Journaling can be a rewarding and therapeutic writing activity, so why not give it a try? Use these narrative writing prompts to help your student explore their thoughts and feelings, practice personal reflection, reflect on experiences, explore current events, and more. In this blog post, I will share with you 55 journal prompts specifically designed for 6th graders. These 6th-grade journal prompts are perfect for students who are beginning to explore their thoughts and opinions.
How to setup a journal for 6th-Graders
Choose a journal
Select a notebook or journal that is attractive and appealing to the student. It should be large enough for them to write comfortably, but not too big as it may become overwhelming.
Decorate the cover
Have your student decorate their journal’s cover with an image, pattern, quote, etc., that is meaningful to them. This will make it more inviting and encourage them to write in it.
Gather supplies
Make sure that your student has all the necessary writing materials they need such as pens, pencils, post-it notes, etc., so they won’t feel frustrated when trying to journal.
Pick a time and place
Decide on a regular time each day or week when your student can journal. If possible, try to find a quiet space that is comfortable and where they won’t be distracted from their writing.
Set goals
Establish goals for your student by discussing how often they will write and what topics they may want to focus on. This will help them develop a sense of purpose and motivation for their journaling.
Remind & encourage
Help your student stay on track by reminding them to complete their writing tasks, offering your own words of encouragement, and showing interest in what they’ve written.
Discuss ideas
Talk with your student about any ideas or thoughts that may have come up while they were journaling. This will help them reflect on their writing and provide an opportunity to discuss any issues that may have arisen.
Share
Depending on your student’s comfort level, offer them the option to share some of their writings with you or another family member as a way to promote accountability in their journaling practice.
Celebrate
Make sure to praise their efforts and celebrate their accomplishments as they complete each narrative writing task or reach a goal in their journaling journey.
55 6th-Grade Journal Prompts
1. Write about a time when you helped someone and how it made you feel.
2. Create a character that is similar or different from yourself and explain why.
3. Describe the best day of your life so far.
4. If you could give advice to younger students, what would it be?
5. Imagine writing a letter from 10 years to your future self. What would it say?
6. Reflect on a difficult decision you had to make and how it affected you.
7. Write about something that makes you unique or special.
8. Describe a person who has positively impacted your life and why they are so important to you.
9. List 3 goals for yourself in the next year and explain why these goals are important to you.
10. If you could create a new rule for your middle school, what would it be?
11. Think of an invention that could make life better for people and explain how it works.
12. Describe a time when you felt like giving up but didn’t. What kept you going?
13. Create an interesting story about a magical creature that lives in the forest.
14. Write about your favorite hobby or activity and why it’s important to you.
15. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
16. What is a surprising thing that scares you but also fascinates you at the same time?
17. Reflect on a time when you overcame a challenge and how it made you feel.
18. Describe your favorite teacher and why they were so special to you.
19. What historical figure would you like to meet?
20. Imagine living in your favorite video game, what it would be like?
21. Think of a world problem that you care about, what solutions can you come up with to help?
22. Create your own country and write down the laws and customs of this new nation.
23. What is something you learned in school that has changed how you think or behave?
24. List 5 things you are grateful for, use descriptive language to explain why.
25. If you could become a superhero, what would your superpower be and how would you use it?
26. Write about a difficult conversation you had with someone and what the outcome was.
27. Create a poem or rap song about an issue that is important to you.
28. If you could learn any new skill, what would it be and why?
29. Describe a moment when you felt really proud of yourself.
30. What are some ways you can make a positive difference in the world?
31. Write about an experience that taught you something valuable about yourself.
32. Imagine the future 10 years from now, what do you think will be different?
33. Create a list of questions that would help you get to know someone better.
34. Reflect on a mistake you made and how it has helped shape who you are today.
35. What would it be like to live in space and why?
36. Write about something that you are passionate about and how it makes you feel.
37. Describe the qualities of a great leader and why they are important.
38. If you could go back in time, what era would you choose to visit?
39. List 5 books that have had an impact on your life and explain why each one was meaningful to you.
40. Imagine a world without laws, what would it be like?
41. What are 3 things that you can do to take care of your mental health?
42. Write about a time when you changed someone’s mind and how it felt.
43. Create a story about what life might look like in 100 years.
44. Describe a moment when you felt really proud of someone else.
45. Think of an example of how kindness can be spread in your community.
46. What are some ways that you can take action against injustice?
47. Create a list of questions to ask yourself when feeling overwhelmed or anxious.
48. Write about a hobby you have that helps you relax and why it is important to you.
49. Describe the process of how a seed grows into a flower.
50. If you could create your own job, what would it be and why?
51. List 3 things that make you unique from other people.
52. Imagine living in a world without money, what would it be like?
53. What are some ways that you have seen people show compassion and kindness to one another?
54. Write about a time when you took risks and why it was important for you to do so.
55. Describe your dream career.
How to Organize 6th-Grade Journals
Create a schedule
Designate specific days and times for your student to work on their journaling practice and make it part of their daily routine.
Set goals
Encourage your student to set goals for themselves in terms of the amount of time or number of words they would like to write each day.
Make it accessible
Make sure that your student is easily able to access their journaling supplies and materials, either at home or in the classroom.
Find inspiration
Create a list of creative writing or poetry prompts for your student to choose from so they never run out of ideas for what to write about.
Vary the format
Consider introducing different formats such as writing, drawing, or even recording audio notes to keep things interesting and engaging.
Take time for reflection
Ask your student to take a few minutes at the end of each journaling session to reflect on what they’ve written and how it makes them feel.
Celebrate progress
Recognize and celebrate small successes as your student develops and grows in their journaling practice. This will help them stay motivated to continue.
Tips for Using 6th-Grade Journaling Prompts Successfully
Give yourself enough time
Set aside ample time for your student to complete the journaling prompt, allowing them the opportunity to really think through their answers and develop their ideas.
Encourage creativity
Urge your student to be creative with their responses and explore a variety of angles or perspectives on reflective writing prompts, use creative writing exercises to encourage young writers.
Don’t judge
Avoid the temptation to judge or criticize your student’s responses, instead, focus on fostering a safe and open environment of self-expression for them to express themselves freely.
Ask questions
Encourage your student to think more deeply about their answers by asking them specific questions related to each prompt.
Be mindful of grammar
Remind your student to pay attention to grammar and spelling, making sure they’re using complete sentences, procedural writing, and correct punctuation.
Offer feedback
Give your student constructive feedback on their responses so that they can better understand what works well and what could use improvement.
Have fun
Above all, make sure that the process of journaling is enjoyable and rewarding for your student. This will help motivate them to keep it up!
Bottom Line
Journaling can be a great way for 6th graders to practice their writing skills, as well as explore their thoughts and feelings.
Setting aside a specific time each day for journaling can help your student develop a regular routine that will make this practice more effective.
Utilizing various 6th-grade writing prompts and offering constructive feedback on their responses can also add value to the process. With a bit of guidance and support, your student can benefit greatly from the power of journaling.
Now that you have these 6th-grade journal prompts, it’s time to get started! Encourage your student to explore their creativity and have fun with it. Who knows, they might even discover something new about themselves along the way.
