Star Trek Day Inspires Science Fiction Writing Prompts
Elementary/Middle Grade Prompts:
1. First Contact You’re part of a space crew that discovers a new planet with friendly aliens who communicate through colors instead of words. Describe your first meeting and how you figure out how to “talk” to each other.
2. The Universal Translator Breaks Your starship’s universal translator malfunctions right before an important peace negotiation with three different alien species. How do you solve this problem and save the day?
3. Time Loop Adventure You’re stuck repeating the same day on your space station over and over. Each time you try something different to break the loop. What do you discover and how do you escape?
Middle/High School Prompts:
4. The Ethical Dilemma Your crew discovers a planet where the inhabitants are happy and peaceful, but their society depends on a technology that harms another species they’re unaware of. Do you interfere? What are the consequences of your choice?
5. Parallel Universe You accidentally slip into a parallel dimension where your starship crew are all completely different people with opposite personalities. How do you get home, and what do you learn about your “real” crewmates?
6. The Last Human You’re a human serving on an alien starship crew in a future where Earth was destroyed. When you discover another human survivor, they have very different ideas about what humanity should become. What happens next?
Advanced/Creative Prompts:
7. AI Awakening The ship’s computer begins showing signs of true consciousness and asks for equal rights as a crew member. Write from the AI’s perspective as it navigates this new existence.
8. The Prime Directive Write about a situation where following the Prime Directive (non-interference with developing civilizations) conflicts with basic compassion and the need to help others.
These prompts encourage students to explore classic sci-fi themes like exploration, diversity, ethics, and the future of humanity while channeling Star Trek’s optimistic vision!