Leap Year Speech for a Student-Led Learning Day

Have students fill in every planning line before drafting. The audience chart on each sheet is a good place to discuss tone.

Plan a formal speech asking the principal to let students teach short lessons on February 29. The directions on the page read: Read the topic. Complete the plan in Step 1. Write your speech to the principal in Step 2.

Yes, both. We made it for 8th grade opinion writing, and it works the same at home or at school. At home, a student can work through it alone and then go over it with you, which shows quickly what is solid and what needs another look. In class it works as independent practice, homework or a warm-up, and you can print one copy or a full set.

Open with a greeting and one clear claim, give your evidence, answer an objection the principal might raise and close formally. Persuade the Principal to Fund a Teacher's Program plans each part before students write 12 lines.

Formal style uses complete sentences, precise words and a respectful tone with no slang. Each sheet here names a real audience, such as an editor or a food services director, so students match their tone to that reader.

No. Each sheet asks for an original letter, speech or proposal, so there is no single answer. Teachers can score the writing against the plan students fill in on the page.