Journal Prompts

September

1. How does it feel to be

back at school after
summer vacation?

2. Write a thank you note

to a friend who gave you
onion and garlic-flavoured
gum.

3. Draw an imaginary
constellation. Write a story
about your constellation
like people in an ancient
civilization would have.

4. Describe a dream or
nightmare that youve
had.

5. Write about your

favourite childhood toy.

6. Write out the best or

the worst day of your life.

7. Finish this thought: If I

could change one thing
about myself it would
be. because.

8. If and when I have

children to raise, I will
never.

9. I have never been more

frightened than when

10. Persuade a friend to

give up an unhealthy habit.

11. Five years from now, I

will be

12. Write about a day that

youd like to forget.

13. Invent and describe a

new food.

14. Describe an event that

changed your life forever.

15. Describe someone who

is a hero to you and explain
why.

16. Write about a time in

your life when you
struggled with a choice
and made the right one.

17. Imagine yourself in a

different time and
describe an average day
in your life.

18. Which character from

a book would you most
like to meet and why?

19. Three goals that I have

set for myself are

20. What would you do if

300 mice had just gotten
out of their cages in a pet
shop where you worked?

Journal Prompts

October

21. What would you do if

you were locked inside
your favourite store
overnight?

22. What would you do if

you woke up one morning
to find yourself invisible?

23. What would you do if

you were able to
communicate with
animals?

24. What would you do if

you could travel into the
future?

25. What would you do if

you could travel into the
past?

26. What would you do if

someone gave you $1
million?

27. What would you do if

all the electricity in the
world stopped working,
forever?

28. What would you do if

you could travel any place
in the world for free?

29. What would you do if

the dinner served to you
in an expensive restaurant
came with a fly in it?

30. Describe the perfect

day. Put in as many details
as you can. Make it a
possible day, not an
imaginary day.

31. Write a list of at least

50 things that make you
feel good.

32. Who is the person

from history that you
would most like to meet
and talk to? Why? What
would you ask?

33. Who is the person

from literature that you
would most like to meet
and talk to? Why? What
would you like to ask?

34. Compile a list of words

that describe you as a
child. Compile a second
list that describes you as
you are now. How are
these lists the same? How
are they different?

35. Compile a list of

inanimate or animate
objects to which you might
compare yourself, e.g. I am
a windmill. I change
direction or my thoughts
whenever someone talks to
me

36. Tell about what

triggers anger in you or
someone else.

37. Invent a monster and

describe it. Tell where it
lives, what it eats, and
what it does.

38. What is your favourite

kind of weather? Why?

39. What is the best book

you have ever read? Why
did you like it? Did reading
the book change you in
any way? What way?

40. Write about what you

didnt do this
week/weekend.

Journal Prompts

November

41. Think about an

incident that happened to
you and exaggerate in the
telling. Make it into a tall
tale.

42. If you were ruler of the

world, what things would
you banish absolutely for
all time, e.g. rain on
weekends, broccoli? Make
a list. Use your
imagination.

43. If you could go back in

time anywhere and to any
time, where/when would
you go and why?

44. What law would you

like to see written that
would help people? How
would it help?

45. What commercial on TV

do you dislike above all
others? What about it is
particularly annoying to
you?

46. Design some gadget,

machine, building, or
other creation that might
enrich the future. What
does it look like? What
does it do? How does it
function? In what ways
might it benefit people?

47. What current fashion

in clothing do you
particularly like or dislike?
Explain.

48. Convince someone

why music or art or
computers are important
in your life. Make them
appreciate your viewpoint.

49. If you had $100 000,

how would you spend it?

50. Be a building you know

well. Talk about your life
and memories.

51. Tell a person from a

distant planet what
pollution is. Make that
person understand what
causes it and why it is
bad.

52. If you could do

something that you never
had done before, what
would it be? Why would
you want to do it?

53. Begin a list of

questions that youd like
to have answered by a
person from another time.
They may be about the
future or the past.

54 What do you consider

your greatest
accomplishment to date?
Why?

55. Write one characteristic

or habit about yourself that
you like and describe it.

56. What is your hobby?

Why do you enjoy it?

57. If you could go

somewhere that youve
never been before, where
would you go, and why?

58. What would you be

willing to do anything for?
Explain your answer.

59. If you could change

one thing about the world,
what would it be? Why
would you make this
change?

60. Is there a machine or

gadget that you feel you
could not live without?
Explain.

Journal Prompts

Decemberr

61. Write about what you

think you will be like and
what you will be doing 10
years or 20 years from
now.

62. Did you ever stick up

for someone? Describe
what happened.

63. Describe a bully you

have encountered. Do not
use names, but describe
what that person is like
and what they do that
makes them a bully.

64. Write about a babysitting experience where

you were either the babysat or the baby-sitter.

65. Describe a great fort

you built for a game you
played.

66. Write about an enemy

who eventually became
your friend.

67. Write about a time you

cheated or lied and got
caught.

68. Write about a privilege

you earned.

69. Write about a stray

animal you wanted to
bring home.

70. Did you ever send away

for something that turned
out to be a
disappointment? Or order
something over the
internet? Explain what
happened.

71. What is it like to go

shopping with your
mother?

72. Write about a time you

performed in front of an
audience.

73. Write about a difficult

decision you had to make.

74. Write about learning to

skate, ride a bike, climb a
tree, or other skill.

75. Did you ever get lost in

a strange town, at the mall,
at the fair? Describe what
happened.

Journal Prompts

Januaryr

76. Were you ever locked

in or out? What did you
do?

77. What was it like to

spend your first night
away from home or not in
your own bed?

78. What was it like to

come back home after a
long trip?

79. Write about a time

when you were
disappointe.

80. Write about something

that started minor but
turned into a big deal.

81. Did you ever win or

lose a contest? Tell the
story about what
happened?

82. Write about something

that you desperately want
or wanted.

83. Did you ever know

someone who had
EVERYTHING?

84. Write about a time

when you played: in a
treehouse, a construction
site, a junkyard, an
abandoned house, a
stream, a cemetery, a
swamp, a forest, or other
unusual area.

85. Did your mom or dad

ever make you wear
something you hated? Tell
about what happened?

86. Write about a time you

were talked into doing
something that you
regretted.

87. Were you ever in a

helicopter, limousine,
racecar, hot-air balloon,
boat, train, plane, or other
interesting transportation
vehicle? Describe what it
was like.

88. Did you ever forget

something really
important? What
happened as a result?

89. Write about an

experience in a hospital.

90. Were you ever accused

of something that you
didnt do?

Journal Prompts

February

91. Write about a

disastrous trip or vacation.

92. Were you ever given a

responsibility that you
couldnt handle? Explain.

93. Were you ever in a

fire, flood, tornado,
hurricane, earthquake,
blizzard or severe
thunderstorm? Describe
what happened.

94. Describe the best

show, movie or concert
that you ever attended.

95. Write about something

valuable you either broke
or lost.

96. Did you ever catch

fireflies? Butterflies?
Crickets? Frogs? Snakes?
Describe how it felt.

97. Write about a time you

tried to help and ended up
making things worse.

98. Have you ever broken

an important promise?

99. Write about moving to

another neighbourhood,
city, or country.

100. Describe an outdoor

game you like to play in the
summer time.

101. Write about building

sand castles, snow forts or
mud pies.

102. Have you ever met a

famous person? Who did
you meet? How did it
happen?

103. Write about mowing

the lawn, raking leaves,
weeding the garden,
vacuuming the house, or
other chore.

104. Describe a club you

have organized or would
like to organize.

105. Describe an accident

you were in or you
witnessed.

106. Write about being

misfit.

107. Write about a day

spent in another country,
real or imagined.

108. Write about a time

you out-smarted
someone.

109. Write about going for

shopping for new clothes.

110. Did you ever turn

someone in or tell on
someone and then feel bad
about it later?

Journal Prompts

March

111. Imagine that you are

an animal in the zoo. What
type of animal are you?
How do you feel about
people that visit and
watch you?

112. Write about a time

your parents embarrassed
you.

113. Describe something

you learned from a friend.

114. Write about a time

you gave someone good
advice.

115. Write about the

funniest thing that ever
happened to you.

116. If you had to escort a

visitor from outer space
for a 30-minute tour of
your community, where
would you begin and end?

117. Be a grape that

becomes a raisin; describe
how it feels to shrink, to
shrivel, to become dry and
wrinkled.

118. Be an icicle that

becomes water. Describe
how it feels to be cold and
firm and full of beautiful
crystals but only to melt
and lose your shape.

119 I really hate it when

my
mother/father/sibling.

120. You go to the store

with your parents and your
baby brother. You take your
eyes off your brother for
just a minute and you cant
find him. You

121. What if the use of

robots in school becomes
reality? How would things
change?

122. What would you pack

in your suitcase if you
could not go home again?

123. You have just met an

alien from another planet.
He wishes to take a
student back to his planet.
Convince him that you
would be the perfect
specimen for him to take.

124. If you could change

one law, what law would it
be and how would you
change it?

125. How forgiving are you

when a friend lets you
down? Explain. Give an
example.

Journal Prompts

April

126. What would you do if

you were named principal
for the week?

127. If you could only

speak twenty words for
the rest of your life, what
words be on your list?
Why?

128. It started out as an

unusual Monday morning
when I..

129. As I approached the

deserted house at the end
of the road, I saw

130. Do you think girls are

raised differently from
boys? If so, in what ways?

131. Do you think you are

treated differently
because you are a boy or
girl?

132. Do you think men

and women are equal in
todays society? Why or
why not?

133. Do you think we will

have another female
Prime Minister in the near
future?

134. Two men of women

have it easier in our
culture? If so, why do you
think so?

135. Have you ever wished

you were either older or
younger? What would you
consider to be the
benefits? The problems?

136. Describe what you

think of as a typical
mother.

137. Describe what you

think of as a typical father.

138. Do you think women

should take mens names
when they marry? Or
should men take
womens? Or should
everyone keep their own
names? Why?

139. Would you rather

have a brother or a sister?
Why?

140. Describe an argument

you had with your mother.
Now tell it from her point of
view.

141. Write a short

biography of your mother
or grandmother.

142. Write a short

biography of your father
or grandfather.

143. Describe a time when

you shared a laugh with
your mother or father.

144. Write a physical

description of your mother
or father.

145. Think about a habit

one of your parents has
and describe it.

Journal Prompts

May

146. If you had three

wishes, what would they
be? You cannot wish for 3
more wishes.

147. What is something

special and/or different
about you? Why do you
think it is special or
different?

148. Write about two

things that your family has
taught you.

149. Write about some of

the things that you worry
about.

150. Describe a happy

family memory.

151. How do you know

someone loves you, even
if he or she doesnt say it?

152. Name one thing you

like about yourself and
why you like it.

153. Imagine yourself as a

teacher. What type of
student would you like to
teach and why?

154. Name and describe a

teacher who made a
difference in your life.
What did the teacher do
that was special?

155. What makes you

proud to be Canadian?

156. Describe something

that gives you comfort.

157. If you could be a

character in any book, TV
show, or movie, who
would you be and why?

158. If you had to work in

any store at your favourite
mall, which store would it
be and why?

159. Describe the most

difficult thing about being
your age.

160. Describe one

possession that means the
most to you.

161. Who is the most

important role model in
your life?

162. Describe your best

personality trait.

163. If you could study

one subject in school that
isnt offered, what would it
be and why?

164. If you had a chance

to live anywhere you
could, where would it be
and why?

165. Write about the

pros/cons of year-round
school or a four-day school
week.

Journal Prompts

June

166. Write about your

favourite sport or activity.

167. Is the school year too

long? Too short? Why?

168. What does your

summer usually consist
of?

169. Who should be paid

more, professional
athletes or teachers?
Why?

170. What class do you

enjoy most? Why?

171. Write about the worst

argument youve had with
a friend.

172. If you had only one

month to live, what would
you do?

173. Describe your dream

house.

174. Who is your favourite

person to spend time
with? Why?

175. What would be your

ideal job when you grow
up? Explain.

176. If you could guest

star on any TV show, what
would it be and why?

177. What do you think

your life will be like in 10
years? 20 years?

178. Describe how you

would manage your own
radio or TV station.

179. What is your

definition of success?

180. The saying goes,

Money cannot buy
happiness. Do you agree
or disagree? Why?