Winter in first grade is a strange time. December is buzzing with holiday energy, January starts with a class that seems to have forgotten every routine over break, and February brings indoor recess, Valentine’s Day, and a very long month.
Through all of it, your writing block still has to happen. This post gives you winter writing prompts for first grade for December, January, and February, plus a few ideas for keeping writing on track during the busiest (and coldest) stretch of the year.
Why Winter Is a Great Time for Writing Growth
By December, most first graders have the basics down: they can write a sentence, they know some sight words, and they can use a word wall. Winter is when many of them start to take off. It’s the perfect time to push sentence writers toward short paragraphs and to build writing stamina.
Winter topics help, too. Snow, hot cocoa, and penguins are concrete and easy to picture, which makes descriptive and informative writing much easier for young writers.
December Writing Prompts
December is full of excitement, so keep prompts short and fun, and give students plenty of choice.
- Retell – Retell The Gingerbread Man. What happened first, next, and last?
- How-to – How do you build a gingerbread house? Write the steps.
- Opinion – What is the best winter treat: hot cocoa, cookies, or candy canes? Why?
- Just for fun – If you invented a new candy, what would it look like and taste like?
- Descriptive – Describe a cup of hot cocoa using your five senses.
Pro Tip Not every student celebrates the same holidays. Gingerbread, candy, snow, and winter treats keep December writing festive and inclusive at the same time.
January Writing Prompts
January is for resetting routines. Start the month by re-teaching your writing center procedures, then use these prompts to get students writing again.
- Narrative – Write about something you did over winter break.
- Informative – How do polar bears stay warm? Tell two facts.
- Opinion – What is the best winter sport: sledding, skating, or skiing?
- Descriptive – Describe a snowman. What color, shape, and size is it?
- Just for fun – If you were a penguin for a day, what would you do?
Problem After break, students rush through writing with one short sentence and say “Done!”
Solution Bring back your “finished means” checklist: a capital letter, spaces between words, punctuation, and a picture that matches. Add one new goal in January, like “Add a describing word.”
Free for first grade teachers
Free winter writing paper
Winter writing paper and 20 winter writing prompts for December through February, ready to print today.
February Writing Prompts
February has lots of built-in topics. Use them to practice different types of writing.
- Opinion – Will the groundhog see his shadow? What do you think, and why?
- Narrative – Write about a time you were a kind friend.
- Informative – How do you take care of your teeth? Write three steps.
- Opinion – What is the best class pet? Give two reasons.
- Just for fun – Write a valentine to a character from a book you love.
Keep Winter Writing on Track
Winter comes with interruptions: holiday programs, snow days, and indoor recess. A few habits keep writing going through all of it.
- Keep the routine the same – Same bins and the same weekly order: word wall, spin and write, draw and write, write what you see, and publish. Only the theme changes.
- Plan for snow days – A winter writing page makes an easy sub plan or at-home activity.
- Build stamina slowly – Add two minutes of writing time each week in January. Make a chart and celebrate the class’s longest writing time.
- Publish often – Winter mini-books give students something to read to a buddy during indoor recess.
Winter Writing Centers, Ready for December
If you’d like the whole season planned, the Winter Writing Centers Bundle has 15 winter writing centers. Themes include gingerbread, candy, Christmas, winter treats, arctic animals, winter sports, Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day, pets, and dental health. Every center includes vocabulary cards and posters, topic spinners, Draw and Write and Write What You See pages, and a mini-book, differentiated so students write words, sentences, or short paragraphs. Printable and digital (Google Slides) are included.
Only need December? Start with the December Writing Centers Bundle and add January later.
Final Thoughts
Winter can feel long, but it’s often when your first graders grow the most as writers. Give them cozy topics, a routine they know by heart, and a little more writing time each week. By the time the snow melts, you’ll see the difference with their writing.
