�ON THE SPOT�
Public
Speaking/Discussion Drama Minilesson
Kathy Jhugdeo
Purpose
The goal of this
mini lesson is to help students become more comfortable with public speaking
through a fun activity.� Students will
gain experience speaking to the class about a topic by participating in a
discussion drama. This activity allows students to understand some important
aspects of public speaking such as: body movement, eye contact, subject area
knowledge, and confidence when speaking to a listening audience. This activity
will serve as an �ice breaker� to our upcoming class debate project.
Objectives
NCSCS: 8th grade
Competency Goal 1: The learner will use language to express
individual perspectives through analysis of personal, social, cultural, and
historical issues.
1.03 Interact in
group activities and/or seminars in which the student:
�
Clarifies, illustrates, or expands on a
response when asked to do so, and asks classmates for similar expansion
NCTE/IRA: 8th
grade
Standard 12: Students use spoken, written, and visual
language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment,
persuasion, and the exchange of information)
Time Required:� 40 minutes
Activity
introduction:� 5 minutes
Activity 25
minutes:� 25 students, l minute per
student
Follow-up:� Feedback/Listing Activity 10 minutes
Materials needed:�
Small strips of
paper- only about and inch or two
Stopwatch
Important Note: This mini lesson will be
taught the day after students have experienced reading children�s books out
loud in small groups, (Ex: Dr. Seuss books)� It will then be followed by a class debate
project where students choose topics of debate and present them to the class in
the form of 1 or 2 person speeches.
Script:�
Good morning
students.� Today we are going to talk
about Public Speaking.� First of all, let
me ask how many of you are comfortable with speaking in public or speaking in
front of the class?� Tell me what makes
you comfortable or uncomfortable about public speaking.� (Give students time to respond.)� (Look for responses such as:� public speaking makes me nervous, I�m afraid
I will make a mistake, etc.)��
Activity
Introduction:� Well today, we are all
going to participate in activity called ON THE SPOT.� This activity will help us to understand the
importance of public speaking and it will help us be prepared for our upcoming
class debates.� Each of you will first
write down a topic a strip of paper.� The
topics should be something you know about.�
In just a few minutes we will be exchanging topics.� (Pause and allow students to write down
topics on the strips of paper.� Each
student receives one strip of paper.)� We
will then put all the strips together and then we will each pick a topic.� This is where we are all put �ON THE
SPOT.�� Each student will then go the front
of the class and do their best to speak to the class about their topic. You may
simply state your knowledge of the topic, or if it is a debatable topic you can
state your beliefs about it. Just remember this activity requires you to think
on your feet. �You have 1 minute to state
your topic and explain it to the best of your ability.� (Time students with the stopwatch and stop
them at the 1 minute limit)� Keep in mind
the purpose of the activity, for us to gain greater knowledge about the
necessities and preparations for public speaking.�
Activity:� (Students
will now participate in the volunteer and improvisation Discussion Dramas.)
Follow-Up:� (After to Discussion Dramas, lead students in
the listing activity.) Students, now that we have completed Discussion Dramas
are complete; we will now have a short class discussion where we will answer
the question, �What are some important things to remember when speaking to an
audience? Remember to think about your audience that will be listening to your
debates.� (Some possible responses will
include the importance of body movement, eye content, subject area knowledge,
and confidence when speaking to a listening audience.) (List student responses
on board, after responses are given, go back through list and place a �p� for
positive and �n� for negative beside the responses.� Some responses may have one letter or both
letters.) Through this activity, I hoped that you have also learned how much
our verbal and non- verbal expressions affect the effectiveness of public
speaking.� I hope that you have enjoyed
�ON THE SPOT� as a fun way of introducing public speaking.� Please remember what you have learned today
and keep these things in mind when you are working on your debates.
References: Wilhelm, Jeffrey.�� Action Strategies for Deepening Comprehension.� 2002 Chapter 9.