Speaking in front of the class or a group can be intimidating for many students, so why not make it fun? This activity pack includes directions for 7 public speaking events and ice breakers.
Activity Titles:
-What’s My Bag?
-As Seen on TV (Shown on preview)
-5 Minute Speed Debating
-Tallest Tower
-I’ve Got Your Back!
-Interviews & Introductions
-Our Island**
Each page includes a detailed description of the activity and supply list. Activities range from 10 minutes to a full class period. All activities can be modified for your class size! Most activities begin with group work then progress into full-class share time.
Written in American English.
Time to celebrate the winter holidays! It is important for students to learn that a TRADITION is a custom, activity, or belief carried on from generation to generation, or repeated over a long period of time. Traditions are important because they represent our culture, allow us to celebrate diversity, and enable us to create lasting memories with our friends, family, and community!
In these activities (best suited for grades 4-8), students will reflect and write about a special holiday tradition in their own family, create a new tradition, and research how people celebrate in other parts of the world! Students will use their thinking, reading, writing, and research skills. If time permits, they can also use their public speaking/presentation skills!
Activities included in this 9-page PDF file:
-“Holiday Traditions: How do YOU Celebrate?” Brainstorm Activity
-Holiday Tradition Essay
-Create-a-Tradition Activity
-Winter Holiday Traditions Around the World Research Activity
*24 topics provided (traditions from around the world)
*Research outline with space for simple citations
*Picture collage page
**Written in American English.
This list of 50 debate topics will keep your students engaged and allow them to practice their thinking, research, writing, speaking, and argumentation skills!
All topics are school appropriate and the wording can be modified by the teacher.
The topics are divided into the following categories:
School and education
Government, judicial system & military
Science & environment
Technology, ethics & society
SAMPLE TOPICS:
-Should students be required to wear school uniforms?
-Should schools block access to all social media sites (while on campus)?
-Should the United States help third world countries?
-Should the United States have a draft for military service?
-Should the United States end its use of the penny?
-Is human activity a substantial cause of global climate change?
-Are there more disadvantages to recycling than advantages?
-Are professional athletes overpaid?
**Written in American English.
This 3-part project for upper elementary and middle school students is a great teaching and learning tool for students to research and share information about cultures, holidays, and traditions around the world! Students may research a holiday listed on the provided topic list or choose a holiday that is celebrated in a country of their choice. The holidays on the topic list (28 listed) are not limited to winter months, but are a variety of celebrations throughout the year. This file contains an outline to guide student research, directions and printable information boxes for students to create a lapbook visual aid, speech presentation outline, and grading rubric. Modify the project to meet the needs and learning levels of your students!
Supplies:
• Manila folders (one per student)
• Glue and scissors
• Map pencils, crayons, or markers
• Access to printer (for students to print pictures)
• Optional: colored paper to print information boxes
Table of Contents:
Student information sheet Page 2
Topic list Page 3
Research outline Page 4-5
Lapbook visual aid directions Page 6
Information boxes (for lapbook visual aid) Pages 7-9
Speech presentation outline Page 10-11
3-Part grading rubric Page 12
**Written in American English.
This environmental issues informative speech and presentation is perfect for any ELA, science, or public speaking secondary class! Students will learn the basics of informative speaking, speech writing, research/citing sources, and creating a technology-based visual aid. They will also learn a LOT about issues affecting our planet. Not only will they present, but they will fill out a peer critique chart as they listen to their classmates. An easy-to-grade rubric is included and tips to help students become more confident, less anxious speakers!
Included in this 11-page PDF file:
Table of Contents
Informative Speech Guidelines
Visual Aid & Note Card Guidelines
Tips for Using Technology-Based Visual Aids
Topic List
Sample Informative Speech Outline
Informative Speech Research Outline
Speech Grading Rubric
Peer Critique Charts
**American English
Your upper elementary/secondary students will enjoy playing travel agent as they complete this informative 3-part project! Allow students to choose a country from the list of 195 countries provided and review the project requirements with the class using the student guidelines page. A project rubric is provided for easy grading. If time allows, consider encouraging students to present information about their country and browse each other’s brochures. Modify this project (or point values on rubric) to meet the needs of your learners!
PDF Zip File Includes 13 pages of resources!
-List of 195 countries
-Travel brochure template (print front/back)
-Project guidelines
-Research outline
-Essay pages
-Project rubric
-Percentage/conversion chart for rubric
Written in American English.
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with this activity pack for mid to upper-elementary students! With a variety of writing and research activities, your students will enjoy this festive day learning about the traditions of the Irish!
Activities include:
-2 full-page writing prompts
-Internet research scavenger hunt (suggested websites listed)
-8 quick write or discussion topic cards
-St. Patrick’s Day word search (with answer key)
-Limerick writing (examples and lines to write their own)
Written in American English.
Debate Around-the-Room for Kids & Tweens is a 4th-8th grade rotation activity in which students work in pairs (or small groups of 3-4) and respond to resolutions posted around the classroom. At each station, the students will read a resolution, brainstorm both affirmative and negative arguments, determine the impacts of each set of arguments, and decide which side’s impacts would benefit the greatest number of people. This activity teaches students the importance of weighing impacts and analyzing both sides of an issue before making a swift judgement.
There are two answer sheet options provided where students can record their answers during rotations. You should determine which answer sheet is best for your students based on their age, knowledge of debate terminology, and the amount of time they have to spend at each station. There is a vocabulary sheet for the students’ use. The number and length of rotations are up to you; you can start with 10-12 minutes per rotation and add time if necessary.
Suggestions:
-Cut and laminate the resolution cards and/or print them on colored paper or card stock.
-If you don’t have time for rotations, use the cards as warm-up writing or discussion prompts!
-Use a bell or timer when it’s time to rotate. You can also play music during transitions.
-Because there are 24 resolution cards, your students can participate in this activity multiple times. For example, if you use cards #1-5 on day one, use cards #6-10 on day two.
-If you run out of cards, allow students to write their own! There is a blank resolution card template on page 19 of this file.
-After rotations are complete, allow the students to share their arguments, impacts, and final decisions with the class. You can even have a full-class debate!
-As an extension activity, students can research and write an actual case affirming or negating one of the resolutions.
Included in File:
-Vocabulary Review for Students
-Rotation Response Sheets (Basic- front/back)
-Rotation Response Sheets (Advanced- front/back)
-24 Resolution Cards (2 different cards per page)
-Blank Resolution Cards (for write-in topics)
Feel free to ask questions before purchasing. Enjoy!
**American English
SQUABBLE Cards for secondary students are a fun and engaging way to get kids talking, participating, writing, sharing, researching, and forming opinions! There are tons of ways to use these cards in your classroom (see list below).
*This set includes 88 cards. Questions are labeled based on their “category.”
Categories:
Education (20 cards)
Sports (10 cards)
Government (15 cards)
Technology (20 cards)
Social Issues (15 cards)
Environment (8 cards)
Suggestions for Use:
Class discussion
Debates
Think, pair, share
Quick writes
Persuasive essays
Research
Time fillers
Warm-up / Closing
Early finishers
*For best results, print cards, cut, and laminate.
Written in American English.
Add some holiday cheer to your classroom with these full-color, printable ornaments! Print, laminate, and use for bulletin boards or string together for a festive banner! Two sets of letters are provided: traditional green/red and jewel-tones (3 ornaments per page). Each set includes capital letters A-Z, numbers 0-9, a blank ornament (non-editable), and punctuation (! and ?). Ornaments measure 4 ½ x 4 inches.
Who doesn’t love FREE brag tags?! These adorable birthday brag tags are appropriate for all elementary students, all subject areas! Enjoy this sampling of my work and feel free to browse my store!