Happy
Scream
Guard
Evil
Whirlwind
Cactus
King
Chaos
Angry
Desert
Laugh
Heart
Give each participant a couple of pieces of paper at random. The first person says the first sentence of a story and they must use their first word as part of that sentence. The second person then continues the story and must include their word in it, and so on. Go round the group twice to complete the story.
You can also do this creative writing exercise with story dice, your own choice of words, or by asking participants to write random words down themselves, then shuffling all the cards together.
Every Christmas adults tell kids stories about Santa Claus. In this exercise you write a Christmas story from an alternative dimension.
What if every Christmas Santa didn't fly around the world delivering presents on his sleigh pulled by reindeer? What if gnomes or aliens delivered the presents? Or perhaps it was the gnomes who are trying to emulate the humans? Or some other Christmas tradition entirely that we humans have never heard of!
If you're working with a group, give everyone a couple of minutes to write two possible themes for the new Christmas story. Each theme should be 5 words or less.
Shuffle the paper and distribute them at random. If you're working online, everyone types the themes into the Zoom or group chat. Each writer then spends 10 minutes writing a short story for children based on one of the two themes, or their own theme if they really want to.
If working alone, choose your own theme and spend 15 minutes writing a short story on it. See if you can create the magic of Christmas from another world!
In a murder mystery story or courtroom drama, there's often conflicting information and lots of links between characters. A mind map is an ideal way to illustrate how everything ties together.
Split into groups of 3 or 4 people each and place a blank piece of A3 paper (double the size of A4) in the middle of each group. Discuss between you who the victim is and write their name in the middle of the piece of paper. Then brainstorm information about the murder, for example:
Feel free to expand out from any of these, e.g. to include more information on the different characters involved.
The idea is that everyone writes at the same time! Obviously, you can discuss ideas, but anyone can dive in and write their ideas on the mind map.
If you’re writing a piece of fiction, ask yourself how your protagonist would react to an everyday situation. This can help you to gain a deeper insight into who they are.
One way to do this is to imagine what their New Year’s resolutions would be.
If completing this exercise with a group, limit it to 3 to 5 resolutions per person. If some participants are historical fiction or non-fiction writers, they instead pick a celebrity and either write what their resolutions will be, or what their resolutions should be, their choice.
Stephen King said, "I believe the road to hell is paved with adverbs, and I will shout it from the rooftops."
He also said, "Take any noun, put it with any verb, and you have a sentence. It never fails. Rocks explode. Jane transmits. Mountains float. These are all perfect sentences. Many such thoughts make little rational sense, but even the stranger ones (Plums deify!) have a kind of poetic weight that’s nice."
In this fiction writing exercise, start by brainstorming (either individually or collectively) seven verbs on seven different pieces of paper. Put those aside for later. Now brainstorm seven nouns. Randomly match the nouns and verbs so you have seven pairs. Choose a pair and write a piece of fiction for ten minutes. Avoid using any adverbs.
It’s the end of the world! For 5 minutes either:
If working as a team, then after the 5 minutes is up each writer reads their description out to the other participants.
For use after your first draft
I’ve listened to a lot of masterclasses on writing by successful authors and they all say variants of your first draft won’t be good and that’s fine. Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman summarise it the best:
“The first draft is just you telling yourself the story.”
Terry Pratchett
“For me, it’s always been a process of trying to convince myself that what I’m doing in a first draft isn’t important. One way you get through the wall is by convincing yourself that it doesn’t matter. No one is ever going to see your first draft. Nobody cares about your first draft. And that’s the thing that you may be agonising over, but honestly, whatever you’re doing can be fixed… For now, just get the words out. Get the story down however you can get it down, then fix it.”
Neil Gaiman
Once you’ve written your first draft, it will need editing to develop the plot, enhance the characters, and improve each scene in a myriad of ways – small and large. These seven creative editing exercises are designed to help with this stage of the process.
Read the first paragraph of the novel, in particular the first sentence. Does it launch the reader straight into the action? According to On Writing and Worldbuilding by Timothy Hickson, “The most persuasive opening lines are succinct, and not superfluous. To do this, it is often effective to limit it to a single central idea… This does not need to be the most important element, but it should be a central element that is interesting.” Ask yourself what element your opening sentence encapsulates and whether it’s the best one to capture your readers’ attention.
Consistency is crucial in creative writing, whether it’s in relation to location, objects, or people.
It’s also crucial for personality, emotions and motivation.
Look at scenes where your protagonist makes an important decision. Are their motivations clear? Do any scenes force them to choose between two conflicting morals? If so, do you explore this? Do their emotions fit with what’s happened in previous scenes?
As you edit your manuscript, keep the characters’ personality, emotions and motivation in mind. If their behaviour is inconsistent, either edit it for consistency, or have someone comment on their strange behaviour or be surprised by it. Inconsistent behaviour can reveal that a character is keeping a secret, or is under stress, so characters don’t always need to be consistent. But when they’re not, there has to be a reason.
This exercise is the first in The Emotional Craft of Fiction by Donald Maass. It’s a writing guide with a plethora of editing exercises designed to help you reenergize your writing by thinking of what your character is feeling, and giving you the tools to make your reader feel something.
Search for the following words in your book:
Whenever these words occur, ask yourself if you can demonstrate how your characters feel, rather than simply stating it. For each occasion, can you use physiological descriptors (a racing heart), actions (taking a step backwards) or dialogue to express what’s just happened instead? Will this enhance the scene and engage the reader more?
Find a scene where your characters disagree – in particular a scene where your protagonist argues with friends or allies. What happens next?
It can be tempting to wrap up the action with a quick resolution. But what if a resentment lingers and mistrust builds? This creates a more interesting story arc and means a resolution can occur later, giving the character development a real dynamic.
Review how you resolve the action and see if you can stretch out the emotions for a more satisfying read.
Ensure that the words used don’t detract from the enormity of the events your character is going through. Can you delete words like, “Quite”, “Little”, or “Rather”?
Of “Very” Florence King once wrote: “ 'Very' is the most useless word in the English language and can always come out. More than useless, it is treacherous because it invariably weakens what it is intended to strengthen .” Delete it, or replace the word after it with a stronger word, which makes “Very” redundant.
“That,” is another common word used in creative writing which can often be deleted. Read a sentence as is, then reread it as if you deleted, “That”. If the meaning is the same, delete it.
When talking about chapter endings, James Patterson said, “At the end, something has to propel you into the next chapter.”
Read how each of your chapters finish and ask yourself does it either:
Review how you wrap up each of your chapters. Do you end at the best point in your story? Can you add anticipation to cliff hangers? Will you leave your readers wanting more?
The editing exercises are designed to be completed individually.
With the others, I've always run them as part of a creative writing group, where there's no teacher and we're all equal participants, therefore I keep any 'teaching' aspect to a minimum, preferring them to be prompts to generate ideas before everyone settles down to do the silent writing. We've recently gone online and if you run a group yourself, whether online or in person, you're welcome to use these exercises for free!
The times given are suggestions only and I normally get a feel for how everyone's doing when time's up and if it's obvious that everyone's still in the middle of a discussion, then I give them longer. Where one group's in the middle of a discussion, but everyone else has finished, I sometimes have a 'soft start' to the silent writing, and say, "We're about to start the hour and a half of silent writing now, but if you're in the middle of a discussion, feel free to finish it first".
This way everyone gets to complete the discussion, but no-one's waiting for ages. It's also important to emphasise that there's no wrong answers when being creative.
Still looking for more? Check out these creative writing prompts or our dedicated Sci-Fi and Fantasy creative writing prompts
If you've enjoyed these creative writing exercises, please share them on social media, or link to them from your blog.
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Have you ever heard these questions or statements from your students?
If so, you won’t want to miss these creative writing activities.
Activities that teach creative writing serve as drills to exercise your student’s writing muscle. When used effectively, they help reluctant writers get past that intimidating blank paper and encourage the words to flow.
When I think of creative writing exercises , writing prompts immediately come to mind. And, yes, writing from a prompt is certainly an example of a creative writing activity (a highly effective one).
However, writing prompts are only one way to teach creative writing. Other types of activities include games, collaboration with others, sensory activities, and comic strip creation to name a few.
Unlike writing assignments, creative writing activities aren’t necessarily meant to create a perfectly polished finished project.
Instead, they serve as more of a warmup and imagination boost.
Picture-based writing exercises are especially fun. You can download one for free below!
How to use creative writing exercises effectively.
When teaching creative writing , the most effective exercises inspire and engage the student.
Remember that worn-out prompt your teacher probably hauled out every year?
“What I Did This Summer…”
Cue the groaning.
Instead of presenting your student with lackluster topics like that one, let’s talk about ways to engage and excite them.
Early writers tend to possess misconceptions about writing. Many picture sitting down for hours straight, polishing a story from beginning to end.
Even for experienced writers, this is next-to-impossible to do. It’s preconceived ideas like these that overwhelm and discourage students before they’ve even started.
Instead of assigning an essay to complete, start with simple, short writing exercises for elementary students such as:
Creative writing exercises don’t have to end in a finished piece of work. If the exercise encouraged creative thinking and helped the student put pen to paper, it’s done its job.
Creative writing activities for middle school can be a little more inventive. They now have the fundamental reading and writing skills to wield their words properly.
Here are some ideas for middle school writing exercises you can try at home:
Your high school student may be starting to prepare for college essays and other important creative writing assignments.
It’s more critical than ever for her to exercise her writing skills on a regular basis.
One great way to keep your high schooler’s mind thinking creatively is to have her make “listicles” of tips or facts about something she’s interested in already.
Another fun and effective creative writing exercise for high school is to have your student retell classic stories with a twist.
No matter what age range your students may be, I think you’ll find something that suits their personality and interests in this list of creative writing ideas. Enjoy!
One of the best ways to encourage students to write regularly is by providing fun creative writing activities .
They serve to encourage both the habit and mindset of writing with imagination. If you need extra help with that, check out Creative Freewriting Adventure :
About the author.
Make writing less boring with these 12 fun creative writing activities for kids.
When most children think of writing, they think of lined paper with thousands of words written on it, line by line with the occasional spacing for paragraphs. But writing doesn’t need to be that boring and gloomy. Today we bring you12 creative writing activities to make writing fun and colourful!
It is important to show your kids that there’s more to writing than just homework and long essays. Writing can be fun and it doesn’t always involve writing thousands of words in a formal structure. It’s time to stop worrying about sentence structure, grammar and spelling mistakes. Instead, encourage your kids to explore their creativity and write down their thoughts as they come in any format they like. Here are 12 fun creative writing activities that will boost your child’s creativity, imagination and encourage them to write for fun.
Use story maps.
Story maps are a great way to unleash your child’s imagination. You can either create your own or print out one of these free story map templates . To create your own story map, you’ll first need a location. This could be anywhere, a planet , an island , the woods or even your hometown. Don’t worry, you don’t actually need to leave your home to enjoy this activity.
Next draw out a simple map of the location. The map must have a starting point and an endpoint. Here is an example of our treasure island story map:
You can see that we marked the starting point with a star. And the end point with a red cross. Once this is done, you need to put loads of obstacles, challenges and interesting things on the map for your child to explore and engage with in their imagination. This could be a giant octopus monster, a lava lake, a cunning princess or even some secret symbols or lettering.
Once you have completed creating your action-packed story map (or printed out one of our free templates) – It’s time for the real adventure to begin. Give the map to your child and together you can pretend that you have landed in a whole new location.
Start from your bedroom (or your imaginary pirate ship) and make your way through the obstacles to find the secret treasure located in a mysterious cave (or the shed in your backyard). As you go through the map, think about the characters you might encounter, items you might find and even challenges you could face.
After your little adventure, your child will be inspired and ready to write about the adventure they just experienced! Go ahead and check out these free story map templates to get you started:
Puppets and toys are a great way to stimulate imaginative play. In particular, creating your own paper finger puppets is a brilliant creative activity to boost your child’s imagination and make story-telling more fun. When creating your own finger puppets, your child can create any character they like. If they love football , try creating some famous football players, and if they love Harry Potter , get them to create some wizard themed characters. Whatever your child’s interest, combine it with story-telling, and make storytime extra fun.
To get you started, you can download our free paper finger puppet templates by signing up to Imagine Forest:
Create your own paper characters, props and background. Then let the role-playing begin!
Kids love playing games. The Would You Rather game is a great way to boost logical thinking and communication skills. Print out our free Would You Rather game cards pack, to get a mix of funny, gross and Disney themed questions. Then get at least three players in a team to begin the game. The purpose of the game is to convince the whole team that your answer to the question is the best one and to get other players to agree with you. This game is guaranteed to get your kids laughing and thinking logically about the answers they pick.
Another brilliant creative writing activity is the Telephone Pictionary Game . The basic idea behind this game is to write a story collaboratively with your team using drawings and phrases. Together as team members take turns to write/draw something down. They’ll be improving skills such as creativity, teamwork and communication skills. And when the game is over, they’ll have a really funny story to read!
Poetry is a quick and short writing activity to get kids engaged in creative writing. But writing a typical haiku or limerick can get boring over time. To add a little more excitement gets your kids to write poems in the shape of something. For example, your child could write a poem about cats , in the shape of a cat:
Not only are these poems great to read, but they also make wonderful pieces of artwork. For more inspirations, check out our Alice in Wonderland inspired shape poetry .
The finish the story game is the simplest creative writing activity in our list. In a team of at least 2 players, each player takes turns completing a story. Start off with a random story starter and then each player takes turns to continue this story. Which way will the story go? No-one knows. And that’s the real beauty of this game. Let your child explore their imagination and come up with wild ideas to keep the story interesting. And by the end of the game, you’ll have a really unique and funny story to read.
Image prompts are a great source of inspiration. And can be used in a number of ways to encourage your child to write. For instance, you can ask your child to write a quick snappy slogan for a random image or photograph. Alternatively, you could play a whole game centred around a single image, such as the Round Robin Tournament game explained in our post on storytelling games using image prompts .
Inspiration is key in making writing fun for kids. That’s where story cubes come in handy. You either buy ready-made story cubes or make your own story cubes at home. If you’re interested in making your own story cubes, check out these 9 free story cube templates for ideas. Once you have a bunch of story cubes, you can simply roll them like dice and then challenge your kids to write a story based on the images they get. For game ideas using story cubes, check out this post on how to use story cubes .
If your kids hate writing but love drawing, then comic strips are a great creative activity to sneak in some minor writing with huge levels of imagination. Pick a topic, any topic you like. This could be related to your child’s interest and then ask them to create a short comic strip about that topic. For example, if you child loves dinosaurs, ask them to create their own comic strip about dinosaurs. For more inspiration and ideas, check out this post on how to create your own comic strip and comic books at home.
Another fun way to get your kids to write more is by creating your own pop-book books. Pop-up books seem really complicated to create, but in reality, they are really easy to make at home. All you need is some paper, scissors and glue. Check out this super easy tutorial on how to create your own pop-book at home for quick step-by-step instructions. Similar to comic strips, pop-up books are a great way of combining drawing with writing to get your kids writing more in a quick and fun way.
Turn your child’s story into a real book! You can buy blank books from Amazon or create your own mini paper book, using this easy mini notebook tutorial . With this tutorial you can create a fully customisable book, with your own cover, back page and you can even draw your own illustrations inside! This is a really fun and cute way to gets your kids writing in their spare time.
Forgot ordinary boring letters! Check out our Paper craft animal envelopes to encourage your kids to write letters to their friends, family, heroes, aliens, anyone they like! Inside the child can write any message they like, such as “how were your holidays…” or “We’re having a party this weekend…” And on the outside they can create any animal or creature they like as envelopes.
Ask your child to draw their own monster or character and describe it. – What are its strengths, and weaknesses, where does it live, what does it like doing and so on? This creative writing activity is quick, simple and full of imagination! And you could even take this a step further by creating your own monster flip books !
Use story starters to inspire reluctant writers. These can be simple sentences, such as “It was Timmy’s first day at school and he was excited…” and your child can continue writing the rest of the story. Or you could use photos and your child’s drawings to inspire story-writing by asking the child to describe what’s happening in this image. Take a look at this post on 60+ first-line prompts to inspire you or you could view our mega list of over 300 writing prompts for kids .
Get your child to create their own Christmas cards , greeting cards or get well cards to send to someone they know. They can write their own personal message inside and draw a picture on the outside. Quick activities like this are a great way to sneak in some writing with some arts and crafts.
Ask your child to write their own newspaper article or create their own newspaper about the daily events that happen at home or at school. Remember the use of the 5 W’s and 1 H when writing newspaper articles. Our newspaper challenge online activity is great for creating fun newspaper articles.
Get the kids involved in the weekly grocery shopping! Ask them to write the shopping list with drawings. If the grocery shopping list is too boring, then get them to create a wish list of items they dream of owning or even a list of goals they want to accomplish. You can buy some really pretty shopping list pads from Amazon , which could be a great way to encourage your kids to get writing!
Fairytales have been around for centuries and by now they need a modern twist. Challenge your child to update an old classic. And you could even use this free ‘Retell a fairy tale pack ’ to help you. Re-telling a fairytale is a lot easier than creating a whole new one – Simply ask your child to change one or two key elements in the story and see how it changes the entire fairytale. For example, what if Cinderella was the villain? Alternatively, you could go wacky and add a whole new character to a classic fairytale, such as Spiderman making an appearance in Jack and the Beanstalk. The possibilities really are endless!
Ask your child to write their own short movie script, they can create a cast list and give all the different characters different things to say. You can find a free script and cast list template here ! Think about the conversation between the characters, what problems would they encounter, who is the villain in this story? We also think these free finger puppets printable could be great for story-telling.
Ask your child to keep a simple hand-written blog about their hobbies and interests. This can be done in a journal or notebook. Ask them the following questions: What do they like doing in their spare time and why do they enjoy this. Maybe ask them to provide instructions on how someone else can also be good at this hobby. They can update their hand-written blog everyday with new tips and interesting pieces of information on their hobby.
Create a ‘Wanted’ poster for famous villains in storybooks, such as Miss Trunchbull from Matilda or Cinderella’s Stepmother. You can find a free blank template here . Alternatively try out the Most Wanted online activity on Imagine Forest, to create your own wanted posters online:
Writing a whole story down can be cumbersome. That’s why storyboarding can make a really good creative writing activity. Instead of asking a child to write a whole story down, get them to think about the key events in the story and plan it out using a storyboard template . Planning their story out beforehand could even encourage your child to write a complete story down afterwards. The first step is always planning out what you are going to write, and this could give your child the confidence to keep going.
Know anymore fun writing activities for kids? Tell us your ideas below.
Marty the wizard is the master of Imagine Forest. When he's not reading a ton of books or writing some of his own tales, he loves to be surrounded by the magical creatures that live in Imagine Forest. While living in his tree house he has devoted his time to helping children around the world with their writing skills and creativity.
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After-school programs bridge the gap left by conventional education, catering to various learning styles and nurturing creativity in a non-academic setting. By participating in a diverse range of activities, from academic clubs to sports and the arts, children can uncover their passions and talents in an enjoyable and supportive atmosphere.
These programs not only extend the day but also provide opportunities for personal growth and skill development that may not be fully addressed during regular school hours.
Let’s explore some exciting activities that can make after-school programs both fun and educational for children of all ages and interests.
STEM activities provide an exciting gateway into the world of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. These hands-on experiences not only educate but also inspire curiosity and innovation in young minds.
Introduce children to the basics of coding through user-friendly platforms like Scratch or Python. These classes go beyond simple programming, helping students develop crucial problem-solving skills and logical thinking. As they create their own games, animations, and interactive stories, children gain confidence in their ability to bring ideas to life through technology.
In robotics clubs, students embark on an exciting journey of building and programming their own robots . This immersive experience combines engineering principles with coding skills, allowing children to see their creations come to life. As they work through challenges and refine their designs, students learn valuable lessons in perseverance, teamwork, and creative problem-solving.
Engage young scientists with captivating experiments like the classic oil and water separation or the surprising floating paper clip. These simple yet fascinating activities spark curiosity about the natural world and introduce fundamental scientific concepts. Through hands-on experimentation, children learn to:
This helps in developing critical scientific thinking skills.
Creative activities provide children with a valuable outlet for self-expression while honing their fine motor skills and boosting self-confidence.
Offer a variety of painting and drawing projects that allow children to explore different techniques and mediums. From watercolor landscapes to comic book illustrations, these activities encourage children to express their unique perspectives and develop their artistic style. As they experiment with color, form, and composition, students gain a deeper appreciation for visual arts.
Introduce children to the art of jewelry making, where they can create wearable pieces of art. This activity improves hand-eye coordination and patience as kids work with small beads, wires, and clasps. Beyond technical skills, jewelry making also teaches design principles and allows children to express their personal style, creating pieces they can proudly wear or gift to others.
Engage children in eco-friendly craft projects using recycled materials. These activities not only spark creativity but also teach valuable lessons about sustainability and resourcefulness. Children can transform everyday items like cardboard boxes, plastic bottles, and old magazines into beautiful and functional creations, learning that art can be both beautiful and environmentally conscious.
Physical activities are highly beneficial for children’s health, helping them stay active, build strength, and develop important social skills through teamwork and friendly competition.
Organize team sports like basketball, soccer, and volleyball to promote physical fitness and teamwork. These activities help children develop coordination, strategic thinking, and sportsmanship. Through practice and friendly matches, kids learn the value of perseverance, goal-setting, and supporting their teammates—skills that extend far beyond the playing field.
Introduce children to the joy of movement through dance classes like Zumba or hip-hop. These high-energy sessions combine exercise with music, improving cardiovascular health, coordination, and rhythm. Dance classes also boost self-confidence and provide a fun way for children to express themselves creatively while getting a great workout.
Offer gymnastics sessions to help children develop flexibility, strength, and body awareness. Through a series of tumbling exercises, balance beam activities, and floor routines, children improve their physical capabilities while building self-confidence. Gymnastics also teaches important lessons in discipline, focus, and the rewards of consistent practice.
Engaging children in literature and drama activities can significantly enhance their reading comprehension, communication skills, and confidence in public speaking.
Create engaging book clubs where children can explore diverse genres and authors. These clubs go beyond simple reading, encouraging lively discussions that enhance comprehension and critical thinking skills. Through sharing opinions, analyzing characters, and predicting plot twists, children learn to articulate their thoughts clearly and respect different perspectives.
Introduce children to the world of theater through interactive drama classes . These sessions help boost confidence and improve public speaking abilities through fun exercises, improvisation games, and short play productions. As children step into different roles and bring stories to life, they develop empathy, creativity, and the ability to express emotions effectively.
Music and performing arts activities offer children a chance to explore their creative side while developing discipline, patience, and teamwork skills.
Provide opportunities for children to learn various musical instruments . Whether it’s piano, guitar, or drums, learning an instrument helps develop discipline, patience, and fine motor skills. As children progress from simple melodies to more complex pieces, they experience the joy of achievement and gain a lifelong appreciation for music.
Organize choir or band sessions where children can experience the thrill of making music together. These group activities teach important lessons in teamwork and listening skills as students learn to harmonize their voices or instruments. Participating in a musical ensemble also boosts confidence and provides opportunities for public performances, allowing children to showcase their talents.
Combine the excitement of drama, music, and dance in musical theater productions. This comprehensive performing art form allows children to explore various aspects of stage performance. From memorizing lines and songs to designing costumes and sets, musical theater engages multiple skills and fosters creativity. It also teaches children about collaboration, time management, and the satisfaction of bringing a production to life.
After-school programs are essential for providing children with a balanced mix of education, physical activity, and creative expression. By incorporating a variety of fun activities, these programs help children develop important life skills, stay healthy, and enjoy their time in a safe and structured environment. Whether through STEM projects, arts and crafts, sports, or music, there are endless possibilities to keep children engaged and learning long after the school day ends.
Teaching preschoolers to write the alphabet can be a delightful and rewarding experience! One of the best ways to make this learning journey both fun and educational is with our alphabet practice worksheets.
These Practice Writing the Alphabet worksheets provide a friendly and structured way for your little one to recognize each letter and build confidence in writing them. As they work through these exercises, they’ll set a strong foundation for kindergarten and beyond.
What’s so great about using alphabet printables is that they can cater to all learning styles. From tracing letters to writing them independently, these printables turn learning the alphabet into an engaging adventure for you and your preschooler!
Alphabet worksheets are fantastic tools for introducing children to the world of letters. They offer guided practice, which is essential for young learners who are just beginning to develop their fine motor skills.
These free preschool printables help children understand the shape and structure of each letter, making it easier for them to remember and reproduce them. Additionally, worksheets can be used at home and in the classroom, providing flexibility for parents and teachers.
To help you make teaching the alphabet an enjoyable experience for your preschoolers, we’ve put together some fantastic free printable worksheets you can easily download and print at home.
Children dive into a fun and educational experience with interactive alphabet worksheets. These activities capture their interest and enhance fine motor skills through practical, hands-on practice. As they work through each letter, kids build the confidence and excitement needed to complete the activity.
Preschool Handwriting Practice Pages
Using our alphabet worksheets is easy and intuitive. Each worksheet focuses on one letter, allowing children to master each before moving on. Start by having the child identify the featured letter on the page. This recognition step is crucial in reinforcing letter shapes and sounds.
Next, guide them as they trace the letter. The tracing lines help build muscle memory and improve their ability to write the letter independently. Finally, encourage them to write the letter on their own. This step boosts confidence and solidifies their learning.
To make the most of these worksheets, integrate them into daily learning routines. Set aside a specific time each day for alphabet practice. Consistency is key in helping children retain what they’ve learned. Additionally, make sure to praise their efforts and progress. Positive reinforcement can greatly enhance motivation and enjoyment.
These printables aren’t just for solo activities. Incorporate them into group learning sessions to foster cooperation and peer learning. Children can learn a lot from watching their peers and working together on shared tasks.
Alphabet activities for preschoolers make learning letters fun and interactive through play, creativity, and hands-on experiences. These activities help children recognize letters, understand sounds, and build early reading and writing skills while fostering a love for learning.
Alphabet crafts are a creative way for preschoolers to explore letters while having fun with hands-on projects. These crafts reinforce letter recognition and allow children to express their creativity as they connect letters with shapes, colors, and textures.
In this section, you’ll find a variety of engaging alphabet crafts that will make learning the ABCs enjoyable and memorable for your child.
Introducing the alphabet to young learners can be a fun and engaging experience with the right books. Alphabet books are perfect for preschoolers and early readers, combining bright illustrations and playful text to make learning the ABCs exciting. Here are three delightful alphabet books that will captivate children and foster a love for reading.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault is a beloved classic that turns the alphabet into a lively adventure. The story features all the letters racing to the top of a coconut tree, only to come crashing down. With its rhythmic text and vibrant illustrations, this book is perfect for read-aloud sessions and will have kids chanting along.
In Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert, children embark on a colorful journey through fruits and vegetables from A to Z. Each page showcases beautiful, bold illustrations of different foods, encouraging healthy eating habits while teaching letter recognition. The simple yet engaging format makes it easy for young readers to connect with the text.
Dr. Seuss’s ABC is a whimsical and imaginative exploration of the alphabet. Dr. Seuss’s signature rhymes and quirky characters bring each letter to life in a way that only he can. From Aunt Annie’s Alligator to a Zizzer-Zazzer-Zuzz, this book is a delightful introduction to letters and sounds that will entertain and educate kids simultaneously.
Practicing writing the alphabet worksheets is a fantastic way to help preschoolers learn their letters. These worksheets are versatile and engaging and can be easily incorporated into daily routines at home and in the classroom. With consistent practice and fun activities, your child will be well on their way to mastering the alphabet.
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Tara is the brains behind Homeschool Preschool, where her journey from preschool and public school teacher to homeschooling mom of three fuels her passion for early childhood education. With a blend of expertise and firsthand experience, Tara’s writings offer practical tips and engaging resources to support families in creating meaningful learning adventures at home.
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We invite students to explain how to do any task in 400 words or fewer. Contest dates: Feb. 12 to March 12, 2025.
By The Learning Network
Do you know how to fix a brake light ? What about how to memorize Shakespeare ? How to keep a goldfish alive ? Spot a shooting star ? Write a love letter ? Forgive someone ?
These are just a few of the many skills explained in Tip , the how-to column by Malia Wollan which ran weekly in The New York Times Magazine from 2015-2022.
Inspired by this column, which took on topics both serious and silly, we are challenging students to write their own “how-to” for (almost) any task.
As long as the topic is appropriate for a family newspaper, students can explain whatever they like, including tasks that Tip has already taken on. But, just as the column did, they must also find, interview and quote one expert on the subject.
Take a look at the full guidelines and related resources below. Please post any questions you have in the comments and we’ll answer you there, or write to us at [email protected]. And, consider hanging this PDF one-page announcement on your class bulletin board.
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Improve your writing with chatgpt (5 powerful prompts).
Improve your writing with ChatGPT (5 powerful prompts)
There’s no better way to build an audience than writing online. Creating the habit of showing up and hitting publish will serve you well for everything in your professional future. But there’s a wrong way to produce. Without studying the data and learning how to improve, your words won’t hit the mark. Don’t get stale. Don’t let people switch off. Take your online writing to a whole new level and be forever proud of everything you share.
Hone your craft with an unbiased critique. Study your art and approach perfection. These ChatGPT prompts will make improving easy. Copy, paste and edit the square brackets in ChatGPT, and keep the same chat window open so the context carries through.
Resonate from the start.
Let’s learn from the music industry. To get someone’s interest and keep it, chart-topping singles change something up every six seconds. A different beat, melody or key. A way to keep short attention spans hooked. Your online writing is no different. Set up for success by reworking your opener. Resonate hard, and give someone a compelling reason to keep reading. Tease what they’ll achieve by sticking to the end. Boring openers win zero readers, but you want millions. Here’s the prompt to achieve just that.
“Analyze the opening of my online article. I'll paste the first paragraph below. Rewrite it 3 different ways to make it more compelling and hook the reader instantly. For each rewrite, explain the key changes and how they improve engagement. After presenting the 3 options, give me 5 general tips for crafting attention-grabbing openers that keep readers hooked. Here's my current opening paragraph: [paste your paragraph].”
Wwe raw results: winners and grades on august 26, 2024, forbes asia releases fourth edition of 100 to watch list, include relevant statistics.
88% of statistics are made up on the spot (including that one), but people still love them. Data is memorable. Results speak volumes. When you’re trying to make a point, appeal to the logical members of your target audience by including some numbers. Ask ChatGPT to provide studies, examples and stats that back up your point. (For your best shot at accuracy, ask Perplexity too.)
“Help me strengthen my article with compelling data. I'll provide the main points of my piece below. For each point, suggest 2-3 relevant statistics or research findings that support my argument. Include the source for each stat. After we've covered all the main points, summarize the most impactful statistics and explain how I can seamlessly weave them into my writing for maximum effect. Here are my main points: [list your key points].”
If you can say what you want to say in half the words, that’s what you should do. Clever means concise. Rather than rambling away and being verbose, cut to the absolute essence of what you mean, to sound more definite and amass more fans. Imagine each paragraph was a tweet. Keep cutting and combining until you’re packing more punch with every line.
“Sharpen my writing by eliminating unnecessary words. I'll paste a section of my article below. Your job is to cut it down by 30% without losing the core message. Present the condensed version alongside the original, highlighting the key changes. Then, give me 3 rules for identifying and removing fluff in my future writing. Here's the section to condense: [paste your section].”
There are no unique messages, just unique messengers. And you’re the messenger that people want to hear from. Deliver the goods by including stories. Don’t just share a lesson, say how you learned it. Teach based on experience. Explain with anecdotes. Give depth to your online writing when you explain from personal experience. Don’t skip this step.
“Help me incorporate personal anecdotes into my writing. I'll share the main topic and lessons of my article. For each key point, ask me probing questions about related experiences in my life. Help me craft these experiences into concise, relevant stories that illustrate my message. After we've developed 5 anecdotes, advise me on how to smoothly integrate them into my piece for maximum impact. My article's main topic and lessons are: [describe your article].”
Anyone can take a writing course or follow a template. But the more you copy other people, the less you sound like you. Don’t leave your writing style to chance. Give ChatGPT some samples and get it to find your quirks. Those common words, signature sentence structures and unmissable ways you get your message across. Be more you with every future piece, and build familiarity with readers who are hungry for more.
“Analyze my writing style to uncover my unique voice. I'll provide 3 samples of my online writing below. Your task is to identify recurring patterns, signature phrases, and distinctive elements that define my style. After analyzing each sample, summarize my key stylistic traits and suggest how I can amplify these in future pieces to make my writing more recognizably 'me'. Here are my writing samples: [paste your samples].”
Easily improve everything you write with these 5 prompts for ChatGPT. Resonate from the start to get people on board, and include relevant statistics that are remembered for months. Cut out the fluff to make your message clearer, add more personal stories to avoid being generic, and apply your signature style for every new piece. Become a better online writer and watch your business transform. Put your ego aside and join the greats.
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You’ve heard about cable and 5G, but what is fiber internet and is it worth the money?
Fiber internet uses the speed of light to get you online, making it the fastest internet connection your money can buy by far.
What does that mean for affordability or accessibility?
When I first started writing about the internet my eyes glazed over trying to understand the difference between cable internet and fiber internet (and also what are Wi-Fi , Ethernet and 5G ?).
Locating local internet providers
It didn’t take long for me to catch on to the buzz around fiber, not just in broadband news, but also among internet providers and even my neighbors. Everyone wants the fastest (and most cost-efficient) internet connection. I quickly discovered that fiber speeds leave cable , 5G fixed wireless , satellite internet and the middling speeds of DSL in the dust.
Fiber is one of the most popular internet service connections among customers nationwide. If people who buy fiber are happy with the internet service why don’t we just recommend fiber-optic internet to everyone? Why bother with other internet connection types?
The answer is simple: Fast speeds and customer satisfaction alone don’t automatically make fiber the best option for every household. Prices, availability, fees and other details impact how efficient fiber may be for your broadband needs and budget. Plus, most households don’t exceed an average of 600 megabits per second in download speeds, according to the latest data from OpenVault , so you may not need the 1,000Mbps or 5,000Mbps speeds offered by some fiber providers.
Fiber internet is still pretty marvelous. Since a fiber-optic internet connection relies on the speed of light to transmit data, we're still getting acquainted with all the possibilities of the technology. Still, it has already had a tremendous impact on the way we communicate and use the internet.
It's an internet connection that you'll find CNET recommending again and again, provided it's available to you. If you're like me and have questions about what fiber broadband is and how it even works, let's get in the weeds about how fiber internet functions as the fastest internet connection and whether it's a worthwhile investment.
Fiber internet gets its name from the fiber cables it relies on to get you online. The cables are made up of thin, long strands of glass or plastic encased in layers of cladding and coating that transmit data through light signals across long distances.
Technically, the speed of light used to transmit this data is reduced by 30% because of the refraction that occurs within the cables, but the speeds are still very fast. All that may seem baffling, and it was to me too, but fiber cables have long been used to get us online.
You’re reading this right now because of the lightning-fast fiber cables under the ocean , powering your internet connection -- whether it’s fiber or not.
What does all that mean for you? That means you get symmetrical download and upload speeds on any speed tier, even up to a 50-gigabit (or 50,000Mbps) plan. Compared to the upload speeds of most cable internet providers, which usually range between 20 to 50Mbps, that’s a vast improvement.
You should also know that fiber cables are very expensive, as is the installation process for a fiber network . That means it may be difficult for some providers to extend a fiber network to your neighborhood, especially if you’re in a rural area or just outside a big city.
Because fiber internet requires an existing infrastructure or fiber network to work, the speeds you get depend on which fiber internet provider has already been active in your area. Occasionally, fiber providers will share each other's networks to mitigate costs.
There are a few different ways an internet provider will connect a fiber network to your home, depending on the existing infrastructure. Note that the only true fiber internet connection is a direct one or Fiber to the Home connection.
Despite what direct fiber connection may be available to you, fiber internet is installed using a small utility box or an optical network terminal that a technician installs either inside or outside your home. The ONT is wired to the fiber network and converts light signals into electric signals, giving you the fastest internet connection on the block.
There’s plenty to consider before calling fiber “the best” internet connection type. Fiber is definitely the fastest, but it’s also the most limited internet connection type in terms of availability.
According to the Federal Communications Commission , less than half of the population is wired for a fiber internet connection. Compared to cable availability, which covers 82% of the population, fiber providers have some catching up to do.
The costs of fiber internet also determine whether it's a good option for your home. There's no doubt that fiber internet has higher starting prices than cable, with many starting prices averaging around $50 per month. There are a few cheap fiber internet providers, like Frontier Fiber and Ziply Fiber, which start at $30 for 200Mbps and $20 for 100Mbps a month, respectively.
If you look at the cost per Mbps , fiber is often the most cost-efficient internet connection type, and prices don’t typically increase year after year as they do for some cable providers. For example, Spectrum and AT&T Fiber both offer 1,000Mbps for $80 a month or 8 cents per Mbps. Spectrum will increase that price to around $110 monthly in a year or two. AT&T Fiber won’t. Also note that AT&T Fiber offers 1,000Mbps upload speeds, lower latency and more overall reliability than Spectrum’s 35Mbps upload speed for that tier.
Even for Google Fiber , one of the more expensive fiber providers, which starts at $70 a month for 1,000Mbps and only goes up from there, the cost per Mbps reveals you’re getting pretty good value for the offered speeds. Paying $125 a month for 5,000Mbps may seem like a lot, but that price comes down to around 3 cents per Mbps.
Again, consider first how much internet speed you actually need , so you make the best use of your dollar. Not all of us require 5,000Mbps, but for those who work at home, are avid gamers and have multiple busy internet users in the house, a multi-gig internet connection may be the way to go.
Lastly, fiber internet has the best customer service track record when compared to other internet service types. The American Customer Satisfaction Index points to positive trends for fiber internet providers in the past few years. AT&T Fiber scored at the top of the ACSI’s 2024 satisfaction benchmark with a score of 80, while the lowest score came from Optimum Fiber at 66. For context, the scores for non-fiber internet providers (DSL, fixed wireless and cable) ranged from a low of 56 to a high of 76, held by T-Mobile Home Internet .
Data from J.D. Power , another customer satisfaction surveyor, notes that customers were happier with wireless internet overall during 2023, although they may not have separated the fixed wireless offerings from the fiber offerings from one provider. For example, Verizon offers 5G home internet as well as fiber through Verizon Fios, although there are no separate categories in the data. Either way, AT&T, Frontier Fiber, Verizon and Google Fiber scored at the top of all regional surveys.
There are upwards of 1,400 fiber internet providers in the country, according to the latest report from the FCC . Most of those providers are local. Only around seven providers serve more than 1% to 2% of the population, with Verizon Fios and AT&T Fiber covering the most ground with 9% and 12% coverage, respectively.
The answer to this question will depend on several factors, but perhaps most important is whether fiber is available in your area. If you can get fiber, it’s absolutely worth it. You may not need multi-gigabit tiers for over $100 a month, but even the lower tiers of 300Mbps download/300Mbps upload outpace the speeds offered by cable, fixed wireless providers and especially DSL. Fiber usually features unlimited data as well as no contracts or monthly equipment fees (although this varies by provider). Fiber internet isn’t the only solution to our broadband needs. Working out the expansion of fiber networks and improving the affordability of multi-gig tiers are some of the biggest priorities, but while we wait for those improvements, you’d be hard-pressed to find an internet connection that’s as lightning-fast as the speeds you get from fiber.
How fast is fiber internet.
The fastest known residential internet connection (at the moment) is Ziply Fiber’s 50,000Mbps tier , which raises the bar for all internet providers. Some fiber providers, like Google Fiber, start at 1,000Mbps and max out around 8,000Mbps or 10,000Mbps. Others have lower starting speeds, like Frontier Fiber or Verizon Fios, which start at 200Mbps and 300Mbps, respectively.
It definitely can be, depending on your internet provider and how fast you want your internet to be. Some of the cheapest fiber providers have plans starting at $20 a month for 100Mbps (Ziply Fiber) or $30 a month for 200Mbps (Frontier Fiber), but most starting prices average around $50.
Cable providers often use the term "fiber-rich" to describe their services, but that doesn't mean you'll get true fiber internet. It usually means fiber-optic cables are somewhere along the network but not fiber to your home. You can usually tell if an internet provider offers true fiber service by the download and upload speeds. If they're symmetrical, it should be fiber.
If you live in or near a big city, your chances of getting fiber internet are much higher. You can plug your address into the availability checkers on most provider websites or use data from the FCC to determine if your address is eligible for fiber.
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Funny Writing Prompts. 1. Write a story about a group of superheroes forced to work in a call center after their city is destroyed. 2. Write a scene where a cat and a dog switch bodies and must navigate each other's worlds. 3. Write a story about a vampire who opens a blood bank to help feed his fellow vampires. 4.
11. Write about the origin of an inside joke. 12. Write a story about someone who can't stop saying what they think — much to the dismay of those around them. 13. Write a character with a personality based on your favorite song. 14. Write a comedy script about a food that you hate. 15.
38 Funny Writing Prompts for All Ages. See some fabulous and Funny Writing Prompts & Ideas— Whether you want to write to lighten the mood or you just love to laugh, take a look at our list of funny writing prompts. They are the perfect option for your writing assignment, writing practice, or use these ideas — you know it — just for fun! 😉.
Irony — presents a comedic gap between reality and expectations. Dark — pokes fun at a topic that is typically considered taboo. To get your funny story started, here are our top ten funny writing prompts: A parent is trying to explain something to their child, who just isn't getting it. You've been thinking about moving back home for ...
Write about a wedding in which everything goes comically wrong—and how the wedding party rallies to make things okay in the end. 24. Write about a utility worker who stumbles on an underground society of mutants in the city sewers. 25. Write about a group of friends who get together once a year to fight each other.
If you are an aspiring comedy writer or an author in a writer's rut, here are writing prompts that could inspire you to write funny stories. : There are only five minutes until you have to give the speech and you just realized you can't speak. Inspiration never strikes at a good time.
Here's how our contest works: every Friday, we send out a newsletter containing five creative writing prompts. Each week, the story ideas center around a different theme. Authors then have one week — until the following Friday — to submit a short story based on one of our prompts. A winner is picked each week to win $250 and is highlighted ...
20 fun writing prompts. 1 Write about a song and a feeling it invoked in you. 2 Recall an important memory from your childhood and tell it from the perspective of someone else who was present. 3 Write about an item you have that isn't expensive but means a lot to you. 4 What color do you feel like today and why?
when writing a romantic comedy novel or script, a short story, or even a serious or scary story that could use a little levity in the middle of all the drama. Humor is one of those writing skills that takes a little work to learn, but using funny writing prompts is a great way to practice.
12 Comedy Prompts: Ideas for Writing Funny Short Stories. If you're looking for some fun short story ideas, you might consider humor writing. Crafting a funny short story can improve your writing skills, and it can also help you push through writer's block. The next time you pick up your pen or sit down at the computer, try following one of ...
funny writing prompts. 26. You're a Homework Zapper because you make homework disappear in the blink of an eye. Share your secret to how this works. 27. Share a memory of a recipe gone bad. 28. Write a funny story about a boy who replies "yes" to every question he is asked. 29.
Write a short story from the perspective of a gumball machine. Write a parody of your favorite children's book. Have an argument between two people who are trying to sell each other the same item. Create a world where energy drinks are currency. Have an ongoing conversation between two people who are stuck in time loops.
The purpose of creative writing exercises is to expand your imagination and to spark new ideas or thoughts, encouraging you to practice writing these before you start on your next project. Themed writing prompts can be helpful here, breaking down your prompts into different buckets like: Food. Animals. Landscapes.
For a quick creative writing exercise, try one of the 20 writing prompts below, excerpted from Chronicle Books' 642 Tiny Things to Write About. Each prompt was created by a writing teacher at the San Francisco Writers Grotto to be done in 10 minutes or less. For a bigger creative challenge, do one writing prompt a day for 20 days.
Short Funny Story Ideas and Writing Prompts Beyond Ha-Ha — They say laughter is the best medicine… and these brand new humor writing prompts for tweens and teens are here to prove it! In this special collection of journal prompts, students will have the chance to express what they find funny through several types of humor. Oh yeah!
14. The Found Poem: Read a book and circle some words on a page. Use those words to craft a poem. Alternatively, you can cut out words and phrases from magazines. 15. Eavesdropper: Create a poem, short story, or journal entry about a conversation you've overheard. Printable Ad-Free 365 Writing Prompt Cards. 16.
100 Creative Writing Prompts for Writers. 1. The Variants of Vampires. Think of an alternative vampire that survives on something other than blood. Write a story or scene based on this character. 2. Spinning the Globe. Imagine that a character did the old spin the globe and see where to take your next vacation trick.
7. Comic Strip Script. The Purpose: Give your students the chance to improve their dialogue writing skills and work on their understanding of character development in this fun activity which combines writing with a series of visual elements. The Process: There are two ways to do this activity.
Here are over 105 creative writing exercises to give your brain a workout and help those creative juices flow again: Set a timer for 60 seconds. Now write down as many words or phrases that come to mind at that moment. Pick any colour you like. Now start your sentence with this colour.
43 fun and creative writing exercises for individuals and small groups: ... Creative writing prompts. Exercise for groups of 3-5 . If you're in larger group, split up into groups of 3 or 4 people. Everyone writes the first line of a story in the Zoom chat, or on paper. Other people can then choose this line as a writing prompt.
Meaningful and engaging writing assignments include a dash of real-world, relevant writing opportunities, a pinch of skill transfer, and a sprinkling of creative freedom. Let's elevate students' writing experiences while meeting standards. But, don't forget to balance tough, academic-style writing with some more flexible options that will ...
Go on a five-senses scavenger hunt. Find three items for each sense. Create a story using the items you found. Create a story around an interesting picture ( try these fun picture writing prompts!) Find an ad in a magazine or elsewhere and rewrite the description to convince people NOT to buy the advertised item.
Telephone Pictionary Game. Another brilliant creative writing activity is the Telephone Pictionary Game. The basic idea behind this game is to write a story collaboratively with your team using drawings and phrases. Together as team members take turns to write/draw something down.
Physical Activities Physical activities are highly beneficial for children's health, helping them stay active, build strength, and develop important social skills through teamwork and friendly competition. 1. Traditional Sports Organize team sports like basketball, soccer, and volleyball to promote physical fitness and teamwork. These ...
Practice Writing the Alphabet Worksheets. Children dive into a fun and educational experience with interactive alphabet worksheets. These activities capture their interest and enhance fine motor skills through practical, hands-on practice. As they work through each letter, kids build the confidence and excitement needed to complete the activity.
A how-to is a type of informational writing, which means everything you write should be true and based on facts and evidence. (For this assignment, that evidence is the expert source that you will ...
Here are my writing samples: [paste your samples]." Improve your online writing in minutes: 5 powerful ChatGPT prompts Easily improve everything you write with these 5 prompts for ChatGPT.
Each academic year at Penn State kicks off with Welcome Week, with 19 events for new and returning students to build community and have fun at the start of the fall semester.
The week-long celebration and competition is full of fun for all ages, from tiny tikes to seasoned and frequent flyers. The Washington State International Kite Festival was founded in 1981. This colorful display is a feast for the eyes and includes workshops, demos, kite battles, kids activities and more.
When I first started writing about the internet my eyes glazed over trying to understand the difference between cable internet and fiber internet (and also what are Wi-Fi, Ethernet and 5G?).