Speak like an expert

Overview

This resource gives teachers everything they need to run a classroom oracy project developing presentational talk through harnessing children's existing passions and interests. It is aimed at 7-11 year-olds (Key Stage 2 or P4-7) and could be used as an engaging project at the end of a year or at the start of a new year to get to know your pupils.

Why use this resource?

Presentational talk is a specific type of audience-facing talk. It is more polished and formal than day-today talk and thus requires specific teaching and practice. By giving children an opportunity to explore their existing interests and passions, this project creates personally meaningful speaking opportunities which support children to develop the confidence and skills needed to speak to an audience. This will help to prepare pupils for the transition to secondary school where they will be expected to talk with confidence and clarity on less familiar topics.

This resource includes:

• A flexible planning sequence, supporting children as they select their topic, gather their material, build their oracy skills and prepare their speeches
• Suggested model speeches which can be used to discuss the features of effective presentational talk, including an awareness of audience and purpose
• A selection of activities to help develop the skills for presentational talk including using appropriate pace, rhythm and expression
• Classroom-ready worksheets to support planning, identifying features of successful presentations and self-reflection