Pirate writing prompts
Here is a collection of pirate writing prompts for kids and ESL learners that help get the creative writing process started. These printable picture prompts help stir the imagination. There are also some cool pirate story ideas for each picture that you can choose to use, modify, or ignore if you like.
In any case, the topic of pirates is very popular amongst children and teenagers, which usually makes them enthusiastic about creating fantasy stories. Just pick the prompts you think are suitable for your students and let them get started!
It is a good idea to set a writing word requirement for these activities to make sure enough writing is done. Also, encourage learners to give their pirate stories an interesting title when they are done.
Pirate writing prompt 1
Note that this is for the printable PDF at the top of the page.
A famous pirate king has conquered the 7 seas. He is looking for an island to hide all his precious treasure.
What is the pirate’s name, and why is he famous?
What amazing things has the pirate captain done, and what does his ship look like?
Where will he hide his treasure, and how will he do it?
What is in the treasure, and where did it all come from?
Pirate writing prompt 2
There is a huge naval battle about to begin with loaded cannons and angry pirates waiting with their cutlasses and muskets.
Why are these ships fighting?
Do any vessels get sunk? If so, how?
Who is on these ships, and what are the ships’ names?
How long does the battle last, and where in the world does it take place?
Pirate writing prompt 3
A brother and sister pirate duo used a map to find and dig up a buried treasure chest. What happens next?
Where did the treasure map come from, and how did they get it?
How long did it take to find the treasure? What adventures did they have along the way?
Is the treasure cursed? How will they get it off the island?
Pirate writing prompt 4
This one works well as a describe the picture writing prompt. Some basic vocabulary has been provided for learners to use. Further things to write about include –
Where are the skeleton pirates going, and why?
What can the captain see through the telescope?
Why do they have a parrot? Will sharks eat skeletons?
Pirate writing prompt 5
A pirate crew member was caught stealing from the captain’s cabin. He is now being forced to walk the plank.
What did he steal and why? How did he get caught?
What is the crew member’s name, and where is his family?
What is in the water below the sailor?
Will he be forced to jump or not? How will he survive?
Pirate writing prompts 6 and 7
6 – A ghost ship appears at night to sailors offshore a strange rocky island.
Why do only some sailors see it? Does it have a message?
Is it dangerous? Where does it come from?
Does the ghost ship have a crew? What do they look like?
7 – A pirate captain gets marooned on an island with shark-infested waters. He must wait until his crew or another ship comes to rescue him.
What does he do while he waits? What does he eat?
Is there something interesting about the island? How did he get there?
Where is his boat? Who will save him and why?
Pirate writing prompt 8
A giant Kraken emerges from the sea to attack a pirate ship. The captain of the ship can talk to the Kraken.
How does the captain talk to the monster? What does he say?
How can the Kraken destroy the ship if it wants to?
Where does the Kraken live, and what does it eat?
Can the Kraken change the sea or the weather conditions if it wants to?
Pirate wring prompt 9
A ship of pirates goes on a long, dangerous adventure to find a mysterious treasure hidden in a cave marked on a map.
What happens on their voyage? What was the weather like?
Where is the treasure cave, and what things are inside it?
How do they travel through the cave, and what treasure do they find?
What clues lead them to the treasure?
Pirate writing prompt 10
A ship finds a strange pirate shipwreck on the coastline. Nothing is known about why and how it got there.
Are there any survivors of the shipwreck? What are their stories?
What was the pirate ship carrying, and where was it going?
What things are found along the beach and in the nearby jungle?
Related activities
Here are some more free resources that you can use either with the pirate writing prompts or as follow-up activities.
First of all, there are the pirate conversation questions for an engaging discussion.
There are also some simple pirate vocabulary worksheets that involve matching pictures with words.
Finally, you can use one of the treasure map coloring pages to help with the stories.
