As teachers, we often spend a lot of time planning creative writing tasks that end up taking a long time to design and a long time for students to complete. However, some of the most effective writing activities are actually the simplest: the ones we can set up in just 10 or 15 minutes. 

For example, it can be surprisingly powerful to ask students: “What do you believe in?”. With a question like this, we’re not just prompting them to write, we’re inviting them to explore who they are, what they value, and how they think.

This is the core idea behind the Credo Sheet, a simple yet powerful tool that helps students develop voice, authenticity, and self-awareness. It encourages them to articulate their beliefs and reflect on the experiences that have shaped them. The Credo Sheet works well as a stand-alone lesson, an icebreaker at the beginning of the school year, or a companion activity when exploring literature that deals with identity, growth, or moral conflict.