Student PresentationsTypes of Presentations

● Impromptu Speaking: No preparation required. This is a spontaneous presentation. Each student will receive their topic shortly before it is time to speak. They may make notes, including outlines or spider diagrams as necessary. ● Recitation: Retell a story, nursery rhyme, poem, Bible verse or passage from memory. ● Informative Speaking: Tell, describe, or explain and object, idea or process. ● Dramatic/Humorous Interpretation: Oral presentation of literature that may or may not include notes. ● Demonstration: Show how to do something using visual aids. ● Persuasive Oratory: The use of appeals to reasons, values, beliefs, and emotions to convince a listener to think or act in a particular way. Resource: Beginning Public Speaking by Teresa M. Moon

The goal of Presentations in the Foundations program is to build the skills of public speaking and provide positive speaking experiences as students prepare for the dialectic and rhetorical stages of learning. Students will have weekly opportunities to give a three-minute presentation.

** These are suggested topics and skills for each week. As always, the final decision of presentation topics is up to parents.

W1: About Me - Introduce yourself to the class. Answer some questions such as: How old are you? What do you like to do? What are your favorite foods? Do you play a sport or instrument? What did you do over the summer? Is there anything we should all know about you?

Skill: Introduction/Conclusion Every good speech has a beginning, middle, and end. Help your audience to prepare to listen by giving a clear introduction and conclusion.

W2: Favorites - Choose one of the following:

a. Your favorite Bible character or verseb. Your favorite toyc. Your favorite pastimed. Your favorite animal.

Skill: Focus on making good eye contact. Look up from your paper a few times while speaking. Look your listeners in the eye. Definitely don’t look at the floor!

W3: History – Choose one of the following:

a. Tell us more about a Greek or Roman god.b. Pick a timeline card and tell us more about it!c. What is your favorite historical event? d. Tell us about your history. Where were you born? Who are your grandparents? From what country or

region is your family from? Make a family tree!

Skill: Controlling Your Body. Do you swing your hips back and forth? Do you fidget? Do you hold your notes in front of your face? Try to be aware of these things, and stop doing them. They distract your listener from hearing the important things you have to say!

W4: Geography – Choose one of the following:

a. Tell us about one of the locations we have studied during weeks 1-3.b. Tell us about the town or state where you live and some local landmarks.c. Pretend you’re on an adventure. You can go anywhere in the world you want. Where would you go?

What would you see? What would you do when you got there? Draw a picture of this place.d. Think of a place where you have been. Bring in a souvenir from that place and tell us about it.

Skill: Eye Contact & Gestures Make sure to look at each member of the audience. Plan and use gestures or body movements to enhance your presentation.

W5: Tall Tale or Legend - Tall tales or legends are fun and exciting stories. Tell us a famous tall tale, legend, or other story. Retell the story with your own unique twist or ending.

Skill: Pace & Timing Slow down. Practice the delivery of your story to keep your audience on the edge of their seats. Don’t forget to reveal the life lesson.

W6: You’re the Teacher – Tell us more about:

a. A science questionb. A history sentencec. Your favorite science experimentd. Your favorite drawing exercise

Skill: Know Your Material! Practice your presentation for your family and friends. Remember to keep your presentation to three minutes. See if you can give your presentation without notecards. Continue to work on all you have learned so far.

W7: Read a Book - Pick a favorite picture book.

a. Show it to us and tell us what why you feel it is such a great book. –or-b. Read to us with lots of expression and emotion. Tell us why you love it!

Skill: Emphasis and Inflection Put lots of expression and feeling into the reading of your story. Be sure to take your time and put lots of emotion into your voice.

W8: Improve Your Improv! - This week each student will draw a topic out of a hat. Be prepared for the unexpected! Part of being a good presenter is being able to talk about anything on the spot – or improvise. Have fun and do your best!

Skill: Feeling Confident You have been presenting for seven weeks now and have learned lots of new skills. Remember to use them this week and show us what you’ve got!

W9: Make Me laugh - Funny stories make me laugh. Pick a funny story or joke and tell it in class.

Skill: Conclusion Bring it home closing your talk. This week try to close with a unique and interesting thought. Make it clear you are done by returning to your attention getter.

W10: Demonstration Day - Demonstrate how to:

a. Play a gameb. Make somethingc. Play an instrumentd. Sing a songe. Complete a task

Skill: Posture & Volume Stand tall and still. Keep hands at side. Speak loudly enough to be heard at all times. Do not trail off.

W11: Recitation Week - This week your challenge is to recite a few lines from a famous document, speech or poem.

Skill: Articulation Speak each work clearly. Don’t let your mouth get lazy. Use clear speech to hold your audience’s attention.

W12: All I Want for Christmas - Use all of your persuasive skills including logic, reasoning, and emotion to persuade your audience what you should get for Christmas.

Skill: Smile & Limit Distractions Speaking can be fun remember to smile! Limit your distracting movements so listeners can focus on your enthusiasm for your topic.

BREAK

W13: Something about Break/Family Traditions - Tell us about your break. What was the best part? What was a favorite memory you made or tradition you practiced with your family?

Skill: Time & Preparation: Speaking about yourself is fun. Remember to plan and practice so you keep it at three minutes. Not too long and not too short!

W14: Great Inventor/Scientist - There are many interesting inventors and scientists. Pick your favorite and share three important facts about that person.

Skill: Three Main Points: Don’t forget to make a plan that makes sense for this type of speech. You might consider three main points like early life, successes or awards, and family life.

W15: Adventure Story - Great stories have several things in common dialogue, action, and description. Pick a fun tale of a grand adventure and share it with us.

Skill: Exciting Detail & Dialogue: Tell a portion of your story using the actual words and voice of the character who would be speaking them. How many different voices can you fit in?

W16: Tell about an Ancestor - Most of us were immigrants to this country at one time. Pick a family member from your past and tell about their story coming to or living in America. What made your ancestors special?

Skill: Attention Getter There are lots of great ways to start a speech a quote, a story, a fact or statistic, or even a joke. Try a new way to open your speech this week.

W17: Favorite Presidential Quote or Speech - It’s almost President’s Day. Pick your favorite, find something he said, memorize it, and recite it to us. It could be a famous speech, a quote, or an inaugural address.

Skill: Voice & Tone Use your best voice and tone to perk up your presentation. Put pauses, good inflection and clear enunciation in the speech to engage your listeners.

W18: An Author Everyone Should Read - Reading is fun and learning about new authors can be exciting. Choose a great author and convince us to read one of his or her books.

Skill: Visual Aid Bring and use a visual aid for you presentation. Pick a book written by that author and show us the illustrations or cover while you are persuading us.

W19: Impromptu Spring Time Topics - Welcome back from Spring Break! There won’t be a topic to prepare this week it will be impromptu! Practice thinking on your feet as you pull a topic randomly and spend a minute preparing, and then GO!

Skill: Posture & Poise Stand tall and present with confidence. Poise is about being confidence and delivering your message with gusto practice standing still.

W20: Favorite Hero of the Faith - Do you have a favorite Bible character or hero of the faith that lived after Bible times such as Martin Luther or Corrie Ten Boom? Share that person with us this week and inform us some of their admirable character qualities.

Skill: In -text Citations Did you know that when you use a source, like the Bible, in a speech you are supposed to cite the book, chapter, and verse you are referencing? Practice this new skill this week and cite the book or books of the Bible your hero makes an appearance.

W21: How to Make Something - The men and women at NASA were expert “makers” they used all kinds of tools to put a man on the moon. What can you make a duct tape wallet, an origami friend, or a treat? Show us how you make something amazing!

Skill: Transitions Be sure to give your audience a signpost or warning when you are moving between all of those steps of how to. This week try to use some new transitions in addition to first, second, or then.

W22: Tell an uplifting story - One more dramatic/humorous and let’s make it inspiring! Tell us a story that makes us all feel good. It could be a story of bravery, of selflessness, or of sacrifice.

Skill: Emotional Appeal Use descriptive words and images that make us feel the way you feel about the story you are telling.

W23: Recitation of an Amendment - Choose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution, memorize it, and recite it for us.

Skill: Articulation Speak each word clearly. Don’t let your mouth get lazy. Use your clear speech to hold your audience’s attention.

W24: Favorite Place You Have Been or Want to Visit - Pick a favorite place you have been or want to go and tell us about it. This could be an upcoming summer destination or a favorite reading corner - you choose!

Skill: Eye Contact Speaking can be fun! Remember to look at your audience and smile! The more you practice and know your content, the more time you will have to connect with the listener.