Making Nonfiction Writing Just as Magical as Creative Writing

Elementary students lying on the classroom floor writing and drawing together with colored pencils, illustrating the joy of nonfiction writing in elementary classrooms.
Students engage in creative nonfiction writing by observing, drawing, and sharing ideas — turning facts into stories that matter.

Nonfiction writing doesn’t have to feel flat. Kids will write when they have a reason to care, and the secret is giving them that reason. In creative writing, purpose is built in—they tell a story to entertain. But with nonfiction, we often hand students a template, they fill in a few sentences, the teacher scores it, and everyone moves on. That’s a beginning, but it’s only the surface.

Let’s make nonfiction just as magical. Let’s invite emotion, curiosity, and imagination into it.

Start with a Real Animal and Real Wonder

Take turtles, for example. They’re familiar, yet fascinating—freshwater dwellers that pop up in ponds and streams almost everywhere. Start by building a connection. Read both fiction and nonfiction books about turtles. Watch short videos of them swimming in their habitat.

While watching, ask students to notice and wonder:

“I see fish in the pond.”
“I wonder how long turtles can hold their breath.”
“What eats a turtle?”

Write those questions down. Language learners can sketch what they see or use translation tools to share ideas. Every child can contribute.

Four freshwater turtles basking on a log in a pond, used to inspire observation, questioning, and descriptive nonfiction writing in elementary classrooms.
A simple photo like this can spark curiosity and observation — the perfect starting point for a nonfiction writing project.

Expand Vocabulary and Description

Keep a running list of how authors describe the animal. Instead of repeating “the turtle”, students might say “armored herbivore,” “sturdy tank,” or “patient pond dweller.”
Adding variety to expression makes writing delightful—and it transfers to every subject.

Encourage students to invent phrases for other creatures:
“Owls are ghost-like flyers.”
“Ants are steady workers.”
“Polar bears are fanged frost kings.”

Language play brings nonfiction to life.

Build Understanding Through Talk and Art

Discuss what students think they need to know about any animal:

  • What does it eat?

  • Where does it live?

  • How does it stay safe?

  • What eats it?

  • How does it reproduce?

Search for those answers in reading passages. Highlight facts that feel interesting, not just necessary—those are the details that create voice and “spark” in writing.

Then, add art. Let kids draw turtles using simple tutorials and color them authentically. That drawing time quietly builds attachment to the subject.

Student-created lion habitat diorama showing animals, plants, and terrain, used to support nonfiction writing and science integration in elementary classrooms.
Hands-on projects like this animal habitat diorama help students connect science and writing, bringing nonfiction topics to life.

Create Habitats and Integrate Science

Turn writing into a project that spans subjects. Have students design a habitat—a pond scene with rocks, logs, fish, and plants. Include biotic and abiotic factors. Model construction with box lids, paper, and clay or dough.

When habitats are complete, students write a “Habitat Wanted” or “For Sale” ad from the turtle’s point of view.

“Quiet pond with ample sunbathing logs seeks turtle who enjoys aquatic plants and friendly fish neighbors.”

Projects like this support struggling and advanced writers alike, including English language learners. They make content meaningful and accessible.

Bring in Environmental Connections

After the dioramas are built, introduce humans.
Add roads, houses, and stores into the scene.
Ask: What happens to the turtle now?

Students see the effect of habitat loss firsthand. Extend the conversation into environmental studies—national parks, preserves, and how conservation helps both wildlife and people.

Finally, circle back to your named turtle character and ask:
“What can humans do so this turtle can live happily?”
That’s empathy. That’s authentic writing.

Snapping turtle swimming underwater near sand and driftwood, used to inspire observation, questioning, and descriptive details in nonfiction writing lessons.
Observation is the heart of nonfiction writing — encourage students to look closer, notice details, and turn what they see into strong descriptions.

Keep Expanding the Idea

Once students have mastered one animal, connect it to others:

  • Turtles and tortoises

  • Bees and wasps

  • Butterflies and moths

  • Turkeys and crows

  • Spiders and bats

Each pair invites comparison, stereotype-busting, and creative exploration. The process becomes a cycle—reading, talking, researching, writing, and creating.

Why It Matters

When we give nonfiction writing context and emotion, students discover that facts can tell stories too. They see themselves as scientists, writers, and caretakers of the natural world.

And in just a couple of weeks, a “simple animal report” grows wings—and maybe awakens something lasting in every child.

Two upper-elementary students smiling and talking with their teacher during writing time, illustrating how conversation builds confidence and language for nonfiction writing.
Writing grows from conversation — giving students time to talk builds confidence, language, and stronger nonfiction writing.

Resources to Support Your Teaching

If you’re ready to make nonfiction writing joyful and manageable, explore:

Both help you blend reading, writing, and science into experiences that matter.

Looking for fun, ready-to-use writing activities?
Grab my Thanksgiving Writing Freebies to bring creativity and gratitude into your classroom this season! These low-prep lessons pair perfectly with any writing unit — from poetry to nonfiction.