January Journal Prompts for Kids

Many teachers are looking for new ways to engage their students in the classroom. One way is by having them write in a journal. This blog post has some ideas on prompts that can be used during January to get your kids writing. These January Journal Prompts are based on the different holidays that have been recognized during the month of January. The prompts are about all sorts of things – some are creative writing prompts, sentence starters for a short story or about the present moment.

You can download a PDF copy of the January writing prompts for your students at the end of the post. The prompt ideas are written in simple text making them easy for elementary students to use as handwriting models. Use your favorite handwriting paper for your students to write down their responses or give them a blank page to draw and write on. These printable writing prompts are a super easy way to encourage daily handwriting practice.

Benefits of Using Daily Writing Prompts

There are many benefits to writing in a journal such as:

• daily writing practice
• daily handwriting practice
• following a routine to create new habits
• self-reflection
• creativity
• out of the box thinking

List of January Journal Prompts from the 1st to the 15th

January 1: Happy New Year! Imagine that you woke up this morning and you are a completely different person with a fresh start. Write about who you are and what you do on your first day as this new person.

January 2: National Science Fiction Day: Write a story using this as your first sentence – Space is a lonely place. It’s just me, the stars, and the occasional meteor shower. But I don’t mind. I’m used to being alone. I’ve been a scientist on this planet for years, and I’ve never once had anyone to talk to. That is until it came along.

January 3: Festival of Sleep Day: Write a story about what happens when you wake up after sleeping for 100 years.

January 4: National Spaghetti Day: Write a story using this as your first sentence – It was National Spaghetti Day when all of a sudden we heard a loud noise in the school cafeteria and red smoke filled the science lab.

January 5: National Whipped Cream Day: Imagine you are working at the local restaurant and they ask you to invent a new breakfast recipe using whipped cream. What do you make and what do you call the new menu item?

January 6: National Technology Day: Write a story using this as your first few sentences – Your worst fear just came true. You just found out that you can no longer use technology for the rest of your life. Your best friend tells you not to worry and asks you to meet up at your secret treehouse.

January 7: National Bobblehead Day: Write a story about a magic spell that went bad and you had to go to school with a bobblehead.

January 8: Vision Board Day: Write about 5 of your hopes and dreams for next year.

January 9: National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day: Write about all the good things that law enforcement provides us with.

January 10: Clean Off Your Desk Day: Finish this story starter – Yesterday, I was surprised when I showed up at school and there was nothing on my desk. Then I looked up, and standing in the doorway of the classroom was a…

January 11: Poetry at Work Day: Write a creative poem about a job or career.

January 12: Hot Tea Day: You can invite anyone you want over for a tea party. Who do you invite and why?

January 13: Dreams Come True Day: Write about what you would do for this special occasion of your dream day.

January 14: International Kite Day: Finish this story starter. I turned the corner on the beach, and saw someone with big round glasses being lifted into the air by a flying kite. I acted fast by…

January 15: Hat Day – You have been asked to design a brand new hat at the mall. What do you design and why?

List of January Journal Prompts from the 16th to the 31st

January 16: Appreciate a Dragon Day – Write a story about why you are grateful for your pet dragon.

January 17: Martin Luther King Jr Day – Make a list of five things that you can do to make the world a better place.

January 18: Winnie the Pooh Day – Think of the Winnie the Pooh characters – Christopher Robin, Tiger, Piglet, Eeyore, Owl, Rabbit, and more. Who is your favorite character and why?

January 19: Popcorn Day – What is your favorite movie and why?

January 20: Penguin Awareness Day – Write a creative story starting with this sentence: I heard the doorbell rang and jumped up to answer it. I slowly opened the door and there was a penguin on my porch! Quickly, I…

January 21: National Hugging Day – Write about your favorite person or animal that you like to hug and explain why.

January 22: Celebration of Life Day – It is the world’s birthday. Describe the celebration that you would plan to celebrate life!

January 23: National Pie Day – Create a new pie and describe what ingredients are included and what holiday you would serve the pie.

January 24: National Compliment Day – Write a list of three people and add one compliment about each person.

January 25: Plan a Vacation Day – Write about a vacation you would like to take in the United States.

January 26: Library Shelf Day – You have been asked to write the next best seller for children in elementary school. What is the title of your book and what is it about?

January 27: National Geographic Day – You are allowed to travel anywhere in the World. Where do you go and who do you bring with you?

January 28: Have Fun at Work Day – The party planning committee has assigned you to think up the games for the work party – what games do you create?

January 29: National Puzzle Day – Write a story using this sentence starter – In the back of the art room, I found a small puzzle piece. It was glowing so I bent down to pick it up. But then suddenly…

January 30: National Croissant Day – Imagine that you won a contest at the bakery using your secret ingredient that you added in your croissant. What was the secret ingredient and what made it so special?

January 31: National Hot Chocolate Day – Imagine you are planning a huge party to celebrate this day. What unique things do you plan to celebrate hot chocolate?