Types of Writing Teaching Resources
Explore the different types of writing with your students this school year with printable RACES writing strategy worksheets, constructed response activities, graphic organizers and more teacher resources created by teachers for teachers.
This collection of curriculum-aligned teaching resources has been carefully reviewed by our expert teaching team to make sure every resource is classroom-ready — so we can make your lesson planning easier!
New to teaching the types of writing, or just looking for new ways to engage your students? Read on for a primer from our teacher team!
What Are the Different Types of Writing? 4 Main Writing Genres to Share With Students
If you're introducing the different types of writing — or different genres of writing — to your students, it can help to have some basic descriptions of each type at hand. That's exactly what our teacher team has put together for you!
When we sit down to write any text, we have a goal for writing. Sometimes we're looking to tell a story. Sometimes we want to share information. Other times a piece of writing is created to persuade the reader.
The goal or purpose of a text, as well as its audience, helps us determine what type of writing we need to create.
There are many different genres of writing that students will encounter as readers and writers over their lifetimes, but let's start with the four main types of writing that we cover in elementary and middle school.
1. Narrative Writing
Narrative writers tell stories, making up characters and creating different settings for their readers. The goal of this type of writing is to entertain the reader.
2. Persuasive Writing
If you're trying to convince a reader of something, you'll need to engage in persuasive writing. This type involves trying to convince a reader to take a specific action or to agree with your point of view.
3. Descriptive Writing
When we want to describe something to a reader, the type of writing we create is called descriptive writing. In this genre, we use vivid details to paint a picture in the reader's mind.
4. Informative Writing
If your goal is to create a piece of text that provides the reader with facts or instructions about a specific topic, the type of writing to choose is informative writing.
- Free Plan
Goldilocks and The Three Bears - Finish the Story Writing Prompt
Finish the Goldilocks and the Three Bears story in your own words.
- Plus Plan
What Happened Next? – Alice in Wonderland Writing Template
A template for students to finish the story of Alice in Wonderland in their own, unique way.
- Plus Plan
Animal Poetry Task Cards
Get your students writing simple animal poetry with this set of 12 poetry prompt task cards.
- Plus Plan
What Causes the Seasons? Informative Text Writing Task
Use this scaffolded writing task to have students write about how seasons change.
- Free Plan
Weekend Narrative Writing Worksheet
Practice writing personal narratives with your young students with this writing template.
- Plus Plan
Playground Narrative Writing Worksheet
Practice writing personal narratives with your young students with this writing template.
- Plus Plan
Informative Text Writing Task – How Does the Respiratory System Work?
A scaffolded writing task for students to complete when learning about the informative text type.
- Plus Plan
Informative Text Writing Task – How Does a Plane Fly?
A scaffolded writing task for students to complete when learning about the informative text type.
- Plus Plan
Story Spine Porcupine – Narrative Writing Template
Print a narrative writing graphic organizer template designed to help students plan their narrative.
- Plus Plan
Persuasive Text Worksheet
Revise the key structural elements of the persuasive text type with this informal letter.
- Plus Plan
Valentine's Day Flip Book Template
A flip book template to use around Valentine's Day.
- Plus Plan
Developing Narrative Features PowerPoint - Grade 5 and Grade 6
A 26-slide editable PowerPoint template to use when teaching your students about the characteristics and craft of composing a narrative text.
- Plus Plan
Procedural Writing Topic Cards
Use these ideas for procedure writing with your students to help them hone their procedural writing skills.
- Plus Plan
Informative Text Research Template
A research template for students to use when writing an informative text.
- Plus Plan
Narrative Text Structure - PowerPoint
A 20-slide editable PowerPoint template to use when teaching your students about the text structure and language features of narrative texts.
- Plus Plan
Write a Short Story – The Discovery or Invention
Get your students analyzing and writing an invention story with this engaging and fully scaffolded writing project booklet.
- Plus Plan
Writing Prompt Jar – Cut and Assemble Kit
A set of labels and prompts to create a writing prompt jar.
- Plus Plan
Rhetorical Devices Teaching Slides
Explore types of rhetorical devices with your students using this detailed and age-appropriate slideshow perfect for your persuasive writing unit.
- Plus Plan
Write a Short Story – Overcoming Obstacles
Get your students analysing and writing overcoming obstacles short stories with this engaging and fully scaffolded writing project booklet.
- Plus Plan
Friendly Letter Anchor Chart
Use this friendly letter anchor chart to explain and simplify the letter-writing process for your elementary students.
- Plus Plan
Personal Recounts Worksheet - My Wonderful Weekend
A simple text and worksheet to use when exploring personal recounts.
- Plus Plan
Personal Recount Planning Template
A template for students to use when planning a personal recount.
- Plus Plan
Fact File Sorting Activity
Use this fact sorting activity to teach your students about informational writing.
- Plus Plan
Poetic Devices Teaching Slides
Explore examples of poetic devices using this comprehensive and age-appropriate slide deck perfect for your poetry writing unit.
- Plus Plan
Eagles Fact File and Report Writing Scaffold
Support your students in writing an expository text about eagles with this fact file and writing scaffold.
- Plus Plan
Simple Recounts - Writing Scaffold
A simple scaffolding worksheet to use when writing a recount.
- Plus Plan
Elephant Fact File and Report Writing Scaffold
Support your students in writing an expository text about elephants with this fact file and writing scaffold.
- Plus Plan
Introduction to Personal Recounts PowerPoint
Use this personal recount set of teaching slides to teach younger students about the structure and language features of personal recounts.
- Plus Plan
Note-Taking Practice Worksheets
Use this set of note-taking practice worksheets to help your students identify key facts, details and vocabulary when researching information.
- Plus Plan
My Broken Ankle - Narrative Text Structure Worksheet
A worksheet for teaching students how to write using a basic narrative text structure.
- Plus Plan
Surprise! - Narrative Text Structure Worksheet
A worksheet for teaching students how to write using a narrative text structure.
- Plus Plan
Assessment Rubric - Opinion Writing
An assessment rubric designed to help teachers to assess students' opinion writing.
- Types of Writing Templates
- Types of Writing Worksheets
- Types of Writing Posters
- Types of Writing Games
- Types of Writing Word Walls
- Types of Writing Projects
- Types of Writing for Kindergarten
- Types of Writing for 1st Grade
- Types of Writing for 2nd Grade
- Types of Writing for 3rd Grade
- Types of Writing for 4th Grade
- Types of Writing for 5th Grade
- Types of Writing for 6th Grade
- Types of Writing for 7th Grade