Funny Writing Prompts for Kids

Sometimes we just want our students to write something. Anything. We want them to use their little brains for more than gluing themselves to a screen. But how do you get kids to actually write?

Let them make jokes!

So here are some funny writing prompt ideas to get your kids laughing. And as a bonus, they won’t be so boring to grade!

1. A cow, a lion, and a rodeo clown walk into a department store. Write a paragraph about what happens next.

2. You are a woodchuck living beside a lumber mill. Write a paragraph describing how you get to the wood and how much you can chuck before the lumberjacks catch you.

3. Write a story about how the world would be different if cats had thumbs.

4. You are secretly a potato, and nobody has figured it out. How are you hiding yourself and what happens if somebody notices?

5. You have invented the world’s most adorable teddy bear, and you have programmed it to do one thing which is annoying but not harmful. Write a paragraph describing what it does and why.

6. The Earth is invaded by aliens made of spaghetti, and they demand all of our cheese. You are in charge of Earth’s defense. Write a paragraph describing what you do and why.

7. It’s time for the annual costume contest. You have an unlimited amount of duct tape available, and you get two other materials. Write a paragraph describing your costume and what items you used to make it.

8. You have a very nice vampire living in your basement, and he wants to go to Disney World. How do you get him there?

9. This is the punchline of the joke: Because the mouse didn’t have a hat! Write out three possible answers for the first part of the joke.

10. The internet has vanished, and all the world’s knowledge is now stored on a single piece of string cheese that you own. Write a paragraph describing what you do with it and why.