Summer writing prompts are a refreshing way to get kids excited about writing! As the days get longer and the temperatures rise, students are itching to take a break from the traditional classroom routine. Having to write can make students feel like they don’t truly get a summer break.
Whether you work in a year-round school, are teaching summer school, or want to send home some writing practice over the summer break, we highly recommend using summer-themed writing prompts to engage and inspire students to write over the summer.
Summer writing prompts are great for a few key reasons:
- They create variety and choice for students. Give students prompts that vary across genres (informational, narrative, opinion) or target different skills (descriptive language, topic sentences, conjunctions). Then, allow students to choose from a set of prompts- this gives them some ownership and authority over their writing while increasing engagement and motivation.
- Summer writing prompts also challenge students to think critically and creatively. For instance, they may be asked to imagine a world without summer or to come up with creative solutions to beat the summer heat. Such prompts can stimulate imagination and encourage problem-solving skills.
- Incorporating summer writing prompts into your summer lesson plans is a great way to make writing engaging and relevant for students. You can use them as bell-ringers, journal entries, paragraph writing assignments, or even as homework.
With our list of 30 summer writing prompts, you’ll have plenty of ideas to keep your students entertained and inspired all summer long!
- Write a story about a summer camp mystery that needs solving.
- Write a story about a group of kids who start their own summer business selling homemade lemonade.
- Write a story about a summer day when all the ice cream and popsicles in the world disappeared.
- Write a story about a summer camping adventure.
- Write a story about a group of friends who get lost on a hiking trail during a summer camping trip.
- Write about your favorite summer memory in vivid detail
- Write about what you will do/did when school lets out for summer.
- Write about if you would rather go to the beach when it’s raining or watch a movie inside on a sunny, hot day and why?
- Write about if you would rather eat ice cream made with hot dogs or drink a milk shake made with sand? Why?
- Write about if you would rather be an olympic swimmer or olympic gymnast and why?
- Describe a fun and exciting water park.
- Describe how to beat the heat.
- Describe the worst thing about summer.
- Describe how you would spend a stormy, summer night
- Describe watching fireworks on the 4th of July
- Imagine a day where everything you touch turns into mosquitos. Write about what would happen.
- Imagine you are an ice cream truck driver and the truck breaks down. Write about what you would do with all the ice cream.
- Imagine you could go anywhere in the world this summer. Write about where you would go and why?
- Imagine you made it to the summer olympics. Write about your experience there.
- Imagine a world without summer. Write about what life would be like.
- Write a letter to your future self about your goals and hopes for the upcoming school year.
- Write a letter to a teacher or friend, sharing your favorite summer reading books and/or asking for book recommendations.
- Write a letter to your parents convincing them to take you on a summer trip.
- Write a letter to your best friend convincing them to go to camp with you.
- Write a letter to your principal convincing them to add another month to summer break.
- Write how to make a refreshing summer drink.
- Write how to have the ultimate summer picnic.
- Write how to build the most interesting sandcastle.
- Write how to spend summer break.
- Write how to plan a camping trip.
We have many Summer writing activities you can use with your students. Interested in a scaffolded Summer Paragraph Writing activity, with brainstorming graphic organizers, draft paper, checklists, and publishing paper? Check out our Summer Paragraph Writing resource!
