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.
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How to Decorate a Christmas Tree - Year 1 Procedural Writing
Practice sequencing and writing procedural texts with an interactive ‘How to Decorate a Christmas Tree’ slide deck and differentiated writing prompts for 1st grade.
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Roll and Respond – Thanksgiving Dice Game
Roll the die and write about Thanksgiving traditions with a fun Thanksgiving Game.
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How to Make a Sundae - Informational Writing Craftivity
Inspire students to write informational text with a fun, summer-themed end-of-year writing assignment and craft.
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My Family Fire Escape Plan Template
Plan ahead and encourage families to develop a fire escape plan with a pair of printable Fire Escape Plan Template.
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1st Grade Fire Prevention Worksheets
Use these Fire Prevention Worksheets to draw and write about what firefighters wear and what they use to do their jobs.
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Design a Donut Persuasive Writing Interactive
Explore persuasive writing with this fun donut-themed interactive activity.
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Persuasive Writing Poster Set
Display this set of persuasive posters for students to use as a guide during your persuasive writing units.
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Persuasive Writing Project (My Favorite Season)
Explore persuasive writing with this persuasive writing project focusing on a student’s favorite season.
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Fire Safety Sheets – How-To Writing Prompts
Download these how-to writing prompts to make teaching fire safety engaging while strengthening students’ procedural writing skills.
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Rhetorical Devices Sorting Activity
Explore rhetorical devices with your students using this set of sorting cards.
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Rhetorical Device Examples – Cut and Paste Worksheet
Match the persuasive writing techniques with the correct examples using this simple cut-and-paste worksheet perfect for your persuasive writing unit.
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Persuasive Writing Project (The Best Book)
Help students plan out persuasive writing with this The Best Book’ persuasive writing project.
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Persuasive Writing Planning Flipbook
Explore the persuasive writing structure in this engaging persuasive writing flipbook.
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5 Opinion Writing Prompt Stimulus Sheets
A set of 5 writing prompt stimulus sheets with an opinion text focus.
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Persuasive Writing Project (The Best Cookie)
Help students plan out persuasive writing with this ‘The Best Cookie’ persuasive writing project.
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Persuasive Writing Interactive (Design Your Own Pizza)
Explore persuasive writing with this fun pizza-themed interactive activity.
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Firefighter Report Writing – Fact File Activity Pack
Engage your class with firefighter report writing activities that combine expository writing practice with real-world learning about community helpers.
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Grandparents' Day Writing Prompt - The Very Best Day
Surprise Grandma and Grandpa with a special story telling about the Best Day Ever with a Grandparents’ Day writing prompt.
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Grandparents' Day Poems with Similes
Celebrate grandma and grandpa with heartfelt simile poems using a printable Grandparents’ Day poem template.
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Grandparent Interview Template - Primary Grades
Inspire your primary grade students to interview a grandparent on Grandparents’ Day with Printable Grandparent Interview Questions.
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Writing Opinion Texts Teaching Slides
Teach your students about opinion writing with this detailed slideshow targeted at upper elementary school students.
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Persuasive Techniques Worksheet Pack
Explore persuasive techniques with your students using this nine-page worksheet pack perfect for your persuasive writing unit.
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Free Opinion Writing Bulletin Board Banner
Create a fun persuasive writing classroom display with these fun looking display banners.
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Rhetorical Devices Anchor Charts
Support students to improve their persuasive writing with these rhetorical devices anchor charts.
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PEEL Paragraph Structure Poster and Worksheets
Explore the acronym PEEL to help with paragraph technique during opinion writing lessons.
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The Impact of Technology - Positive Impacts Worksheet
Exploring the positive impacts of technology in the community with a pair of printable worksheets.
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Create a Silly Story – Sorting Activity
Explore story characters, settings, problems and solutions by creating a silly story!
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Expository Writing Project – Natural Processes
Get your students producing high-quality expository writing with this fully scaffolded writing project, where students research, organize and publish an expository text about a natural process.
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Cooperation Word Splash and Acrostic Poem
Discuss cooperation with your students and write an acrostic poem with a printable word splash worksheet and poem template.
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Recycling Writing Prompts - Earth Day Worksheets
Differentiate writing instruction in primary grades with informational writing prompts about recycling and conservation.
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Persuasive Vocabulary Word Wall
Help your students enhance their persuasive writing skills with a set of 40 persuasive vocabulary word cards.
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Friendship Writing Prompts
Encourage positive relationships by using our friendship writing prompts in your classroom.
- 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