Sometimes trying to get your middle school students to write is like trying to pull teeth from an alligator. However, you can make this challenge a little less daunting by giving them engaging, fun, and inspiring journaling topics to write about. Journaling is a great way to start class and give your kiddos some time to free-write.
We’ve compiled a fantastic list of 104 journal prompts for middle schoolers that are sure to spark their interest and make writing less of a chore! Read on and pick out a few to try out with your class during your next writing lesson!
1. Do you think that video games are the cause of violence?
2. What is your favorite animal and why?
3. If you could meet any famous person living or dead, who would it be and why?
4. If you were trapped on a deserted island, what is the one thing you would want to have with you?
5. Should schools have dress codes?
6. If you could hop into a time machine, what time period would you travel to and why?
7. What does your dream house look like? Write down every detail!
8. What is your favorite season of the year and why?
9. Who is your favorite person in the whole world and why?
10. What is your favorite subject in school and why?
11. What is your least favorite subject in school, and why?
12. What would your dream vacation be?
13. What did it feel like on your first day of school this year?
14. Who is your role model and why?
15. If you could come up with a new video game idea, what would it be?
16. Write about a time that you took a trip and everything went wrong!
17. Create a scary story about a camping trip.
18. If you could be any animal, what would it be and why?
19. If you were to have a dinner party where you could invite anyone in the whole world, who would you invite and why?
20. Explain your dream job and the steps (you know now) that you need to take to achieve that goal.
21. Write about a time when things were difficult and explain how you got through it and who helped you.
22. Create an acrostic poem from your name.
23. What are the best and worst things about middle school students?
24. What things do you do in your daily life to have a positive attitude?
25. Write down step-by-step how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
26. Create an action-filled story in which YOU are the superhero.
27. What games do you/would you play on a cross-country road trip?
28. What are some inventions of our current time that you think are detrimental to society?
29. For five minutes find out everything you can about Mother Teresa. When the 5 minutes are up, write about her for 10 minutes.
30. What do you think some of the benefits of writing in a journal every day are?
31. Do you believe that all beliefs are good at heart?
32. Explain a time when someone embarrassed you. How did it make you feel and what did they do?
33. What are some things you worry about and why?
34. Make a list of ten interview questions.
35. How do you think ancient people would act if they were brought to our time?
36. Write the funniest story you’ve ever heard!
37. Who do you think is the most beautiful person in the world (either inside or out)?
38. If you found a magical portal to take you anywhere, where would you go?
39. If you were trapped on a deserted island with one person, who would it be and why?
40. What kind of pet would you buy from a pet shop?
41. What new story idea would you pitch to Netflix?
42. What is the most difficult part of everyday life?
43. Who would you throw a surprise birthday party for and why?
44. Which animals do you think are the smartest in the Animal Kingdom, and why?
45. What do you like about your art class?
46. What do you like/dislike about math class?
47. Would you rather eat a worm or a spider?
48. Create a contents page for your life.
49. Write down your perfect music playlist.
50. Who was your favorite elementary school teacher?
51. What things bring you happiness?
52. Name one thing you would change about yourself.
53. What is the strangest dream you’ve ever had?
54. What would you do if you won the lottery?
55. What are your college/career goals?
56. Create a bucket list.
57. How do you handle confrontation?
58. What is your favorite memory of a family member?
59. Who are your best friends and why?
60. What is something you do when you are sad?
61. Do you like sweet or salty best?
62. What is your favorite meal that your mom or dad makes?
63. Explain one of your family’s traditions.
64. What is your greatest fear?
65. Would you rather run a mile, or do 100 jumping jacks?
66. What is the best prank you’ve ever seen?
67. What makes you laugh the hardest?
68. What is your favorite snack?
69. Would you rather stick your hand in a bowl of spiders or a bowl of snakes?
70. What would you do if you were the President?
71. What is your favorite sports team and why?
72. Name one place you would like to volunteer at.
73. What is the most important part of everyday life?
74. List five short-term and five long-term goals for your life.
75. Who is your favorite music artist?
76. If you could time travel to witness one moment in history, which would it be?
77. What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?
78. How do you handle peer pressure?
79. What are the qualities of a good friend?
80. Write a letter to your future self, five years from now.
81. Imagine being an explorer in a newly discovered land. What challenges would you face, and what would you hope to find?
82. What is the one quality you admire most in others and why?
83. If you could bring any fictional character to life, who would it be and why?
84. What would you do if you became famous overnight?
85. What is the most courageous thing you have ever done?
86. If you could redesign your school’s uniform or dress code, what changes would you make?
87. What are three things you value most about your family?
88. Describe the most fantastic day you can imagine.
89. If you had the power to end any global issue, which would you choose and why?
90. Which fictional universe or world would you most want to live in and why?
91. What is the most meaningful gift you have ever received?
92. Do you believe in life on other planets? Why or why not?
93. What personal qualities make a good leader?
94. Imagine you are 30 years old. Where are you and what are you doing in life?
95. What does “happiness” mean to you?
96. What lesson from your parents has stuck with you the most?
97. If you could be invisible for a day, what would you do?
98. What’s the most inspirational book you’ve ever read and why?
99. If you could create a new holiday, what would it be and how would it be celebrated?
100. How do you define success? What will it look like for you in the future?
101. What’s the most unusual food you’ve ever tried? Would you eat it again?
102. If you could swap lives with someone for a day, who would it be and why?
103. What is the most adventurous thing you want to try?
104. How do you show kindness to others.
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