Florida 4-H Public Speaking Contest for Leon County, Florida

Thank you for your interest in bringing the Florida 4-H Public Speaking Program to your school. The Florida 4-H Public Speaking Program is funded in partnership with the Florida 4-H Foundation and Florida Power & Light Company (FPL).

• Step 1: Sign up your school to participate in the 2023-2024 contest by 08/23/2024.
• Step 2: Classroom and School Winner materials will be delivered to your school. 
• Step 3: Fill the Group Enrollment Form correctly and email to the Leon County Extension office by 12/06/2024. 
• Step 4: 1^st and 2^nd Place School Winner Form for each youth division is due by 01/10/2025.
• Step 5: 1^st Place School winners will compete at county-level Public Speaking Contest on 01/25/2025 on the campus of Florida A&M University in Perry Paige Auditorium.
• Step 6: 1^st Place County winners for each division will compete at the district-level Public Speaking Contest April 26th, 2025. 

The "Teacher Resources" provided below are to support your school in the implementation of the Florida 4-H Public Speaking program (FL 4-H PSP). If you have any questions, please contact Valerie at leon4h.ifas@ufl.edu. 

EVALUATION

Teacher, Parent, and Youth evaluation tools are utilized through the Florida 4-H Public Speaking Program to ensure its continued success.

You may be asked by your county 4-H professional to help ensure that these evaluations are filled out by you, your youth, and families.

Teacher Resources

• Suggested Teacher Lesson Plan

  This curriculum guide provides step-by-step suggestions for teachers to implement the week-long program in their class.

  Click to download: Lesson Plan

• Parent/Guardian Letter

  This letter is intended to be sent home before the start of the program to inform families of their student’s participation.

  Click to download: Florida4HParentGuardianLetter

• Group Enrollment Form

  The Group Enrollment form must be filled out by each school that is participating in the Florida 4-H Public Speaking Contest. Please note that each section in the Youth Distribution (2.A-D) and the Adult Distribution (3.A-B) must add to the same number in order for your enrollment form to be successfully submitted. For example, if there are 50 total youths, each section within "Step 2" must add up to 50. 

  Download the form here:  2025 Group Enrollment Form

• Great Speech Tips

  “Great Speech Tips” is intended to be sent home with youth and used in the classroom to help them prepare their speeches.

   Click to download: (PDF)

   

• Constructive Critique Sheet 

  This can be used in the classroom to help you prepare your students for the contest.

  Students can also utilize this to provide structured feedback to their peers.

  Click to download: (PDF)

• Judging Sheet

  The “Judging Sheet” is intended to be used by judges to score and provide feedback to students on their speech.

  It is suggested to send this to judges beforehand to help them prepare for their role.

  This can also be sent home with students and used in the classroom to help them recognize what they are being evaluated on.

  Judging Sheet (PDF)

• Judging Comment Tips

  This can be provided to judges to help orient them to potential ways of providing positive and constructive feedback.

  This is specifically focused on judging public speaking.

  Click to download: (PDF)

• Constructive Comment Tips

  This can be provided to judges to help orient them to potential ways of providing positive and constructive feedback.

  This is a generalized document that can be used for judging any competition.

  Click to download: (PDF)

• Certificate of Recognition

  These can be utilized at the discretion of the 4-H and classroom coordinators to recognize everyone’s achievement.

  Click to download: (Canva Template | Fillable PDF)

   

• PowerPoint Template

  This resource can be utilized as you put together information to help teach your students public speaking and the contests. 

  Click to download: (PPT Template)

• Suggestions For Contest Judges

  Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs.

  The following list includes a listing of Toastmasters Clubs in Tallahassee. Members from these groups would be excellent resource persons or judges for classroom or school contests. 

  Toastmasters Club Name

  Early Bird: (850) 210-4875

  Garnet & Gold: (954) 829-1551

  Golden Voices: (850) 524-3704

  Highway Safety: (850) 212-9828

  Leadership (850): 320-8321

  SBA: (850) 413-1024

  Talk of Tallahassee: (850) 245-2104

  Tallahassee: (850) 879-0366

  Tallahassee Real Talkers: (850) 321-4666

  Transformation T.C.: (850) 353-5508

  Uptown: (850) 891-6177

• Tabulator Sheet

  The tabulator tracks the speaking scores from each judge for each participant during the speech contest. Below you will find the tabulator sheet for the contest. 

  Click to download: Tabulator Sheet

• Timekeeper Sheet

  The timekeeper monitors and tracks the speaking time for each participant during the contest. Using a timer, they ensure speakers adhere to their allotted time record any deviations for official records. Their role is crucial for keeping the event on schedule and fair for all participants. Below you will find a link to the timekeeper sheet. 

  Click to download: Timekeeper Sheet

• Tips for Student EMCEES

  A student emcee serves as the host and facilitator of an event, guiding the audience through the agenda and introducing speakers or performers. This role not only adds structure and flow to the occasion but also offers the student an invaluable opportunity to practice public speaking skills. 

  Download here: Tips for Student EMCEES

• School Winner Form

  Congratulations in completing the school-wide part of our speech competition. Please us the link below to enter the school winner for 1st and 2nd place. Please note that only the 1st place winner will be attending the district wide competition in April. 

  School Winner Form

   

• School Winner Packet

  Congratulations! Your school has chosen a winner to represent your school for the 4th/5th and/or 6th grade division of the Florida 4-H Public Speaking Contest and have completed the online winner from provided by your Leon County agent.

  Below, you will find all the resources necessary to create a school winner packet to send home with your first-place winner. 

  Parking Instructions

  Parent/Guardian Letter

  Evaluation

  Certificate of Recognition

  Student Evaluation

  Judging Sheet

  Media Release Form

  Sample of Judging Comments

   

   

• 2025 County Contest Order of Speeches by School

  ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DIVISION (4^th/5^th Grades)

  • Killearn Lakes Elementary School
  • Hartsfield Magnet School for International Studies
  • Pineview Elementary School
  • The Schools of Arts and Sciences at the Centre
  • Fort Braden School
  • WT Moore Elementary
  • Woodville School
  • School of Arts and Sciences on Thomasville Rd.
  • Gilchrist Elementary
  • Tallahassee School of Math and Science
  • Holy Comforter Episcopal School
  • John G. Riley Elementary School
  • Maclay School
  • Trinity Catholic School
  • Christ Classical Academy
  • FSU School
  • Community Leadership Academy
  • Buck Lake Elementary School
  • Chaires Elementary School
  • North Florida Christian School
  • Conley Elementary School
  • Sabal Palm Elementary School
  • Tallahassee Classical School
  • Astoria Park Elementary School
  • Hawks Rise Elementary School
  • Roberts Elementary School
  • DeSoto Trail Elementary School
  • Community Christian School

   

  MIDDLE SCHOOL DIVISION (6th Grade)

  • Montford Middle School
  • Christ Classical Academy
  • FSU School
  • Cobb Middle School
  • Tallahassee Classical School
  • Woodville School
  • Fairview Middle School
  • Frank Nims Middle School
  • The School of Arts and Sciences at the Centre
  • Tallahassee School of Math and Science
  • Raa Middle School
  • Community Christian School
  • School of Arts and Science on Thomasville Rd.
  • Community Leadership Academy
  • Trinity Catholic School
  • Griffin Middle School