Reading & literacy activity
Stand Up and Speak
Practice speaking clearly in front of others. Show-and-tell: bring a favorite toy and tell your family 3 things about it.
Materials and setup
- poster board
- markers
- pencil
- paper
- timer
How this changes by age
Pre-K (ages 3–4)
Practice speaking clearly in front of others. Show-and-tell: bring a favorite toy and tell your family 3 things about it.
Steps
- Help your child choose a favorite toy or object to share.
- Practice together: What is it? Why do you like it? What do you do with it?
- Set up a 'stage' area (a special spot to stand).
- Your child stands up and tells the family about their object using a clear voice.
- Family claps and asks one question about the object.
Learning objectives
- Speak clearly and audibly in front of a small group
- Organize thoughts into a simple 3-point presentation
- Build confidence in public speaking through a supportive setting
Kindergarten (ages 5–6)
Give a short presentation about a topic you know well. Use a poster or drawing as a visual aid. Practice making eye contact and speaking in a strong voice.
Steps
- Choose a topic you know a lot about (your pet, your favorite sport, your family).
- Draw a poster with 3 pictures about your topic.
- Practice telling 3 facts about your topic while pointing to your poster.
- Stand up straight, look at your audience, and speak in a strong, clear voice.
- After your presentation, answer 2 questions from your audience.
Learning objectives
- Deliver a short informational presentation with visual support
- Practice public speaking skills: eye contact, volume, posture
- Respond to audience questions about a familiar topic
Early elementary (ages 6–8)
Prepare and deliver a 3-minute persuasive speech. Choose a topic you care about, organize your argument, and use persuasive techniques to convince your audience.
Steps
- Choose a topic to argue for (longer recess, a family trip destination, why your favorite book is the best).
- Write 3 reasons supporting your opinion with specific evidence or examples.
- Organize your speech: hook (grab attention), 3 reasons with evidence, strong conclusion.
- Practice delivering your speech with expression, pausing for emphasis.
- Present to your family. After, they vote: were they persuaded?
- Reflect: what worked well and what would you change for next time?
Learning objectives
- Construct a persuasive argument with reasons and evidence
- Organize a speech with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion
- Use vocal techniques (pace, volume, pauses) for effective delivery
Upper elementary (ages 8–10)
Research a topic and deliver a 3-5 minute formal presentation with visual aids. Practice audience awareness, clarity, and handling Q&A.
Steps
- Choose a topic that requires research (a historical event, a scientific discovery, a current issue).
- Research using at least 2 sources. Take notes on key facts, quotes, and statistics.
- Create visual aids: slides drawn on poster board, a timeline, or demonstration materials.
- Write an outline with: attention-grabbing opening, 3 main points with evidence, memorable conclusion.
- Practice your presentation 3 times, timing yourself. Aim for 3-5 minutes.
- Deliver your presentation, then handle a 2-minute Q&A session. If you don't know an answer, say 'That's a great question. I'd need to research that further.'
- Give your speech to your family or a small trusted audience and ask each person for one specific piece of feedback: 'What was clearest? What was confusing?'
- Revise the speech based on their feedback and deliver it one more time.
Learning objectives
- Research and synthesize information from multiple sources for a presentation
- Deliver a formal presentation with visual aids and time management
- Handle audience questions with poise and intellectual honesty
Safety and evidence note
Read the full activity before beginning. An adult should supervise tools, heat, food, outdoor work, movement, and experiments as appropriate. Completion records that the activity was done; the child’s explanation, work sample, photo, or demonstration is stronger evidence of learning than a completion check alone.
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