Winter writing prompts wheel

40 prompts

About this wheel

Spin the wheel for one of 40 winter writing prompts. They sit in four groups of ten: Winter stories, Poems and details, Traditions and gifts, and A new start. The prompts are short, so students can start writing in seconds.

In a class, choose a group that matches the lesson. Winter stories suit a narrative unit, and Poems and details work for descriptive writing. Traditions and gifts invite every student to share their own home, whatever they celebrate, and A new start fits the first week back in January.

Put the wheel on the board with Fullscreen and spin for the whole class, or let each student spin on a device. For independent work, set a timer of ten minutes and ask for a paragraph. Edit the list box to add prompts that fit a unit, one per line, and use Save a copy to keep your list.

All 40 prompts

Winter stories

  1. The snow did not stop for three days
  2. A mitten found on the path
  3. The day the school bus was late
  4. A snow fort with a secret door
  5. A visitor arrives in a storm
  6. The coldest morning ever
  7. Lost on a sledding hill
  8. A town where it never stops snowing
  9. The school closed for a snow day
  10. A letter in the frost on the window

Poems and details

  1. Write a poem about the first snowfall
  2. Describe the sound of boots in snow
  3. What does a cold wind feel like
  4. Describe the smell of a warm kitchen
  5. Write a poem about a bare tree
  6. How does a frozen pond look
  7. Describe a cup of something warm
  8. Write about the sky on a winter night
  9. Write a poem about icicles
  10. Describe your breath on a cold day

Traditions and gifts

  1. A tradition in your family or home
  2. The best gift you ever gave
  3. A meal you look forward to
  4. A song that means something to you
  5. A celebration you would like to see
  6. Someone who makes the season special
  7. A time you helped someone in winter
  8. A gift that cannot be wrapped
  9. How do people celebrate where you live
  10. A winter memory you will keep

A new start

  1. A goal for the new year
  2. A habit you want to build
  3. What you are proud of from this year
  4. Something you want to learn by spring
  5. A letter to yourself in one year
  6. Three wishes for our class
  7. A book you will read in January
  8. Someone you want to thank
  9. A promise to a friend
  10. A challenge you will try

Questions

Which grade levels are these prompts for?

The prompts are plain and open, so they suit upper elementary and middle school. Younger students can answer with a drawing and a sentence, and older students can write a full page.

How do I use it for the whole class?

Spin once on the board and everyone writes about the same prompt. Or let each student spin and write about what they land on. Choose Everyone once so no prompt comes up twice in a session.

Are the prompts about a specific holiday?

Most are about winter and the season in general. The Traditions and gifts group asks about each student's own home, so every student can write about what they celebrate or what they enjoy.

Can I write my own prompts for a unit?

Yes. Type one prompt per line in the list box, up to 60 characters. The wheel updates as you type. Press Save a copy to keep it for next term.