Lesson Plan
Prompt Power-Up Lesson Plan
Students will explore and respond to creative writing prompts when finishing tasks early, enhancing writing fluency and confidence through self-directed storytelling.
This lesson helps students use spare time productively, fosters creativity, improves writing flow, and builds self-confidence by allowing choice and autonomy in writing.
Audience
7th Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Students select prompts, write freely, then share reflections.
Materials
- Creative Writing Prompt Cards, - Prompt Power-Up Student Worksheet, - Timer or Clock, and - Pens, Pencils, or Digital Writing Devices
Prep
Preparation
10 minutes
- Review the list of prompts on Creative Writing Prompt Cards.
- Print and cut out cards or prepare digital versions.
- Print one Prompt Power-Up Student Worksheet per student.
- Ensure classroom timer or digital timer is ready.
- Preview differentiation strategies to support diverse learners.
Step 1
Introduction
5 minutes
- Explain the purpose: using creative prompts during early finishers.
- Display sample prompts and model a brief response (1–2 sentences).
- Differentiation: Offer sentence starters or graphic organizers to support struggling writers.
- Assessment: Ask comprehension questions to gauge understanding and engagement.
Step 2
Prompt Exploration
5 minutes
- Distribute prompt cards and student worksheets.
- Students browse and select a prompt that appeals to them.
- Circulate to guide choice and answer questions.
- Differentiation: Provide one-on-one support or offer advanced challenge prompts.
- Assessment: Note students’ selections and participation levels.
Step 3
Independent Writing
15 minutes
- Students write continuously for the first 10 minutes on their chosen prompt.
- Encourage creativity, risk-taking, and remind learners of the remaining time.
- Display a visible countdown using the timer.
- Differentiation: Allow oral dictation for students needing writing support and offer more complex prompts for advanced writers.
- Assessment: Collect completed worksheets to review writing fluency, creativity, and effort.
Step 4
Sharing & Reflection
5 minutes
- Invite volunteers to share short excerpts with the class or a partner.
- Facilitate positive peer feedback focused on creativity and effort.
- Prompt reflection: Which prompt did you enjoy most and why?
- Differentiation: Pair English learners with supportive peers and allow drawings or bullet-point responses.
- Assessment: Gather reflections to inform future prompt selection and instruction.
Slide Deck
Prompt Power-Up
Creative Writing Prompts for Early Finishers
7th Grade | 30 Minutes | Tier 1
Welcome students! Introduce today’s lesson: using creative writing prompts whenever you finish early. Explain that this activity will boost writing fluency and confidence.
Why Prompt Power-Up?
- Use spare time productively
- Boost creativity and writing fluency
- Build confidence through choice and autonomy
Explain why we’re doing this activity. Emphasize benefits of using spare time creatively and building writing skills.
Sample Prompts
- Imagine you discover a door to another world in your school.
- Write a letter to your future self 10 years from now.
- Describe a day when animals could talk.
- Create a story that begins with “The old book whispered my name…”
Read each sample prompt aloud. Model a brief 1–2 sentence response to the first prompt to show how to get started.
How to Get Started
- Pick a prompt that sparks your interest.
- Write continuously for 10 minutes.
- Be creative—take risks with new ideas.
- Keep an eye on the timer.
Walk students through each step. Distribute Creative Writing Prompt Cards and Prompt Power-Up Student Worksheet.
Writing Time!
Your turn to write!
10 minutes on the timer… Go!
Start the timer. Remind students to focus on writing non-stop and let ideas flow.
Share & Reflect
- Volunteer to share a short excerpt.
- Reflect: Which prompt did you enjoy most and why?
- Give positive feedback focused on creativity and effort.
Invite volunteers to share. Guide reflection prompts. Collect worksheets for assessment and future planning.
Worksheet
Prompt Power-Up Student Worksheet
Instructions
When you finish your classwork early, use this worksheet to select a creative prompt and write freely. Let your imagination guide you!
1. Choose Your Prompt
From the Creative Writing Prompt Cards, write the prompt you selected here:
2. Write Your Story
Spend up to 10 minutes writing continuously. Be creative and take risks with your ideas!
3. Reflection
- Which prompt did you enjoy most and why?
- What new idea or writing technique did you experiment with today?
Activity
Creative Writing Prompt Cards
- You open a dusty old book and suddenly the words lift off the page. What happens next?
- Every time you blink, you swap places with your pet for one minute. Describe your day.
- You find a secret door in your school that leads somewhere unexpected. Where does it go?
- Write a letter to yourself 10 years in the future. What do you hope to be true?
- Imagine a world where everyone speaks in song lyrics. How do people communicate?
- A message in a bottle washes up on your doorstep. What does it say and who sent it?
- Describe a day when gravity turns off for an hour. How do you and others react?
- You discover an app on your phone that predicts the next 24 hours with eerie accuracy. Write about the moment you test it.
- Write a recipe for “Happiness.” What ingredients and steps do you include?
- A tree outside your window grows glowing fruit. What powers do they grant?
- You wake up with the ability to hear plants talking. What do the trees in your backyard say?
- A time traveler appears in your room and needs your help. Where did they come from and what do they want?
- Imagine a world without color. Describe the moment someone invents a paint that can bring color back.
- You find a pair of glasses that let you see people’s true emotions as colors. Whose emotions do you explore first?
- Write a short dialogue between two objects in your classroom—one that’s excited and one that’s nervous.
- A friendly alien moves in next door. Write about your first conversation.
- You’re the last person on Earth. What’s the first thing you do?
- A photograph in your attic shows a place you’ve never been—but you recognize yourself in it. Tell the story.
- Imagine your shadow comes to life and follows its own path. How do you and your shadow resolve your differences?
- Write a story that starts with: “The night the moon fell from the sky, everything changed…”
Rubric
Prompt Power-Up Rubric
Use this rubric to evaluate students’ creative writing and reflection when using the Prompt Power-Up activity. Each criterion is scored on a 1–4 scale:
1 = Beginning, 2 = Developing, 3 = Proficient, 4 = Exemplary
| Criterion | 4 – Exemplary | 3 – Proficient | 2 – Developing | 1 – Beginning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creativity & Originality | Story contains highly imaginative ideas or twists; goes beyond the prompt in unexpected ways. | Story shows clear imagination and some unique details; responds directly to the prompt. | Some creative elements but relies on familiar ideas or clichés. | Little or no original thought; minimal development beyond a basic restatement of the prompt. |
| Writing Fluency & Cohesion | Writing flows smoothly with rich sentence variety, clear structure, and virtually no errors. | Writing is organized and coherent; minor errors do not interfere with meaning. | Organization is uneven; errors or awkward phrasing occasionally hinder understanding. | Disorganized or hard to follow; frequent errors impede meaning. |
| Effort & Persistence | Fully completes the writing task; demonstrates strong focus, risk-taking, and sustained effort. | Completes the task with good effort; remains on-task and shows willingness to try new ideas. | Partially completes the task or effort wavers; may need reminders to stay focused. | Incomplete or minimal work; off-task and little evidence of sustained effort. |
| Reflection Quality | Responses offer deep insight into prompt choice and writing techniques; clearly articulated. | Responses explain prompt preference and a writing technique with adequate detail. | Responses are brief or general; limited insight into choices or techniques. | Reflection missing or shows little awareness of prompt choice or writing process. |
Scoring Guide:
- 16–14 points: Exemplary overall performance
- 13–10 points: Proficient with room to grow
- 9–6 points: Developing; additional support recommended
- 4–3 points: Beginning; needs targeted guidance and scaffolding
Use students’ scores to inform differentiated supports, future prompt selection, and targeted mini-lessons on creativity, writing strategies, or reflective practice.
Cool Down
Quick Reflection Exit Ticket
Take a moment to reflect on today’s Prompt Power-Up activity. Answer the following prompts thoughtfully before you leave.
1. Which writing prompt did you choose and what made it interesting to you?
2. What is one thing you’re proud of in your story today?
3. What writing strategy or new idea will you try next time to make your writing even stronger?
Teacher Feedback (optional):