Descriptive Writing Prompts for All K-12 Grades & Subjects

Descriptive writing practice is one of the best ways to teach K-12 students how to write effectively, using sensory details that help readers “see” what’s described. But to inspire learners, the descriptive writing prompts teachers use must be more than just grade-appropriate – they must also be engaging and stimulating.

Good prompts for descriptive writing should also guide students to help them master the “show, don’t tell” approach. They don’t just name what to describe. They provide clear cues for how to bring those descriptions to life. When done well, prompts help young people expand their vocabulary, develop their imagination, and learn how to express themselves clearly.

In several position statements, the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) emphasizes the importance of developing learners’ descriptive writing skills.

Grade-appropriate descriptive prompts align with the Common Core Standards by targeting learners’ ability to write precisely through the use of sensory details.

How to Choose the Right Descriptive Writing Prompt

Not all prompts are equally effective. Choosing the right one is an art. To serve its purpose (support learners’ development and writing skills), a descriptive writing prompt must:

1. Be age and grade-appropriate. A prompt that works for third-graders won’t suit middle school students and vice versa.
2. Appeal to learners’ interests or firsthand experiences, especially for younger learners. Describing something abstract requires more advanced conceptualization skills. Also, when students write about something they genuinely care about, they are more likely to stay engaged.
3. Fit the curriculum. Besides being engaging, prompts should fit classroom topics and align with relevant rubrics.

When students have a personal or emotional connection to the subject of the assigned descriptive writing prompts, it’s easier to hold their attention.

For younger learners, it’s better to stick to something they are already familiar with; high school students can write on more abstract topics.

Descriptive Writing Prompts by Grade Level

Elementary School (Grades 1–5)

1. Do you have a pet? What does it look like? If not, describe someone else’s.
2. What does it feel like to hug someone you love?
3. Describe your school from the point of view of the staircase.
4. What did you have for breakfast today? Describe what it tasted and smelled like.
5. What did the last birthday cake you had look, smell, and taste like to you?
6. Describe your room and your favorite things in it.
7. Think of the last time you received a present. What did it feel like to open it?
8. What do you see, hear, and smell on your way from home to school?
9. Describe your best friend so that someone who has never met them could still imagine them.
10. Think of any zoo animal you like. Describe its day from that animal’s point of view.
11. Think of the last time you were outside when it rained. What did it feel and smell like?
12. Describe your favorite game (or video game) so that an alien who has never heard of it could still understand the rules.

It helps to add pictures to writing prompts for elementary school students or to discuss the subject before writing.

Including age-appropriate sensory words in prompts (e.g., “soft” or “warm”) helps early writers master descriptive skills.

Middle School (Grades 6–8)

1. Describe a person who inspires you and what makes them special.
2. Think of a time you tried a new food for the first time. What did it feel and taste like?
3. Do you act differently with teachers than with close friends? Describe the differences.
4. Describe the feeling and sounds of packing up your locker at the end of the year.
5. Walk the reader through your typical weekend afternoon from start to finish.
6. Describe the place you go to when you need to be alone and think.
7. Describe how you imagine Ponyboy Curtis from The Outsiders.
8. Think about a place where you feel safe. What about it makes you feel that way?
9. Describe what happens around you during a school fire drill.
10. Paint a vivid picture of Bilbo’s Bag End from The Hobbit so the reader can imagine it.
11. Think of the last time you tried a new sport or activity for the first time. Describe it in detail.
12. Describe what it feels like to see someone you love after being away from them.

Diversify the senses you appeal to in descriptive writing prompts for middle-school learners. Encourage them to go beyond visual imagery.

To connect writing practice to the curriculum and model strong description, include grade-appropriate literature for the descriptive writing prompts middle school learners receive.

High School (Grades 9–12)

1. Describe the changes in your neighborhood over the last few years and analyze what’s behind them.
2. Using vivid imagery, write what it feels like to wait for important news (for example, your college admission results).
3. Using relevant metaphor and imagery, describe the complexity of emotions at graduation.
4. Describe the feeling of isolation in a crowded hallway; include personification. Speculate why we often feel more alone surrounded by people when on our own.
5. Talk about a friendship fading over time. Use imagery that reflects change and distance.
6. Paint a vivid portrait of Okonkwo from Things Fall Apart; go beyond the physical – analyze his motivations and highlight the changes he undergoes as the story progresses.
7. Using uplifting figurative language, describe the feeling of hope after failure.
8. Portray the weight of responsibility; using metaphor, compare it to a physical object.
9. Describe a person or character that you have mixed feelings about. What about them makes you feel so conflicted?
10. Using sensory details and imagery, describe what it felt like to fall in love or have a crush for the first time.
11. Describe the nervous excitement of a first date.
12. Write about the chaos of a busy city street. Using metaphor and personification, compare it to a living organism.

The focus on descriptive writing in high school is mastering figurative language – metaphor, simile, personification, etc.

The descriptive writing prompts high school students get should be more analytical in preparation for the SAT/ACT writing.

Final Words

Descriptive writing teaches learners to “show, not tell” – the central principle of effective writing. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Descriptive writing also helps young people build imagination, develop conceptualization skills, and improve emotional insight. The key is choosing the right descriptive writing prompts to inspire them.