50 Ideas to Get Kids Writing

I have been on a mission these past few days to come up with lots of easy, fun, relaxed writing ideas for the kids to choose from.

Because I need to submit work samples to the school superintendent every spring (and she specifically requests writing samples).

And because, even though I have been reading a ton about unschooling, something in me just resists the idea of not requiring any writing at all. I think Grace would write on her own, but the boys, I am pretty sure, would not write anything except the occasional signature in sidewalk chalk.

So I am requiring two written papers per week, but I'm being super flexible about what they write. I do want to see something essay-ish occasionally, though not every week necessarily. This is the list I've come up with for the kids to choose from if they don't have any ideas of their own.

1. Make a page for your nature journal
2. Write a mini report on an animal (use Animal: The Definitive Visual Guide for inspiration)
3. Write a comic strip
4. Write something for the homeschool newsletter
5. Make up jokes-write them down to show Daddy later
6. Write (or start) a short story or other work of fiction
7. Write a poem
8. Write a haiku or limerick: cool online tool for this here
9. Try flash fiction
10. Start a book (or booklet) about a non-fiction topic of your choice
11. Copy out a poem you like
12. Copy a favorite passage from a book
13. Write a review to post on Amazon
14. Make up a new word and write the definition
15. Make up a fantasy animal and write a description of it (where it lives, what it eats, how it looks, etc.)
16. Make up a fantasy planet and write a description of it
17. Make a list of things you would like to do
18. ....or learn about
19. ....or places you want to visit someday
20. Write a review of a place you have recently visited-would you recommend it to someone else?
21. Start a journal
22. Write a diary entry from the point of view of another person (or the dog!)
23. Write a diary entry from the point of view of a fictional character (person or animal)
24. Write a letter to someone
25. Design, write, and mail a postcard
26. Practice cursive writing
27. Learn calligraphy
28. Practice typing
29. Send an email to someone
30. Start a blog for family members to read
31. Take dictation from Rose (who is always happy to have someone write down her thoughts!)
32.  Make a lapbook on a topic you love
33. Look up books to get at the library; make a list of the ones you want
34. Collect a few picture books written by the same author; read and compare them
35. Write a family newsletter or newspaper
36. Make up a completely crazy story that doesn't make ANY sense
37. Use a story starter tool
38. Write a song (perhaps for an upcoming holiday?)
39. Do NaNoWriMo in November
40. Write a comparison of a book and it's movie- how are they the same? What has been changed?
41. Try writing "fan fiction"-perhaps a Harry Potter short story?
42. Write down a dream you had last night-illustrate it if you like!
43. Write a thank-you note
44. Copy a recipe from a magazine or cook book-then try to make it!
45. Write a story from another point of view (ex. rewrite The Three Little Pigs from the Wolf's point of view)
46. Write a play, practice your lines, and use the videocamera to film it
47. Write a few sentences backwards, then go read them in the mirror
48. Do Madlibs
49. Try a what if prompt
50. Try the Random Wacky Headline Maker