Which of the following activities would be least appropriate for developing writing skills?

Participating in a spelling bee is least appropriate for developing writing skills as it primarily focuses on oral spelling and vocabulary rather than writing composition. While spelling is an important component of writing, a spelling bee does not engage students in the process of constructing sentences, organizing thoughts, or developing narratives. In contrast, writing a persuasive essay allows students to practice argumentation and organizational skills, creating a story map aids in structuring narratives and understanding plot development, and conducting peer edits encourages collaboration and revision, which are essential components of the writing process. Thus, while spelling is valuable for overall literacy, it does not directly contribute to the development of writing skills in the same way that the other activities do.