New
New
Year 5

Learning and reciting stanzas one to three of 'The Highwayman'

I can recite 'The Highwayman' and memorise one stanza.

New
New
Year 5

Learning and reciting stanzas one to three of 'The Highwayman'

I can recite 'The Highwayman' and memorise one stanza.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Reciting a text provides an important opportunity for developing speaking and listening skills.
  2. Speakers need to consider how to keep their audience engaged during a recital.
  3. Speakers can use a range of techniques to ensure that they can be clearly heard and are engaging for the audience.
  4. Memorising a text can enable a more coherent recital.
  5. We can use a range of strategies to support us with memorising a text.

Common misconception

Pupils may find it challenging to use all recital skills.

Each skill of using projection, diction and body language should be explicitly modelled. Modelling non-examples are useful for pupils to see and hear what works and what doesn't in performance.

Keywords

  • Recite - to read aloud a text from memory in front of an audience

  • Projection - using our voice to speak powerfully and clearly

  • Diction - involves pronouncing words clearly

  • Body language - how we use our posture and gestures to communicate meaning and feelings

  • Pace - the speed at which we speak

Pupils working in pairs or groups to memorise a stanza of their choice may support collaborative working.
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).

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is an audience?
Correct answer: a group of people who watch or listen to a performance
a group of people who perform on stage
a group of people playing
Q2.
What should an audience do when they are watching a presentation?
Correct answer: listen to the presentation
talk to their partner throughout the presentation
read their book during the presentation
Correct answer: look at the presenter
Q3.
What is a narrative poem?
a text that informs the reader about a particular subject
Correct answer: a poem that tells a story
a text that informs the reader about an event
Q4.
How would you describe the atmosphere of 'The Highwayman'?
Correct answer: tense
happy
relaxed
Correct answer: ominous
Q5.
What helps effective public speaking?
Correct answer: speaking loudly enough for everyone to hear
Correct answer: pronouncing words correctly
speaking down to the page
Correct answer: eye contact
Correct answer: confident body language
Q6.
Match the stanzas to their subjects:
Correct Answer:stanza one,the setting

the setting

Correct Answer:stanza two,the Highwayman

the Highwayman

Correct Answer:stanza three,Bess

Bess

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these are appropriate explanations of 'reciting'?
Correct answer: Reciting can be an important stage of the writing process.
Reciting involves presenting to just yourself.
Correct answer: Reciting involves speaking in front of others.
Q2.
Match the presenting techniques to their definitions:
Correct Answer:projection,involves speaking powerfully and clearly

involves speaking powerfully and clearly

Correct Answer:diction,involves pronouncing words clearly

involves pronouncing words clearly

Correct Answer:body language,how we use our posture and gestures to convey meaning

how we use our posture and gestures to convey meaning

Correct Answer:pace,the speed at which we speak

the speed at which we speak

Q3.
Fill in the gap. When projecting our voices, we need to use deep breaths and use the __________ in our stomachs to help us speak.
Correct answer: muscles
butterlies
feelings
Q4.
Fill in the gap. __________ involves pronouncing words clearly. It is very important because our audience needs to be able to understand what we are saying.
Projection
Correct answer: Diction
Pace
Body language
Q5.
Which of these are aspects of confident body language when presenting?
Correct answer: shoulders back
Correct answer: feet shoulder-width apart
pronouncing words clearly
Correct answer: chin up when speaking
shouting
Q6.
Why is it important to speak at an appropriate pace?
Correct answer: Speaking too slowly may lose the reader's interest.
Correct answer: Speaking at an appropriate pace means we can focus on other skills.
Correct answer: The audience may not understand us if we speak too quickly.
Using appropriate pace helps us memorise the text.