September Writing Prompts

Teacher helping his students in classroom

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September is a great month for teachers and students to start the habit of daily writing. Writing every day, even for a short time, can set the foundations for great achievements during the year ahead. These prompts have been chosen to highlight key holidays and commemorations during September and are great for daily warm-ups or journal entries.

Month of September:

  • Better Breakfast Month
  • Classical Music Month
  • National School Success Month
  • Read-a-New-Book Month

Writing Prompt Ideas for September

  • September 1st Theme: Nursery RhymesThe childhood rhyme Mary Had a Little Lamb (1830) is based on an incident in the life of Mary Sawyer of Sterling, Massachusetts. when her lamb followed her to school one day.
    What was your favorite nursery rhyme as a child? Why do you think you liked it so much?
  • September 2nd Theme: Better Breakfast MonthWhat is your idea of a wonderful breakfast? Describe exactly what you'd serve.
  • September 3rd Theme: Labor DayThe first Monday in September is set aside as an annual national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. According to the United States Department of Labor website, Labor Day is "a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers."
    How does your family celebrate Labor Day weekend?
  • September 4th Theme: Classical Music MonthHave you ever listened to classical music? What is your feeling about it? Why do you feel that way?
  • September 5th Theme: Pizza (National Cheese Pizza Day)Describe your perfect pizza. Include details about the crust, sauce, and toppings.
  • September 6th Theme: Read a Book DayThere are studies that show the positive effects of reading on social well-being. Reading fiction improves a reader's ability to understand other people's beliefs, desires, and thoughts that are different from their own.
    Do you like to read? If so, what type of things do you like to read: books, magazines, websites, etc. If not, why don't you like to read?
  • September 7th Theme: Neither Rain Nor Snow DayThe unofficial creed of the United States Postal Service is embodied in this quote found on the James Farley Post Office in New York City:
    "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."
    Describe the difficulties that you that mail carriers might face on any given day? Do you think this is a hard job? Would you want to be a mail carrier?
  • September 8th Theme: Anniversary of the Day Ford Pardoned NixonOn September 8, 1974, President Gerald Ford pardoned Richard Nixon of any wrongdoing associated with Watergate. Why do you think Ford pardoned him? Do you think he should have? Why or why not?
  • September 9th Theme: Grandparent's DayWhat are three qualities that you think make an excellent grandparent? Why do you think they need these qualities.
  • September 10th Theme: T.V. Dinner DayDo you think that it is important for families to eat dinner together at least a few times a week? Why or why not?
  • September 11th Theme: 9-11 World Trade Center Remembrance DayYou can have students listen to former Poet Laureate Billy Collins read his poem "The Names".
    Write a poem or piece of prose commemorating those who died on the 9/11 attacks.
  • September 12th Theme: National Day of EncouragementWhich person do you feel has inspired and encouraged you the most in your life? Explain your answer.
  • September 13th Theme: Scooby Doo's BirthdayIf you were in a Scooby-Doo episode, who would you like to be paired up with as you hunt for ghosts: Scooby and Shaggy, Fred, Velma, or Daphne? Why?
  • September 14th Theme: Pet Memorial DayDescribe your favorite pet, living or dead. If you have never had a pet, explain what type of pet you'd like to have and what you would name it.
  • September 15th Theme: National School Success MonthWhat do you think you can do to become more successful in your classes at school? Explain your answer.
  • September 16th Theme: Mayflower DayPretend you were on the Mayflower on that first voyage to settle in America. Describe your feelings upon leaving England and then seeing your new home.
  • September 17th Theme: Constitution DayResources on The Constitution Center website: "Explore the best, nonpartisan, interactive Constitution on the web, featuring materials written by the top constitutional scholars from across the political spectrum."
    Journal topic: If you could only keep one of the following rights, which would it be? Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of the Press. Explain your answer
  • September 18th Theme: Childhood (National Play-Doh Day)Do you miss elementary school? Why or why not?
  • September 19th Theme: Talk Like a Pirate DayWrite a poem or a paragraph as if you were a pirate describing all the treasure you've plundered. Make sure to write like a pirate.
  • September 20th Theme: Chicken Dance DayToday is Chicken Dance Day. Why do you think that many adults enjoy dances like the Chicken Dance and the Hokey Pokey? Do you enjoy them? Why or why not?
  • September 21st Theme: World Gratitude DayName five things that you are grateful for. Explain why you are grateful for each.
  • September 22nd Theme: Dear Diary DayCreate a diary entry about a special day. This can be a real day in your own life or a fictional diary entry. Make sure to start with 'Dear Diary'.
  • September 23rd Theme: Checkers DayYou've been asked to play either checkers or chess. Which would you pick and why?
  • September 24 Theme: National Punctuation DayWhich punctuation mark do you have the most problem using correctly? You can choose from the period, comma, colon, or semicolon.
  • September 25th Theme: National Comic Book DayThe comic book market in North America has reached as high as $1 billion annually.
    Do you read comic books? Why or why not?
  • September 26th Theme: Banned BooksBanned Books Week is an annual event first launched in 1982 that celebrates the freedom to read. According to the Banned Books Week website:
    "This is an effort to bring together the entire book community — librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular."
    Do you think that school libraries should ban certain books? Support your opinion.
  • September 27th Theme: Ancestor Appreciation DayWrite about your favorite ancestor. If you don't know if your ancestor or don't have a favorite one, tell which favorite person you wish was your ancestor. Explain your reasons for picking this person.
  • September 28th Theme: Good Neighbor DayIn the poem "Mending Wall" by Robert Frost, the neighbor states 'Good fences make good neighbors'. Explain what you think that statement means.
  • September 29th Theme: Coffee DayAre you a fan of coffee? If so, why do you like it? What way do you like to drink it? If not, why not?
  • September 30th Theme: Chewing Gum DayTake a stand either for or against chewing gum. Write three arguments to support your opinion.
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Your Citation
Kelly, Melissa. "September Writing Prompts." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/september-writing-prompts-8481. Kelly, Melissa. (2023, April 5). September Writing Prompts. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/september-writing-prompts-8481 Kelly, Melissa. "September Writing Prompts." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/september-writing-prompts-8481 (accessed March 28, 2024).