A Persuasive Speech Project to Inspire Your Students 

Let’s face it: most kids believe they know better than adults! So why not give them the opportunity to make a real difference and inspire meaningful change?

In this persuasive speech project, students will have the opportunity to construct and deliver a persuasive speech about a significant issue affecting today’s children. They will research the issue, consider different perspectives, and develop a series of strong and well-reasoned arguments. Students may choose from the issues provided or research one of their own. The suggested issues include:

• Access to clean drinking water
• Access to education
• Access to immunizations and health care
• Access to healthy food

This resource includes everything teachers need to deliver the project in their classrooms: a clear project overview, research organizers, scaffolded planning sheets, a model speech example and an assessment rubric. Each component is designed to take the pressure off busy teachers and support students at every stage, from “I have no idea what to write about” to confidently delivering a polished speech!

Cross-Curricular Links for Persuasive Speeches

The beauty of this persuasive speeches project is that it integrates nicely with several other key curriculum areas. While you’re covering those writing and speaking standards in ELA, why not address these topics too:

• Civics and Citizenship – Take a deep dive into global issues, including human rights and the universal rights of children.
• Geography – Explore global communities where children face hardship or have limited access to resources.
• Digital Literacy – Engage in discussions about reliable sources and evaluating the accuracy of online information.

Download This Persuasive Speech Project

Are you ready to implement this persuasive speech project in your classroom? Click the Download button to access the easy-print PDF or editable Google Slides file. (Note: You will be prompted to make a copy of the Google Slides files before accessing.) 

For sustainability purposes, please consider printing the project booklet double-sided. 

Everything is laid out clearly so you can introduce the project as early as tomorrow… no late‑night prep required!

This resource was created by Kaylyn Chupp, a teacher in Florida and a Teach Starter collaborator.

More Interesting Persuasive Speech Topics for Students

Looking for more teacher-created resources to complement your teaching of persuasive writing? Click below to explore more great teaching and learning tools!

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