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Year 4

Understanding what speeches are and why they are important

I can explain what speeches are and why they are important.

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New
New
Year 4

Understanding what speeches are and why they are important

I can explain what speeches are and why they are important.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A speech is the communication of someone’s thoughts, through words, to an audience.
  2. Lots of different jobs require people to make speeches.
  3. The purpose of making a speech is to have an impact on your audience.
  4. A successful speech will persuade an audience to agree with the main themes of the speech.

Common misconception

Children may think that only adults make speeches.

It is very important for children to know how to share their opinions and feelings and making a speech is a good way to do this.

Keywords

  • Speech - A speech is the communication of someone’s thoughts, through words, to an audience.

  • Opinion - An opinion is a view or belief that a person has.

  • Justify - To justify an opinion means giving clear reasoning.

  • Reasoning - Reasoning is explaining why a person has a certain opinion.

  • Persuade - Persuade means to convince or to make someone agree with you.

It would be good to play lots of speaking and listening games throughout this lesson to get the pupils comfortable speaking in front of their peers.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the name for a group of people who watch a speech or performance?
speaker
stage
Correct answer: audience
Q2.
When making a speech, a speaker will usually do what?
Correct answer: stand up
sit down
speak quietly
Q3.
Why is it important to speak loudly when making a speech in front of an audience?
so the audience is shocked
Correct answer: so the audience can hear the speaker
so the audience do not become disinterested
Q4.
Who can make a speech?
adults
Correct answer: anyone
children
Q5.
What is an opinion?
what someone eats
what someone wears
Correct answer: what someone thinks
where someone lives
Q6.
After a speaker has made their speech, the audience will traditionally do what?
Correct answer: applaud
walk away
wait in silence

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the communication of someone’s thoughts, through words, to an audience?
a story
Correct answer: a speech
a song
Q2.
In which of these jobs might a person commonly be required to make a speech?
a train driver
a shopkeeper
Correct answer: a politician
Q3.
Which of these events might commonly involve someone making a speech?
playing a video game with friends
taking a shower
going for a walk
Correct answer: accepting an award
Q4.
What might a person share when making a speech?
their age
Correct answer: their opinion
their address
Q5.
What is the purpose of making a speech?
Correct answer: to have an impact on the audience
to be the loudest
to give instructions to the audience
Q6.
What theme do many famous speeches share?
making a meal
Correct answer: making a change
making a noise