Writing Prompt Wheel

One spin, one first line or question: short writing prompts that get students putting words on the page in seconds.

Prompts (one per line)30 / 200

The door was never supposed to open.
I woke up and my dog could talk.
The treasure map led to my own backyard.
Nobody noticed the new kid was a robot.
The last cookie in the jar vanished.
It started raining frogs at recess.
My shadow walked away without me.
The elevator had a button I'd never seen.
A letter arrived from my future self.
The class pet turned out to be a dragon.
We found a staircase under the playground.
The snow globe on my desk started to shake.
Every clock in town stopped at noon.
I traded lunches and got a magic sandwich.
The museum statue winked at me.
Describe your perfect Saturday.
What are you proud of this week?
If you could learn any skill, what would it be?
Write about a time you were brave.
What makes a good friend?
Describe your favorite place with all 5 senses.
What would you do with an extra hour each day?
Write a thank-you note to someone at school.
What is the best advice you've ever received?
If you ran the school for a day, what would change?
Describe a smell that reminds you of home.
What is one goal you have for this month?
Write about something that made you laugh.
Which book character would you like to meet?
What would your dream invention do?

Tip: Ctrl + Enter (⌘ + Enter on Mac) runs it, from the list or from the page.

Remove winner after each spin

How it works

Press Spin and write for a set time, starting from the prompt that lands.
Choose Story starters for fiction or Journal for personal reflection.
Replace the list with prompts from your own unit, one per line, and share the wheel with your class.

What people use it for

Quick writes
Ten minutes of writing at the start of class, with a fresh prompt each day.
Creative writing
Story starters give students a first sentence to continue, which removes the hardest part.
Journaling
Journal questions work for morning work, reflection time or a personal writing habit.

Questions

Are the prompts suitable for kids?: Yes. They are written for elementary and middle school students, and you can edit any line that does not fit your class.
Can I keep my own list for next time?: Your edited list is kept in your browser, and “Share wheel” gives a link you can reuse or send to students.

Writing Prompt Wheel

How it works

What people use it for

Quick writes

Creative writing

Journaling

Questions