Speech, debate, journalism and media classes often rely on performances, deadlines and equipment. Many of the lessons below let students work from short original texts, examples and scoring guides on the page, so a substitute can run them without any of that.
What is in the communications library
There are 14 free lessons: 8 for journalism, yearbook and media, and 6 for speech and debate.
How to use these as communications sub plans
- Choose an analysis or writing lesson. Students read, score or write using material on the page.
- Keep feedback kind and specific. Some lessons ask students to score a speech with a rubric and write respectful feedback.
- Skip live performances unless the teacher plans them. A sub does not need to run a speech day to cover the class.
- Print student pages only. Answer keys are on separate teacher pages.
All communications lessons
Journalism / Yearbook / Media
- Better Interview Questions: Open, Closed and Leading
- Can You Trust This Source? Rating Five Sources
- Fact or Opinion? News Brief vs. Editorial
- News Values and the Upside-Down Pyramid
- Press Ethics and Plagiarism: Six Case Studies
- The 5 Ws and H: From Fact Sheet to Lead
- Tight Headlines, Smart Captions and Copyediting
- Yearbook Theme and Spread Planner
Speech and Debate
- Active Listening and Scoring a Speech with a Rubric
- Building a Speech: Hook, Preview, Body and Close
- Claim, Evidence, Reasoning and Rebuttal
- Delivery Matters: Voice, Pace, Eye Contact and Gestures
- Impromptu Planning and Calming Speaking Nerves
- Inform or Persuade? Sorting Speech Excerpts and Appeals
More help
Search the full lesson library by grade and class time, or see our guides on emergency sub plans and easy sub plans.
Sub plans for other subjects
Covering more than one prep? Try these related collections:
- Science sub plans
- Math sub plans
- Social studies sub plans
- ELA sub plans
- Art, music and theater sub plans
- PE and health sub plans
- Spanish, French and German sub plans
- Technology and computer science sub plans
- Business and personal finance sub plans
- CTE sub plans
- Advisory and study hall sub plans
Teachers can turn any of these into a backup packet with our guides to free printable emergency sub plans and sub tub ideas. Substitutes can read what to do as a substitute teacher and classroom management for substitutes before the first bell.