Fifth grade is a monumental year for your students! They’re in their last year of elementary school and preparing to move on to middle school and our prompts are here to encourage them to share their experiences and personal opinions about topics of interest. Once you’ve caught their attention with these 105 fantastic prompts, it’ll be easy to take them through the all-important writing process that follows. Comb through this list and let them pick out a few prompts to share with them and get them reflecting on all they’ve already been through!
Covid-19 Experiences
1. Tell me about a time that Covid-19 disrupted your school day. What did you do, and how was everything different?
2. Do you think wearing a mask is a good idea? Why or why not?
3. How did social distancing make you feel? Why?
4. What did you like most about homeschooling during the lockdown and why?
Imagination and Fantasy
5. If you were a Minecraft character, who would you be, and what would you do?
6. If you fart in space, the smell stays with you. What would you do if that happened on Earth?
7. You need to stop a rocket from flying into the sun. What do you do?
8. If you could transform into any liquid or a gas, what would you choose and why?
9. How can I build a home on Mars?
10. If you could clone yourself, would you? Why?
11. Do you want to have a robot that does everything for you? Why or why not?
12. If you could travel in time, would you go into the future or the past? Why?
13. Would you rather see the creation of the universe or the end of the universe? Why?
14. What do you think will happen if you go into a black hole?
15. Would you like to go to another planet? Which one and why? If not, why not?
16. Imagine you went to the moon. What’s there?
17. We launch trash into space. Should we continue to do that?
18. What would you do if you woke up as a video game character?
19. Fleas jump as high as 60 times their body length. Would you like to be able to jump this high?
20. Emperor penguins can stay underwater for 27 minutes without breathing. What would you do underwater for that long?
21. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
22. What would you do if you woke up and zombies were outside of your house?
23. Convince me a dinosaur is a good pet.
24. What would you do if you found a treasure map?
25. If you were President for a day, what would you do?
26. What would you do if you were stranded on a deserted island?
27. If you could meet any fictional character, who would it be and why?
28. If you could be invisible for a day, what would you do?
29. If you had to eat only one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
30. What would you do if you could fly?
31. If you could have any pet in the world, what would it be and why?
32. Would you rather be able to speak any language or be able to talk to animals?
33. What would you do if you could time travel to the past for a day?
34. If you could be any historical figure for a day, who would you be and why?
35. What do you think the world will be like in 2060?
Personal Preferences and Opinions
36. Is it okay to have a monkey as a pet? Why or why not?
37. Do you prefer drawing or writing? Why?
38. Are Takis or Cheetos better? Why?
39. Are you a cat or dog person? Why?
40. Is it okay to keep money that you find on the street?
41. Would you eat a spider, as people do in Cambodia?
42. Would the USA be better if there was only one time zone?
43. How can we slow down climate change?
44. What is the best way to eat toast?
45. Do you prefer Christmas or your birthday?
46. What is the most boring holiday and why?
47. Do you think aliens are real? Why or why not?
48. Would you rather live in a big city or the country? Why?
49. What can we do about the plastic pollution problem?
50. Would you rather have a snow day or a sunny day?
51. Do you like roller coasters? Why or why not?
52. Would you rather go without TV or without snacks for a week?
53. How do you feel about chores?
54. Would you rather go without TV or without snacks for a week?
55. What is your favorite game and why?
56. How do you feel about the importance of recycling?
57. Do you prefer swimming in a pool or the ocean? Why?
58. Are video games good for your brain?
59. How would you spend your time if there were no electronics?
60. Are iPads making kids lazier?
Self-Reflection and Personal Experiences
61. What would you do if a bully were picking on your best friend?
62. What are you the best at and why?
63. Convince me to buy an iPhone.
64. Should parents be allowed to give kids chores?
65. What is your dream job, and why?
66. How would you feel if you were a fish? Why?
67. What is your favorite season and why?
68. What is your favorite family tradition?
69. Describe your perfect day.
70. What would you do if you won a million dollars?
71. How would you feel if you had to move to a new city?
72. How do you feel when you help someone else?
73. Would you rather be a famous athlete or a famous scientist? Why?
74. What are the most important qualities of a friend?
75. What do you want to be when you grow up and why?
76. What is your least favorite chore and why?
77. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
78. Describe your favorite book and why it’s so special to you.
79. Do you think it’s important to have good manners? Why?
80. How do you show kindness to others?
81. What does courage mean to you?
82. What is your favorite family vacation memory?
83. What is your favorite animal and why?
84. What makes you feel proud?
85. What is the most fun thing you’ve ever done?
86. What is your favorite sport and why?
87. Do you think it’s better to be a kid or an adult? Why?
88. How do you feel when you’re angry, and how do you cope with this emotion?
89. What is your favorite hobby and what do you like about it?
90. Tell me about a time you had a fear of missing out.
91. What is your favorite type of music and why?
92. What is your favorite thing about yourself?
School Specific
93. What are your goals for this school year?
94. What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in school so far?
95. How can I be a cool fifth grader?
96. What is the hardest thing about being a 5th grader?
97. If you could change one rule at school, what would it be and why?
98. If you were a teacher, what subject would you teach and why?
99. Should we make the school day shorter?
100. How do you feel about homework?
101. What do you like to do during recess?
102. How would you handle being the new kid in school?
103. What would you do if you were principal for a day?
104. What is your favorite subject in school and why?
105. How do you feel about starting middle school next year?
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