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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Curious Creatures Character Spinner
A curious creature character spinner to use in a variety of ways.
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Biography Writing Checklist – Structure, Language, and Features
A checklist for students to use when proofreading and editing their biography writing.
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Persuasive Writing Bump It Up Wall – Grade 6
Help your 6th-grade students "bump up" their persuasive writing with this bulletin board display.
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Persuasive Writing Bump It Up Wall – Grade 4
Help your 4th-grade students "bump up" their persuasive writing with this bulletin board display.
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Primary Weekly Poetry Guide - Weeks 4 and 5
Use this weekly poetry guide to celebrate National Poetry Month in your primary classroom.
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Novel Study - Alternate Story Ending Worksheet
A worksheet which encourages students to write an alternate ending to a shared class story.
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Biography Brochure Template
Help your students organize their thoughts about their biography subject.
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Stick Person Graphic Organizer
A simple and effective graphic organizer that can be used for a wide range of purposes including note taking, mind mapping, and planning writing responses.
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Persuasive Planning Template – Castle
Plan a persuasive text with this castle planning template.
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Concrete Poem Template – Thunderstorm
A template for students to write a concrete poem about a thunderstorm.
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Concrete Poem Template – Crescent Moon
A template for students to write a concrete poem about the moon.
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Primary Weekly Poetry Guide - Week 3
Use this weekly poetry guide to celebrate National Poetry Month in your primary classroom.
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Concrete Poem Template – Recycling
A template for students to write a concrete poem about recycling.
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'Pick Three' Writing Inspiration Worksheet
A worksheet to use when students need writing inspiration for a narrative piece.
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Acrostic Poems Poster
Use this acrostic poem example and accompanying templates to teach your students how to write an acrostic poem.
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Rhyming Poems Poster and Template
Teach your students all about rhyming couplet poems with this classroom poster and accompanying student worksheets.
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Informational Text Planner - Music
An informational text planning template focusing on a musical act.
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How to Make a Paper Airplane – Procedural Writing Worksheet
Explore how to make a paper airplane while your students fine-tune their procedural writing skills.
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New Year's Flip Book Template
Celebrate the coming of a new year by creating this flipbook with your students.
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Primary Weekly Poetry Guide - Week 2
Use this weekly poetry guide to celebrate National Poetry Month in your primary classroom.
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Alliteration Poem Poster and Templates
Use this alliteration poem example and accompanying worksheets to teach your students how to write an alliteration poem.
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Roll to Create a Superhero Comic
A fun, hands-on activity using a die and a chart to create a comic strip story.
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Imagine This! Story Template
A template to use as a fun writing activity.
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Acrostic Poem Template - ARTIST
An acrostic poem template for the word 'artist'.
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Roll to Create a Superhero Character
A fun, hands-on activity using a die and a chart to create a superhero to include in a comic.
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Acrostic Poem Template - GEOGRAPHY
An acrostic poem template for the word ‘geography’.
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Color Rhyming and Poetry Worksheet
A worksheet to help students form rhyming words and create a rhyming poem.
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Acrostic Poem Template - TIME
An acrostic poem template for the word ‘time’.
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Acrostic Poem Template - PLANET
An acrostic poem template for the word ‘planet’ to use for Earth Day, during National Poetry Month, and when learning about the solar system.
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Acrostic Poem Template - ENERGY
An acrostic poem template for the word ‘energy'.
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MLK Day Task Cards
Challenge students to think about the work of Martin Luther King, Jr. with this set of 13 writing task cards.
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Primary Weekly Poetry Guide - Week 1
Use this weekly poetry guide to celebrate National Poetry Month in your primary classroom.