Kids can use persuasive writing, local newspapers, and their own ideas to help celebrate America's 250th birthday in a meaningful way.
Did you know kids can get published in real newspapers? A letter to the editor is a short opinion piece submitted to a local newspaper or news outlet, giving readers the chance to share their thoughts on important issues in their community or country.
In this episode of The Way the World Works, we explain how letters to the editor work, why they've been an important part of American civic life since the founding era, and how kids can use writing to organize big ideas, make strong arguments, and participate in public conversation. We also share the story of Benjamin Franklin writing letters under the name Silence Dogood, proving that young people have always had powerful ideas worth sharing.
Then we introduce the new Tuttle Twins Letter to the Editor Contest for America's 250th birthday, where kids can write about what America 250 means to them, submit their letter to a local newspaper, and enter for a chance to win prizes — including American history books donated to their library and a grand prize family trip to Charleston, South Carolina.
When kids learn to write clearly and courageously, they don't just practice communication — they become part of the American tradition of sharing ideas.
What You'll Learn in This Episode:
- What a letter to the editor is and how it works
- Why newspapers publish opinions from regular readers
- How Benjamin Franklin used letters to share his ideas
- Why writing helps organize thoughts and build persuasion
- How to enter the Tuttle Twins America 250 Letter to the Editor Contest
- Tips for writing a strong, respectful, and publishable letter
Timestamps:
0:00 Could You Get Published in a Newspaper?
2:00 What Is a Letter to the Editor?
4:00 Why Letters to the Editor Matter in American History
5:30 Benjamin Franklin and Silence Dogood
7:30 Why Writing Makes Your Ideas Stronger
10:30 Introducing the America 250 Letter to the Editor Contest
13:00 Contest Prizes and Charleston Grand Prize
15:00 How to Submit Your Letter
17:00 Tips for Writing a Strong Letter
Like this video if you believe kids have ideas worth sharing
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Comment below: What does America 250 mean to you?
Shop Resources:
Learn more about the ideas, events, and people that shaped America in
The Tuttle Twins America's History Vol
