Writing prompts for 2nd grade

Here are ready-to-use prompts plus a quick routine you can start tomorrow.

Prompts (mix of narrative, opinion, informative, imaginative):

• Write about your favorite day at school. What happened?
• If you had a pet dragon, what would you feed it and where would it sleep?
• My favorite food is _____. Tell three reasons why.
• How to make a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich (step-by-step).
• Describe your best friend using three words and examples.
• A time I felt brave (what happened and how you felt).
• Invent a new holiday. How do people celebrate?
• If I were the teacher for a day, I would…
• Explain how plants grow from a seed.
• Write a letter to your future self.
• Compare two animals: which is better as a pet and why?
• What would you do if you found a lost puppy?

Quick routine (15–25 min):

• 3–5 min: read prompt and model 2–3 sentences aloud.
• 10–15 min: students write (draw first for struggling writers).
• 5 min: partner share and one positive comment each.

Differentiation: sentence starters, word banks, typing option, or draw + label. Use a simple checklist: topic, 3 sentences, neat handwriting/spelling.

Which skill do you want to focus on first: opinion, narrative, or informative?