Planning a Group Presentation

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Learn and follow the important steps in planning a presentation.
  
• Collaborate to plan a group presentation.

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Materials

For each student group:

• Notebook or notebook paper
• Pen or pencil
• Index cards
• (Optional) Computer with slide-making software such as PowerPoint or access to online software such as
• Google Slides

For the whole group:

• Whiteboard or anchor chart

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Preparation

• Read and familiarize yourself with the activity. Gather supplies and materials as needed.
• Review Steps 3 and 4. You may wish to prepare the text to display in advance.

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Activity Steps

1. Ask students if they have ever stood before a group and delivered a speech, either with or without visual aids. If not, have them discuss speeches that they have listened to and that impressed them. Examples include school reports and speeches to teammates, family or friends at a party, or youth groups.
2. Tell students that today, they will practice preparing for a formal speech or presentation. Explain that successful presentations depend on organization and planning, even if the speaker is very familiar with the topic.
3. Display on the board the following series of planning steps:
   
   • Select a topic
   • Research or decide points to make
   • Make and organize notes
   • Prepare visuals if needed
   • Decide on an introduction
   • Rehearse, revise, repeat!
4. Tell students that you will complete the first step together. Have students brainstorm topics that they would feel comfortable talking about. Record these topics on the board. Consider these examples:
   
   • Professional sports or the local sports teams
   • Opinions about their classes at school
   • Favorite movies, television shows, or internet videos
   • Summer vacation or experience at camp
   • An accomplishment in sports, music, art, or crafts
5. Survey students about which topic they would like to present, and then group students together per topic. Students may also work individually, or with a partner they select, especially if they would like to prepare a topic that is not included on the board.
6. Direct groups to work together to follow the planning steps. Suggest that the groups assign each member the responsibility for one specific aspect of the presentation (step b on the list). For example, each group member might want to speak about one of the local sports teams, a character in their favorite movie, or a specific class at school. Students should plan for each of their portions of the presentation to take 1 or 2 minutes, or longer if you agree.
7. Distribute index cards. Encourage students to research details for their presentation and record them on the cards. Later, they may wish to revise these cards or prepare new cards. Explain that they can refer to the cards during the presentation to remind them of what to say.
8. Circulate among the groups and respond to questions or comments as needed. Work with groups so that their presentation is logically organized, and flexible enough for all members to participate in ways they prefer.
9. Discuss how visuals make presentations interesting. If time allows, students may make a graph, poster, or timeline. Students may also download photographs or other images and plan to display them on the whiteboard. Have groups discuss what visuals they need and where in the presentation the visuals should be included.
10. Remind students that a good introduction is important for engaging listeners. Suggest that each group work together to write a compelling and interesting opening sentence or question for their presentation and decide who will deliver it.
11. Allow students as much rehearsal time as possible. Ideally, devote the next day’s session to staging the presentations.
12. Before dismissing students, discuss the following questions:
    
    • Why is it useful to plan and prepare a presentation instead of just speaking on whatever comes to mind at the time?
    • Why do you think presenters often use index cards to organize their notes instead of notebook paper?
    • If you were listening to your presentation instead of delivering it, would you find it engaging and interesting? If not, what do you think would improve the presentation?

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Variations

1. Select two or three topics in advance of the session, and have students form large groups to develop their presentations. You may wish to present the introduction to the presentation and to help organize the students’ roles.

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