Beach Writing Prompt-Journal-Fun Writing Ideas for Kids

For this beach writing prompt lesson, students write their thoughts and memories about the beach!

North Carolina

Here in central North Carolina, we’re about 2 and a half hours from the beach. Most of the students I work with have been there at least once and many others go there multiple times a year.

For students who have never been, they can complete this beach writing prompt by writing what they imagine about the beach, questions they have about the beach and whether or not they’d like it.

Feel free to show any or all of these 4 minute videos to help get the kids thinking about the beach and things that could be fun or that could go wrong.

Milo Goes to the Beach (recommended for K-2)

Milo–The Sandcastle (recommended for K-2)

How to Build a Sandcastle (recommended for Grades 2-5)

Journal Writing

Anytime I teach journal writing, I explain to the students that a journal is a great place to jot down their most honest feelings; excitement, frustration, disappointment, angst, fear, anger, humor etc.

Similarly, the beach can generate so many of these feelings. I explain that some people LOVE it, some people HATE it and some people like it for some reasons and dislike it for other reasons. The students and I brainstorm these reasons and then they write.

Common Core State Standards

NOTE: This lesson can address the following Common Core State Standards: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.K.1, W.1.1, W.2.1, W.3.1, W.4.1, W.5.1, W.K.3, W.1.3, W.2.3, W.3.3, W.4.3, W.5.3, L.1.2.A, L.1.2.C and L.2.2.B.

NOW FOR THE LESSON!

To get a full understanding on how I conduct each writing lesson you may want to read the Writing Prompts Introduction post. The beach writing prompt lesson outlined below (and all other prompts posted) will make more sense and be easier to follow and use.

Here’s the lined paper I use for Grades K-2 and Grades 2-7

Tell the Story Line

First tell the story line: You’re going to write your honest thoughts about the beach and also tell a short story about a time that you were at the beach.
Then, ask the students to reminisce any experiences they’ve have at a beach.
Next, explain to the students that they are going to write a journal entry about the beach.
Lastly, remind them that a journal is a great place to jot down their most honest feelings; excitement, frustration, disappointment, angst, fear, anger, humor etc.

Brainstorm

Brainstorm with the students how the beach can generate so many different thoughts and feelings. List reasons why people would like or dislike the beach.

Here are some examples:

LIKES
Water
Waves
Surfing
Building sandcastles
Flying kites
The sound of the waves
Sunrises/sunsets
Looking for shells
Crab hunting
Dolphins eating

DISLIKES
The heat
Sand sticking to you
Sunburn
Salty water
Smelly water
Shells cutting your feet
Applying sunscreen

Give students time to think about reasons why they like/dislike the beach.

Show the 5 Sections

Introduction/Opinion
Reason 1
Reason 2
A short Story
Conclusion

As mentioned in my writing prompts introduction: K-1^st Graders are encouraged to write 1 sentence for each section, 2^nd Graders 2 sentences, 3^rd Graders 3 sentences and so on.

NOW TO WRITE!

On the 1st line, right side, write the date.
Skip a line.
Then, on the 3rd line, left side, write the greeting, Dear Journal,
Skip a line.
Next, on the 5th line, left side, write an introduction using 1-2 sentences:

I love the beach! We’re going to the beach this summer and I can’t wait! OR I can’t understand why people like the beach.

Fifth, write a reason you like or dislike the beach. Explain the reason.
Sixth, write a reason you like or dislike the beach. Explain the reason.
Finish with a fun, funny or bad memory that happened to you at the beach.
Lastly, write a conclusion.

I can’t wait to go to the beach again! OR I hope I never have to go to the beach again.

Under the conclusion and in the center of the paper write the salutation: (Your Friend,)
Finally, under the salutation write your name.

Print the Lesson

Here’s the full lesson for you to print out and use.

EASY ART ACCENTS

Once, the children complete their writing, they can glue tiny googly eyes, sequins and sand in their border for their beach art accent. This easy beach art accent motivates students to write and rewards them for their work! In addition, it adds color and charm to any child’s story about the beach.

You’d be amazed at what a little sand can do for young timid writers! I haven’t done an official survey, but I’m pretty sure this is the most popular crafty art accent among my writers.

Calendar Pictures are the easiest and cleanest art accents that I use. Kids LOVE to choose a picture to write about. However, adding sand to the border of their story really excites students.

Bordered Paper

For all of my writing classes, students write on bordered paper. That way they can decorate the border around their writing with an art accent. You can print and use this paper as well. Here is the paper for Grades K-2 and Grades 2-7. Here’s a printout of a border with no lines to use with very early writers.

Card Stock

NOTE: Because sand is heavier than other art accents we use, printing out the lined paper on card stock is best for the beach art accent but not necessary.

Materials

Materials that you’ll need for this art accent are:

Lined paper with a border. Here’s the paper I use for Grades K-2 and Grades 2-7.
Tiny googly eyes* to represent crab eyes.
Sequins* to represent shells. You could glue shells* just as well!
Sand from your neighbor’s sand box! If you need to purchase sand, sand from Amazon can work*.