1st Grade Writing

• 1st grade
• Common Core W.1.1–W.1.3
• 24 prompts · 6 lessons

1st graders write real pieces: an opinion with a reason, how-to steps, a short report and a story with a beginning, middle and end. The 24 prompts on this page are written for 1st grade and organized by the three types of writing in the standards.

What kids learn in 1st grade writing

In 1st grade, kids name a topic and state an opinion with a reason, write informative pieces with some facts, and tell stories with two or more events in order using words like first, then and after.

They also learn to write complete sentences of different types, use capital letters and end marks, and spell common words correctly. How-to writing and friendly letters are favorite 1st grade projects.

Aim for a few sentences on one idea, and celebrate finished pieces.

1st grade writing prompts

24 original prompts written for 1st grade, eight each for opinion, informative and narrative writing, the three types in the Common Core writing standards. Pick one a day, or one a week for a longer piece. Download them as a printable PDF with a page of writing paper.

Opinion prompts

How to write it: opinion writing

1. What is the best season? Give two reasons.
2. Should kids have a pet? Why or why not?
3. What is the best game to play at recess?
4. Which is better, pizza or tacos? Tell why.
5. What is the best job in the world?
6. Should every school have a garden?
7. What is your favorite book character? Why?
8. Is it better to read a book or watch a movie?

Informative prompts

How to write it: informative writing

1. How do you make a sandwich? Write the steps.
2. Tell all about your favorite animal.
3. What does a firefighter do?
4. How do you take care of a plant?
5. Teach someone how to play your favorite game.
6. Tell three facts about the moon.
7. What happens in each season?
8. How do you get ready for school in the morning?

Narrative prompts

How to write it: narrative writing

1. Write about a time you learned something new.
2. Tell about a time you felt surprised.
3. Write about the best present you ever got.
4. Tell about a day at the beach, park or zoo.
5. Write a story about a dog who can fly.
6. Tell about a time something funny happened.
7. Write about a snow day or a rainy day.
8. Make up a story about a lost teddy bear.

1st grade writing lessons, in order

Each lesson takes about 10 to 15 minutes and has a quiz and a free worksheet.

1. 1. Writing a Complete SentenceWriting complete sentences with a capital letter, a who, a did-what and end punctuation. L.K.1f, L.K.2a, L.1.1j
2. 2. How-To WritingWriting clear step-by-step instructions with a title, materials, order words and an ending. W.1.2, W.2.2
3. 3. Writing a Friendly LetterWriting a friendly letter with all five parts and correct commas. L.2.2b, W.2.5, W.3.4
4. 4. Opinion WritingWriting an opinion piece with a clear opinion, reasons, examples and a conclusion. W.1.1, W.3.1, W.5.1
5. 5. Informative WritingWriting an informative piece with an introduction, facts grouped by subtopic and a conclusion. W.1.2, W.3.2, W.5.2
6. 6. Narrative WritingWriting a narrative with characters, setting, events in order, details and an ending. W.1.3, W.3.3, W.5.3

What the standards say

These are the Common Core 1st grade writing and language standards this page covers. Most US states use the same or very similar goals.

• L.1.1j: Produce and expand complete simple and compound declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory sentences in response to prompts.
• W.1.1: Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or name the book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply a reason for the opinion, and provide some sense of closure.
• W.1.2: Write informative/explanatory texts in which they name a topic, supply some facts about the topic, and provide some sense of closure.
• W.1.3: Write narratives in which they recount two or more appropriately sequenced events, include some details regarding what happened, use temporal words to signal event order, and provide some sense of closure.

A simple weekly plan

Ten to fifteen minutes a day is plenty. This rhythm works for most families; swap days around to fit your week.

Mixed quiz

Ten questions drawn from the 1st grade writing lessons: writing a complete sentence, how-to writing, writing a friendly letter, opinion writing, informative writing, narrative writing. Tap the speaker to hear a question read aloud. Any question your child misses points to the lesson to revisit.

1. 1.Which is a complete sentence?

   🔈
   The dog ran. The big dog. Ran fast.
   Show answer

   The dog ran.

2. 2.What does how-to writing do?

   🔈
   teaches the reader how to do something tells a made-up story gives an opinion
   Show answer

   Teaches the reader how to do something.

3. 3.How many parts does a friendly letter have?

   🔈
   five two ten
   Show answer

   Five.

4. 4.What does OREO stand for?

   🔈
   Opinion, Reasons, Examples, Opinion Order, Read, Edit, Organize One, Rule, Every, Option
   Show answer

   Opinion, Reasons, Examples, Opinion.

5. 5.What does informative writing do?

   🔈
   teaches the reader facts about a topic tells a made-up story tries to change your mind
   Show answer

   Teaches the reader facts about a topic.

6. 6.What does narrative writing do?

   🔈
   tells a story teaches facts gives an opinion
   Show answer

   Tells a story.

7. 7.A sentence starts with a...

   🔈
   capital letter period
   Show answer

   capital letter.

8. 8.Which is a good how-to title?

   🔈
   How to Wash a Dog My Dog
   Show answer

   How to Wash a Dog.

9. 9.Which is a greeting?

   🔈
   Dear Sam, Love,
   Show answer

   Dear Sam,

10. 10.Which is an opinion sentence?

    🔈
    I think dogs are the best pets. Dogs have four legs.
    Show answer

    I think dogs are the best pets.

Printables

• 1st Grade writing prompts (PDF)All 24 prompts plus a page of writing paper.
• Writing a Complete SentenceCircle complete sentences, fix capitals and periods, match who and did-what parts, and write your own sentences.
• How-To WritingPut steps in order, then plan and write your own how-to piece with a title, materials and four steps.
• Writing a Friendly LetterLabel the parts of a model letter, fix commas and capitals, then write your own friendly letter.
• Opinion WritingPick a topic, plan with the OREO organizer, then write an opinion paragraph with linking words.
• Informative WritingSort facts into subtopics, cross out the opinion, then plan and write your own all-about piece.
• Narrative WritingTurn telling sentences into showing sentences, plan a story with a story map, then write it.

All 1st grade worksheets

Practicing at home

Talk before writing

Have your child tell the whole piece out loud first.

Use order words

First, next, then, last.

Make it real

Write letters to family, signs for the playroom, or how-to cards.

Reread together

Read it back and fix one thing.

More 1st grade practice

See every reading and writing skill for the year on the 1st grade page. Earlier: kindergarten writing prompts. Next: 2nd grade writing prompts. All lessons: writing. Related: grammar and punctuation.

Last reviewed: November 11, 2026

Questions parents ask