10 Summer Writing Prompts (Free Printables)
Are you looking for creative ways to encourage your children to write? If so you are going to love these summer writing prompts.
These printable writing prompts can be used with all age groups, but are aimed at elementary grades.
These summer story prompts can be used either as homework, to keep the kids entertained, or to do before or after summer break.
Journaling is such a great way for kids to think about their happiest memories. These summer journal prompts will help get the stories started.
Included in this free download are 10 fun summer themed writing prompts.
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Why use writing prompts over the summer?
Using writing prompts with elementary students over the summer is beneficial for several key reasons:
- It combats the “summer slide,” helping students retain their reading and writing skills acquired during the school year.
- Prompts encourage creativity, allowing students to explore their imaginations and express themselves in new and exciting ways.
- Regular writing can help establish a routine, offering structure during the less structured summer months.
- Continuous practice can boost students’ confidence in their writing abilities, making the transition back to school smoother.
- Writing and reading skills are interconnected; improving writing skills over the summer can also enhance reading comprehension.
- With the right prompts, writing becomes a fun activity rather than a chore, keeping students engaged and learning through their interests.
Incorporating writing prompts is a strategic approach to blend summer learning with fun, ensuring educational development while respecting the leisurely pace of summer.
This summer writing prompts printable is free to print, but they are for personal use or classroom use only. Scroll to the bottom of the post to get the pdf file.
Check out all of the fun things to do on a sunny day to stop boredom!
Free printable summer writing prompts
These free printable summer activity sheets are designed to blend learning with summer fun, making them perfect for homework assignments, summer camp activities, or as a creative wrap-up before the summer break begins.
Here’s a bit more detail on each prompt to spark students’ interest and guide their writing:
Describe your favorite July 4th memory. Encourages students to recall and share a memorable Independence Day experience, focusing on sights, sounds, and emotions.
Why should you wear sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses in the summer? Aims to blend health awareness with persuasive writing skills, as students explain the importance of protection against the sun.
Describe the best sand castle that ever existed. This prompt pushes the boundaries of imagination and descriptive writing, as students envision and detail an extraordinary sand creation.
You have invented a new summer snack, describe why it is better than traditional ice cream. Invites creativity and persuasive skills, challenging students to invent a snack and convince others of its superiority.
Would you rather vacation on the mountains or the beach? A comparison and preference prompt that encourages students to weigh options and justify their choices, enhancing decision-making and explanatory writing.
If you could spend a summer anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why? Promotes global awareness and introspection, asking students to research and dream about a summer destination, then articulate their reasons.
Summer is better than winter, discuss. Engages students in a debate-style writing, encouraging them to take a stance and back it up with reasons, comparing and contrasting the two seasons.
Write a letter to your teacher explaining why you didn’t finish their homework. Fosters creative excuses and narrative skills, allowing students to craft a story or reasoning within a letter format.
You are deserted on a tropical island for the day, what do you do? Sparks adventure and survival thinking, asking students to outline a day’s activities with imaginative and practical responses.
What is your favorite thing to do at the beach? A reflective and descriptive prompt that invites students to share personal preferences and experiences related to beach activities.
Kids will love the vacation mad libs book too!
Additional free summer activities
Diving into summer doesn’t have to drain your wallet. Here are some engaging and cheap summer activities for kids that can keep kids entertained, learning, and exploring throughout the season:
- 4th of July word scramble: This activity sharpens spelling and vocabulary skills as kids unscramble words related to Independence Day. It’s a festive way to celebrate the holiday while engaging their brains.
- The Independence Day memory game printable enhances cognitive skills such as memory and concentration, all within a patriotic context.
- Have fun with kids of all ages with our free summer bingo printable.
- Encourage outdoor exploration and observational skills with our summer scavenger hunt.
- As summer winds down, use printable back to school writing prompts focused on the return to school to help kids reflect on their summer experiences and set goals for the upcoming school year. This can ease the transition back to academic routines.
- Adapt the classic Scattergories game with summer scattergories pdf. This game fosters creative thinking and vocabulary development as players come up with words that fit the given criteria.
- Younger kids will love our free 1st grade writing prompts printables too!
Need to print later? Add this to your Pinterest board or share it on Facebook. You’ll have it handy whenever you’re ready to use it!
Get the free summer writing prompts pdf here!
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Last Updated on 10 April 2025 by Clare Brown