Children often have strong feelings about various school-related topics but may not be brave enough to share their suggestions with school officials. Instruct each student to write a persuasive essay to entice other classmates to join in their fight for smaller class sizes, more field trips, less homework or cell phone usage during lunch and recess. If the arguments are effective, the ideas may later be brought to the attention of the school principal.
Students can do a speech on their personal preferences to persuade other classmates to agree with them and their feelings on the matter. Hamburgers versus hot dogs, movies versus books, and whether breakfast is the most important meal of the day are potential topics of discussion. Research may be necessary to prove why other students should agree with the speakers' opinions in addition to their personal viewpoints.
A study done by California State University at Sacramento suggests that participation in sports enhances student performance at the university level, but few studies exist regarding elementary school performance. Instruct students to write a persuasive speech either for or against participation in sports from any previous experience or that of a family member and its impact. .
Many elementary school children dream of becoming the president of the United States. Instruct students to write a persuasive speech declaring their candidacy and why the class should vote for them as president. The speakers may also field questions from their classmates as an impromptu persuasive speaking activity extended from the original assignment. The students may also research a law that they think needs to be changed and how altering the existing law may benefit the community.