Finding engaging writing activities in the fall can be tricky, which is why this Writing Journal: Prompts for September | Autumn is the perfect resource for 1st and 2nd grade. It combines seasonal topics like apples, leaves, pets, and fairy tales with structured writing support. September is the time of year when students are just settling into routines, so teachers need activities that are both structured and creative. A September writing journal gives your class a mix of fun autumn themes and clear writing support, making it easy to build confidence in young writers.
To download some FREE SAMPLES from this packet, click here or on the image below.
Topics in the Writing Journal: Prompts for September
This September pack includes prompts connected to seasonal and high-interest themes your students will love:
- Apples 🍏
- Autumn Leaves 🍂
- Fairy Tales 🏰
- Pets 🐶
Each topic comes with a balance of fiction and non-fiction writing pages so your students get practice with a variety of writing styles.
Writing Journal: Prompts for September | Types of Pages Included
1. Sentence Writing Pages (Fiction & Non-Fiction)
Students look at a picture and write a simple sentence to match. These pages are excellent for early writers who are still learning how to structure sentences with capitals, spaces, and punctuation. They’re quick to use for morning work, early finishers, or independent writing practice.
2. Directed Drawing Pages (Fiction & Non-Fiction)
Each page guides children through step-by-step drawing directions (such as drawing a dog). Once finished, they add details and a background, then write about their picture. This format combines art, creativity, and writing—a great way to motivate reluctant writers and give them confidence.
3. Inference Writing Pages (Fiction)
Students are shown a picture scene with a question at the top (for example: “Who is in the carriage?”). They use picture clues to infer what might be happening, then write a story to explain it. These pages build critical thinking, observation skills, and imaginative storytelling.
4. Narrative Writing Pages (Fiction)
With “First, Then, Last” boxes, students sequence a simple story before writing their sentences. This helps them organize ideas and understand beginning–middle–end story structure, which is essential for developing narrative writing.
5. Problem Narrative Pages (Fiction)
Children are given three prompts: a character, a setting, and a problem. Using these clues, they write a complete story. This format helps students practice story elements while learning to develop a problem and resolution within their writing.
6. Informational Writing Pages (Non-Fiction)
Students begin by labeling a main picture using a word bank (for example: pet homes such as doghouse, cage, aquarium, hutch). After labeling, they write informational or instructional sentences on the topic. These pages introduce children to non-fiction text features and factual writing, perfect for science or social studies tie-ins.
Writing Journal: Prompts for September | Educational Benefits
- Builds strong sentence structure with capitals, punctuation, and spacing
- Strengthens storytelling skills: sequencing, character, setting, problem, solution
- Encourages creative thinking with inference and drawing prompts
- Introduces non-fiction writing through labeling and informational text
- Supports fine motor skills with coloring, drawing, and handwriting practice
Troubleshooting Tips
- For reluctant writers: Let them dictate a sentence first, then copy it.
- For advanced students: Challenge them to add a second paragraph or include dialogue.
- For time management: Use one type of page per day (sentence, drawing, inference, etc.) for a weekly routine.
Quick Checklist for Teachers
- Print journal pages and covers
- Model each prompt type before independent work
- Provide word banks or sentence starters for support
- Encourage peer sharing to build confidence
Purchase the Writing Journal: Prompts for September
You can purchase the complete 34-page September writing prompts packet by clicking on any of the store links below.
A September writing journal is the perfect way to introduce writing routines while tapping into seasonal themes like apples, leaves, pets, and fairy tales. By mixing sentence work, narratives, inference, and informational writing, you’ll keep students engaged and growing all month long.
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Happy Teaching 🙂
