The word IF is small but powerful. Rudyard Kipling wrote a poem about it (which, IF you haven’t read it since high school, read it again – it is meaningful even today!). IF can be a conjunction with several meanings or a noun with only two meanings in Webster’s dictionary. But to teachers who want to enlarge their students’ world of possibilities for creative writing, I offer you the “Educational IFs” for your students to ponder. Combine these with my prompts (links below) and you will have a fun time reading a wide variety of stories, essays, and articles from your little learners.
Ask your students to use one of these IFs in their assignment
- The “Curious IF” – What IF…? (Example: What IF the snow was green instead of white? How would that change the world?)
- The “Conditional IF” – IF….. then….. (Example: IF my dog gets into the garbage, then __________- fill in the blank with the many things that could go wrong.)
- The “Dictator IF” – No IFs, ands, or buts! (Example: When my mom told me to clean my room, she told me there would be no IFs, ands or buts. How would you respond to that?)
- The “Regrettable IF” – IF only…. (Example: IF only I had tied my shoe before I got on my bicycle. What happened next?)
- The “Sassy IF” – As IF! (Example: When my sister told me she was going to make a million dollars selling lemonade, I said, “As IF!)
- The "Simile IF" - As IF (without the exclamation point) (Example: My notebook fell to the floor, as IF it had a life of its own.)
- The “Sorting IF” – IF any…. (Example: IF any flowers bloom in my garden, I will be pleasantly surprised.)
So, offer your students the possibilities below for their writing assignments, while using one of the IF statements above and watch their creativity soar, as IF their words took wings!
For Middle and High School:
FUN Writing Prompts - Nonfiction - This collection of prompts is in the form of clickable images on PowerPoint interactive slides. Your students will enjoy exploring all the possibilities. (Also available on Google slides HERE)
FUN Writing Prompts - Fiction - This collection of prompts is also in the form of clickable images on PowerPoint interactive slides. Your students will enjoy exploring all the possibilities. (Also available on Google slides HERE)
Valentine's Day Story Starters - No lace or Disney characters in these prompts!
For Elementary and Middle School:
Weekly Visual and Verbal Story Starters - A set of 40 story starters that will keep your young authors busy all year long with a variety of topics to explore and develop. Each picture also contains a question for your students to answer.
For Elementary School:
180 Picture and Sight Word Prompts - Grade 3 - This collection of 180 picture prompts are arranged on an Avery 30-label template, so you can stick them to your students' journals, or simply print them on plain paper and glue into the journal. They are based on a Dolch sight word list.
180 Picture and Sight Word Prompts - Grade 2 - This collection of 180 picture prompts are arranged on an Avery 30-label template, so you can stick them to your students' journals, or simply print them on plain paper and glue into the journal. They are based on a Dolch sight word li
180 Picture and Sight Word Prompts - Grade 1 - This collection of 180 picture prompts are arranged on an Avery 30-label template, so you can stick them to your students' journals, or simply print them on plain paper and glue into the journal. They are based on a Dolch sight word lists.
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