Teacher guide · Confidence Lab · Harder · about 35 min
📣 Persuade the Head
Pupils practise confidence and creativity through "Persuade the Head": Write a persuasive letter for longer break time.
Lesson guide
1. Hook · 5 min
Show the 📣 mission title and read the opening: "Which is a persuasive technique?". Take three quick guesses.
2. Model · 5 min
Think aloud through the first step together. Use Echo the Parrot's line as your prompt: "Say it clearly — I'm listening."
3. Do · 10 min
Pairs work through the 4 steps on screen or on the printed sheet. Circulate and ask "why?"
4. Discuss · 10 min
Use two or three of the discussion questions. Ask pairs to share different answers, not just correct ones.
5. Reflect · 5 min
Exit ticket: one sentence on how they used confidence today.
Discussion questions
- What was the hardest choice in "Persuade the Head", and why?
- Which is a persuasive technique — explain your reasoning to a partner.
- Write the opening paragraph of your letter to the head teacher — explain your reasoning to a partner.
- Where could you use confidence outside school this week?
- If you did this again, what would you change?
Adapting it
Support: Read prompts aloud, pair with a confident partner, and accept spoken or drawn answers for writing steps.
Stretch: Ask pupils to create their own extra step for a partner and explain the correct answer.
Curriculum links
- National Curriculum: English: reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar and writing
- National Curriculum: English: spoken language — articulate and justify answers
- PSHE: Relationships: communicating feelings and listening to others
- PSHE: Health & wellbeing: resilience and managing setbacks
Pupil sheet
📣 Persuade the Head
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
1. Which is a persuasive technique?
☐ Full stop
☐ Past tense
☐ Rhetorical question
2. Match the technique to the example.
Statistic → ________________
Emotive language → ________________
Rule of three → ________________
Direct address → ________________
3. Order a persuasive letter.
___ Answer the other side
___ Greeting
___ Reasons with evidence
___ State your opinion
___ Strong conclusion
4. Write the opening paragraph of your letter to the head teacher.