25 Fall Writing Prompts for Middle Schoolers
The leaves are falling and the air is cooling. Draw inspiration from this lovely season with these 25 fall writing prompts for middle school.
25 Fall Writing Prompts for Middle School Writers
Fall is the perfect time to start a pattern of writing that will last the whole year. These 25 fall writing prompts cover the different types of writing:
- narrative
- poetry
- expository
- persuasive
- and descriptive writing.
Fall Narrative Writing Prompts for Middle School
Narrative writing involves a story, dialogue, and the retelling of an event from a character’s point of view.
An Ant’s Journey
Fall marks the close of an ant’s wintertime prep. What type of adventures and obstacles does your ant face as she prepares for hibernation. Windsurfing on a leaf? Battle with a beetle? Stealing crumbs from a lunchbox?
The Bake-Off Disaster
A local bakery sponsors a pie-baking competition for teens. You decide to enter, but something goes terribly wrong at the competition. What is it? How do you resolve it?
Autumnal Creature Rescue
You are walking through the woods one fall afternoon when you encounter a mystical creature. It needs your help. What is it? What happens next?
Pumpkin Farmer
A long-lost relative dies and leaves you a pumpkin farm! As the owner, you are put in charge of the farm. What do you do with thousands of pumpkins? Can you make this business work?
Fall Adventure
You win a contest and the prize is an all-expense-paid vacation to a beautiful fall destination. When you arrive, you realize the contest must have been rigged. This vacation is not what it seems. Why are you there? Who’s involved? What do you do?
Fall Poetry Prompts for Middle School
Poetry can be rhymed or unrhymed; it can have a meter or be free verse. Poetry can be humorous or emotional, lovely or ridiculous. Everyone can write poetry!
Fall Haiku
Write three lines (5 syllables, 7 syllables, and 5 syllables) about nature in autumn. What are the signs that fall is here?
Acrostic Poem on Fall
Choose a fall-themed word to write an acrostic poem (each line starts with a letter of the word). Here are some ideas: AUTUMN, FALL BEAUTY, TURNING LEAVES.
Ode to Fall
An ode is a poem written in praise of someone or something. It is typically pretty short. Write an ode to your favorite fall time activity: jumping in leaf piles, carving pumpkins, drinking apple cider, building campfires, or toasting s’mores.
Ballad for Fall
A ballad is a song made of verses that have 4 lines (most pop songs are ballads). The lines typically rhyme in an ABAB pattern. Write a verse to a song about a fall memory you have.
Fall Limerick
A limerick is a humorous poem with its own rhyme and meter (Edward Lear was the master at them). Read a few aloud to your students and then ask them to write their own fall limerick. Consider the topic: Raking leaves on a windy day.
Fall Expository Writing Prompts for Middle School
Expository writing, also called information writing, relies on facts; it’s the type of writing you find in textbooks. While this type of writing usually involves research, you can assign prompts with which the student is already familiar.
Colored Leaves
What are some uses for colored leaves? Can you think of a purpose that is useful or artistic? Write about it!
Thanksgiving
Write about the history of the holiday and how it is celebrated today.
How to Make Pumpkin/Apple Pie
How do you make a pie? Write instructions.
Squirrels
What do squirrels do in the fall? How do they prepare for the upcoming winter?
Gratitude List
Write about something or someone you are thankful for.
Fall Persuasive Writing Prompts for Middle School
Persuasive writing involves making an assertion (e.g., “Camping is the best part of fall.”) and then persuading your reader that you are correct. You have to provide reasons for your assertion (e.g., “You get to sleep under the stars, you can hike, and you eat s’mores.”)
Which Book Is Best for a Fall Read?
Everyone needs a recommendation for a great book to read (especially as the weather turns cool and you want to stay inside more). What is your favorite book and why?
Which is the Best Fall Sport?
From football to volleyball, cross country to cheerleader, which sport is the best and why?
The Best Soup
Who doesn’t like a bowl of hot soup on a cold day? Which is the best: chili, chicken noodle, tomato, french onion, or broccoli cheddar? Give your reasons.
Whether People Should Still Go Bobbing for Apples
You know the game: you empty a bunch of apples in a large basin of water. Everyone takes turns dunking their head in and retrieving apples by biting them. Should we still play this game? Why or why not?
What Is the Best Way to Make a S’more?
Think of all the possible variations:
- graham crackers, cinnamon graham crackers, or cookies
- milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate and/or peanut butter
- a lightly toasted or completely charred marshmallow.
Which way is best?
Fall Descriptive Writing Prompts for Middle School
How can you make your reader a mental picture when he or she reads? Use descriptive words that involve the five senses!
Describe Your Ultimate Cabin Getaway
Imagine booking a cabin for a weekend getaway. What would it be like?
Describe Your Favorite Thanksgiving Food
Tell about each moment of eating the food, from smelling it to picking it up and then taking the first bite. Which food will you pick?
Describe Jumping in Leaves
Have you ever jumped in a pile of leaves? What are the sights, smells, sounds, textures, and emotions you feel?
Describe a Starry Night
What is it like star gazing where you live? What do you notice?
Describe a Fall Festival
Have you ever been to a fall festival? What are the sights, sounds, and smells of the place?
25 Fall Writing Prompts for Middle School
Inspire your students with these 25 fall writing prompts for middle school. You can always spice up the assignment by serving a cup of cider as fall-time inspiration!
