Free Winter Writing Prompts Make Writing Fun in January

Do your students need a little extra spark to get them excited about writing this winter? The cold weather and shorter days can make it harder for young learners to stay focused and engaged. But don’t worry—writing can still be fun! Our free winter writing prompts will help turn those chilly days into opportunities for creativity and learning. Simply print the January writing prompts for kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, and 3rd grade students.

Winter writing prompts

Winter offers endless inspiration for kids. There’s much to write about, from snowy adventures to cozy hot chocolate moments. Whether your students are just starting with simple sentences or are ready for longer stories, carefully chosen prompts can help them express their ideas. Plus, when writing feels like play, kindergartners, grade 1, grade 2, and grade 2 students are more eager to build those essential literacy skills.

In this post, you’ll find fun, winter-themed prompts for young learners. They’ll encourage your students to use their imagination, strengthen their writing skills, and maybe even surprise you with their creativity. By the end of this post, you’ll have a collection of easy-to-use prompts that will keep your classroom buzzing with excitement all season long.

Before jumping into these fun winter prompts, it’s important to understand where your students are in their writing journey. Plus don’t miss more free writing prompts for kids printables, fun puffy paint snowman craft, and handy printable winter word searches!

January writing prompts

Start by scrolling to the bottom of the post, under the terms of use, and click on the text link that says >> __________ <<. The pdf file will open in a new window for you to save your freebie. Now print off  the pages. This pack comes fully in black and white.

Developing Writing Skills

We have the job of introducing three main types of writing: narrative, opinion, and informative. Our focus with these writing prompts is informative and narrative writing.

By this stage in the year, your students should have a solid foundation in basic skills like holding a pencil, forming letters, and writing simple sentences.

Once these essentials are in place, young learners are ready to take the next step—using their imagination to create stories. With a little guidance and encouragement, even the youngest writers can organize their thoughts and bring their ideas to life.

Creative writing prompts

Let’s look at our winter-themed prompts that will inspire storytelling and make writing an exciting adventure! We have five winter writing prompts and a page of story starters.

Writing About Winter

This sheet introduces an informative writing activity that gets students thinking and describing. Informative writing focuses on sharing facts or explaining something clearly.

This worksheet encourages students to write simple, descriptive sentences about winter topics. This is a great way to help young learners build confidence as they practice sharing information in writing.

Starting with familiar and seasonal ideas, students can develop their ability to organize and communicate thoughts effectively. This sheet is perfect for reinforcing the connection between writing and telling others about the world around them!

Bringing Your Snowman to Life

This activity sheet encourages students to think creatively and focus on descriptive writing.

The task is simple: draw a picture of their snowman and write a list of words to describe it. To support young writers, consider brainstorming words as a class. Words like

• frosty
• cold
• friendly
• white
• cheerful
• huge
• round
• icy
• tiny
• tall
• glittery
• sparkling

For older students ready for a challenge, invite them to flip the sheet over and write a short story about their snowman. What would happen if their snowman came to life?

If I Were a Snowflake: A Creative Writing Adventure

This activity sheet invites students to imagine the world from a snowflake’s perspective.

The prompt encourages them to think creatively and write about what they might see as they drift from the sky. It’s a great way to spark imagination while building narrative writing skills.

For added fun, start the activity with a class discussion about snowflakes. Ask students questions like, “Where do you think snowflakes land?” or “What do they see as they fall?” This helps young learners brainstorm ideas and get excited about their writing. The result is a whimsical and engaging activity to bring winter magic to your classroom!

Write Your Own Winter Story: Unleashing Creativity

This sheet allows students to become true storytellers by creating their own winter-themed tales. The open-ended format allows them to explore their imagination, write a unique story, and even add a title to their masterpiece.

To help students start, brainstorm some winter story ideas together as a class. Ask questions like, “What adventures could happen in a snowy forest?” or “Who might you meet on a frosty winter day?” Provide the list of story starters on the last page for those needing an extra boost.

This activity strengthens writing skills and builds confidence as students see their ideas come to life on paper. It’s the perfect way to wrap up a winter writing unit!

Winter Story Prompts: Sparking Imagination

The final page of this resource includes 10 engaging winter story prompts designed to inspire young writers. Some prompts encourage imaginative storytelling, while others focus on descriptive writing, giving students plenty of opportunities to practice their skills.

These prompts are flexible and can be used in various ways. For a fun group activity, try using them during circle time. Start by reading one of the story starters aloud, and then let students take turns adding a sentence to build the story together.

For independent work, these prompts are perfect for journal writing, writing centers, or even as a take-home activity. Parents can join the fun, helping their children brainstorm ideas or write their own versions of the story.

If you want to mix things up, turn the prompts into a comic strip activity. Provide students with blank comic strip templates and let them illustrate and write their story in a new format. This alternative storytelling method is fun and helps kids develop sequencing and creativity visually.

Free Writing Prompts

Winter is the perfect time to inspire young learners with fun, seasonal writing activities. Our free winter writing prompts encourage creativity, imagination, and skill-building.

With a little encouragement and practice, your students will write with confidence and joy all winter!

Ready to bring the fun to your classroom? Download our free winter writing prompts and get started today. Don’t forget to pin this post so you can easily find it when you need fresh writing ideas this season!