In 2026, first-grade essays in the United States commonly feature content that aligns with the early elementary curriculum. These essays often include narratives based on personal experiences, descriptions of familiar objects or settings, and simple explanations of concepts introduced in the classroom. The content is designed to be age-appropriate, focusing on basic writing skills such as sentence structure, vocabulary, and spelling. Themes often revolve around daily life, animals, nature, and simple science concepts.

The emphasis on these topics is due to the developmental stage of first graders, who are still learning the fundamentals of writing. According to the Common Core State Standards, first-grade students are expected to write narratives that include details to describe their experiences, use high-frequency words correctly, and write simple sentences with clear beginnings, middles, and ends. Additionally, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reports indicate that in 2024, first-grade students' writing scores were highest when their essays were based on personal experiences or familiar topics, suggesting that this content is effective in promoting literacy development.