Picture Writing Prompts: Set 1
• Picture Writing Prompts: Set 2
• Picture Writing Prompts: Set 3
• Picture Writing Prompts with Word Banks

I'd love to hear how you use this resource in your classroom! Feel free to email me at iteachiwrite@yahoo.com with any questions or suggestions you may have. And don't forget to rate this product in order to earn TeachShare Credits for future purchases!

Copyright © iTeach & iWrite by Betsy Newmeyer.

All rights reserved by the author.

Permission to use for single classroom use only.

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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!

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! :)

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

Have your students practice writing Haikus about some of their favorite jobs. They can choose a job or pick from a list of jobs. They then get to brainstorm and create their own Haikus about the job. A fun way to incorporate poetry and Haikus.

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A Halloween Acrostic poem! Students will use the word October to create their own acrostic poem. The second page students can choose a 5 letter Halloween word given on the worksheet and create their own acrostic poem.

If you enjoyed this product, please leave a review and follow my store. If you would like to see more products by me follow the link Finding the Fish. Thank you for your purchase and I hope you enjoy!

This is a fun, creative writing assignment you could give to your students during the month of October. Students will get to choose their own Halloween topic and then follow the instructions to write their own Cinquain.

If you enjoyed this product, please leave a review and follow my store. If you would like to see more products by me follow the link Finding the Fish. Thank you for your purchase and I hope you enjoy!

Inspire your students to express their creativity with our "Summer Poem - Acrostic Poem Template Worksheet." This engaging resource is perfect for capturing the essence of summer through the art of poetry. Whether your students have a sunny or stormy view of the season, this worksheet will guide them in crafting their thoughts into a beautiful acrostic poem.

Product Highlights:

• Examples Page: The opening page features three example acrostic poems about summer—two positive and one negative—to show students different perspectives and inspire their creativity.
• Drafting Section: Includes space for students to write their first draft, allowing them to brainstorm and refine their ideas.
• Final Draft Page: A dedicated page for students to neatly write their final version of their acrostic poem.
• Drawing Page: An additional page where students can draw illustrations to accompany each line of their poem, creating a visual representation of their words.

Why This Resource Is Essential:

• Encourages Creativity: Provides a structured yet flexible way for students to express their thoughts and feelings about summer through poetry and art.
• Enhances Writing Skills: Helps students practice their writing by creating acrostic poems, improving their vocabulary and poetic techniques.
• Promotes Reflection: Encourages students to reflect on their personal experiences and emotions associated with summer, whether positive or negative.
• Interactive and Engaging: Combines writing and drawing, making the activity fun and engaging for students.

Ideal For:

• Teachers looking for a creative writing activity that captures the spirit of summer.
• Educators seeking to integrate poetry and art into their curriculum.
• Classrooms that value expressive and reflective learning activities.

How to Use:

• Examples: Start by discussing the example acrostic poems on the opening page to give students ideas and inspiration.
• First Draft: Have students write their first draft on the provided page, encouraging them to brainstorm and refine their ideas.
• Final Draft: Once satisfied with their first draft, students can write their final version on the dedicated final draft page.
• Illustration: Allow students to draw what they've written for each line on the drawing page, adding a visual element to their poem.

With the "Summer Poem - Acrostic Poem Template Worksheet," students will enjoy exploring their thoughts and feelings about summer while enhancing their writing and artistic skills. This resource provides a perfect blend of creativity and structure, making it an ideal addition to your classroom activities.

Inspire Your Students with Our Thanksgiving Turkey-Themed Writing Paper!

Perfect for fall and Thanksgiving activities, this fun turkey-shaped writing paper will make assignments more engaging. With charming clip art turkeys surrounding the main shape, students will enjoy writing their thoughts and stories in a festive way! Choose from six different line styles to fit your classroom needs, and each style is available with or without name and date lines for added convenience.

Ideal for creative writing, thankfulness prompts, or Thanksgiving-themed reflections, this paper adds a seasonal touch to any assignment.

Check out my store for more themed writing paper!

SEL worksheets for students to explore their emotions and regulate their emotional responses are a valuable tool for promoting social and emotional learning in children. These engaging and interactive activities help young learners understand and manage their feelings effectively. Dive into a wide variety of SEL worksheets designed to empower kids with essential emotional intelligence skills. 

From identifying different emotions to practicing self-regulation techniques, these resources provide an opportunity for children to develop a deeper understanding of their own emotions and how to express and handle them. With expertly crafted materials that cater to different age groups and learning styles, these SEL worksheets will support children in building resilience, fostering healthy relationships, and promoting overall emotional well-being. 

Explore these transformative resources today and equip children with the emotional skills they need to thrive in school and beyond!

What is a rough draft? How do you find a topic? How do you get started? How does it work as part of the writing process? All this and more answered as students work through the easy-to-follow guide for the rough draft process of writing. Includes: Rough drafts are bad caption/image Writers compose in different ways Writing process and overview Reflection activity Methods for starting: Chunk writing,Cluster/Map, Free writing, Outline Let's Practice activity Taking a risk with rough drafts Tips: Using your writing toolbox, taking a break between drafts, and Can you read this? Rough draft strategy slide and begin your rough draft Reminder of writing process for peer workshopping Everything needed to help students understand and begin their first rough drafts! Excellent for flipped classrooms and writing centers!

Use this Today in History packet to learn about when Alaska became a state. This activity pack includes penmanship practice (both print and cursive), reading passages with comprehension questions (2 sets with varying difficulty), writing activities, and a time line card to create your own timeline of Today in History events.

What is included:

Page 2 – Today in History Poster

Page 3 – Penmanship page in print with primary lines.

Page 4 – Penmanship page in print with notebook lines

Page 5 – Penmanship page in cursive with primary lines

Page 6 – Penmanship page in cursive with notebook lines.

Page 7 – Reading Page (Harder)

Page 8 – Comprehension Questions

Page 9 – Reading Page (Easier)

Page 10 – Comprehension Questions

Page 11 – What I Learned Writing Page

Page 12 – Creative Writing Page

Page 13 – Time line card (With Picture Included)

Page 14 – Time line card (Student Draws the Picture)

Page 15 – Other Interesting Events

Related Links

More Today in History Topics

Use this Today in History packet to learn some basic information about Joan of Arc. This activity pack includes penmanship practice (both print and cursive), reading passages with comprehension questions (2 sets with varying difficulty), writing activities, and a time line card to create your own timeline of Today in History events.

What is included:

Page 2 – Today in History Poster

Page 3 – Penmanship page in print with primary lines.

Page 4 – Penmanship page in print with notebook lines

Page 5 – Penmanship page in cursive with primary lines

Page 6 – Penmanship page in cursive with notebook lines.

Page 7 – Reading Page (Harder)

Page 8 – Comprehension Questions

Page 9 – Reading Page (Easier)

Page 10 – Comprehension Questions

Page 11 – What I Learned Writing Page

Page 12 – Creative Writing Page

Page 13 – Time line card (With Picture Included)

Page 14 – Time line card (Student Draws the Picture)

Page 15 – Other Interesting Events

Related Links

More Today in History Topics

This is a fun and silly St. Patrick's Day activity to get your students writing. They can read the poem Five Crazy Leprechauns and then create their own little poem. There is a page that lays out the way to write the poem. Students will need to know what an adjective and verb is. If you have older students and want to extend it for them print the 'Create your own Leprechaun Poem' table twice and have the students start at 10 leprechauns. You can choose whether your students have to rhyme or if it is a free style poem. There are so many ways you can use this in the classroom. Included is also a cute page for them to write their own poem on.

I hope you enjoyed this product! If you liked it, please leave me a review. If you would like to see some of my other products please follow along at Finding The Fish.

Use this Today in History packet to learn some basic information about the Battle of Stones River. This activity pack includes penmanship practice (both print and cursive), reading passages with comprehension questions (2 sets with varying difficulty), writing activities, and a time line card to create your own timeline of Today in History events.

What is included:

Page 2 – Today in History Poster

Page 3 – Penmanship page in print with primary lines.

Page 4 – Penmanship page in print with notebook lines

Page 5 – Penmanship page in cursive with primary lines

Page 6 – Penmanship page in cursive with notebook lines.

Page 7 – Reading Page (Harder)

Page 8 – Comprehension Questions

Page 9 – Reading Page (Easier)

Page 10 – Comprehension Questions

Page 11 – What I Learned Writing Page

Page 12 – Creative Writing Page

Page 13 – Time line card (With Picture Included)

Page 14 – Time line card (Student Draws the Picture)

Page 15 – Other Interesting Events

Related Links

More Today in History Topics

Use this Today in History packet to learn some basic information about the first female US Governor, Nellie Ralhoe Ross. This activity pack includes penmanship practice (both print and cursive), reading passages with comprehension questions (2 sets with varying difficulty), writing activities, and a time line card to create your own timeline of Today in History events.

What is included:

Page 2 – Today in History Poster

Page 3 – Penmanship page in print with primary lines.

Page 4 – Penmanship page in print with notebook lines

Page 5 – Penmanship page in cursive with primary lines

Page 6 – Penmanship page in cursive with notebook lines.

Page 7 – Reading Page (Harder)

Page 8 – Comprehension Questions

Page 9 – Reading Page (Easier)

Page 10 – Comprehension Questions

Page 11 – What I Learned Writing Page

Page 12 – Creative Writing Page

Page 13 – Time line card (With Picture Included)

Page 14 – Time line card (Student Draws the Picture)

Page 15 – Other Interesting Events

Related Links

More Today in History Topics

This is such a fun creative writing activity. This activity has students work in a small group to create a fun and unique story. They will be passing around their writing outline to their group of 5. The first student will choose a character and their characteristics. Then fold the paper down so the next student cannot see what they have written. Student 2 will decide the setting and then fold the paper down again. This will continue to student 3 and 4 where they will choose the conflict and the solution. Then the original student will get their paper back and open their paper and use their outline to create their own creative story. This makes the writing a little bit challenging as they try to create a story that was chosen by their fellow classmates. This can also be a super fun and creative way to expand students writing by stretching them a little outside their comfort zone.

If you enjoyed this product, please leave a review and follow my store. If you would like to see more products by me follow the link Finding the Fish. Thank you for your purchase and I hope you enjoy!