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Year 5

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

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

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New
New
Year 5

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

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

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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.

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

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.

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

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on

except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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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
tick

the setting

Correct Answer:stanza two,the Highwayman
tick

the Highwayman

Correct Answer:stanza three,Bess
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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
tick

involves speaking powerfully and clearly

Correct Answer:diction,involves pronouncing words clearly
tick

involves pronouncing words clearly

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

how we use our posture and gestures to convey meaning

Correct Answer:pace,the speed at which we speak
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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.