Delivering Engaging Speeches
English • Year 10 • 60 • 9 students • Created with AI following Aligned with National Curriculum for England
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Teaching Instructions
Create a lesson plan using the following information - Delivering a Speech
A speech is a formal way of sharing your thoughts, ideas, or information with an audience through spoken words. It’s a chance to express yourself, persuade others, or inspire people about a specific topic. Speeches can be planned and practiced in advance, or they might be delivered on the spot.
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Why Are Speeches Important?
Types of Speeches
Key Features of a Speech
Steps to delivering a speech
Example of a speech Communication: Speeches are a powerful way to share ideas. Think about how leaders use speeches to inspire nations or how students use them to explain their thoughts.
Impact: A great speech can change opinions, motivate people, or bring about action.
Connection: Speaking directly to an audience helps you build a connection with them in a way that writing alone cannot.
Using Gestures in Speeches
Gestures are movements of the body, especially the hands and arms, that help convey meaning, emphasise a point, or express emotions without using words. They are a powerful form of non-verbal communication that can support or enhance the message you’re delivering in a speech or conversation.
Gestures are a powerful tool to make your speech more engaging and memorable. They help emphasise your words, connect with your audience, and add energy to your delivery. Here’s how you can use gestures effectively: How to use gestures in speeches
- Use natural gestures
Your hands naturally move when you speak in everyday conversation—so let them. Forced or over-the-top gestures can look awkward, but natural movements make you seem more confident and relatable. For example, if you’re saying, “The problem is growing,” use your hands to mimic something expanding outward.
- Emphasise key points
Gestures can help highlight your main ideas.
Use a fist or open palm when talking about strength or unity.
Point to your head when referring to thinking or ideas.
Spread your arms wide to show something big or significant.
For instance, if you say, “We need to come together as one,” you could bring your hands together to visually represent unity.
- Match gestures to your words
Your gestures should align with the tone and message of your speech. If you’re talking about something exciting, your movements can be larger and more energetic. If your topic is serious, keep your gestures slower and more controlled.
For example, when saying, “We’re taking small but meaningful steps,” show small steps with your fingers to reinforce the idea.
- Engage the audience
Gestures can create a connection with your audience.
Pointing to the audience or gesturing toward them makes them feel involved. For example, saying, “This is your moment,” while gesturing outward can be very impactful.
Using open hand gestures (palms facing upward) shows openness and invites your audience to trust you.
- Avoid distracting movements
While gestures are important, too many or random movements can be distracting. Avoid:
Repeating the same gesture over and over.
Moving your hands too quickly or nervously.
Keeping your hands in your pockets or crossed, which can make you seem closed off.
- Practice in front of a mirror
Rehearse your speech while using gestures to see what works best. Watching yourself in a mirror or recording your practice can help you adjust and improve. Aim for gestures that feel natural and support your message.
Overview
This 60-minute lesson is designed for Year 10 English students (aged 14-15) and aligns explicitly with the National Curriculum for England’s Key Stage 4 requirements for Spoken Language (Years 9-11). Students will develop the skill of delivering formal speeches, focusing on effective communication strategies, persuasive techniques, and non-verbal gestures to enhance impact.
National Curriculum Links
- Spoken Language (Years 9-11)
- Give structured, well-developed descriptions, explanations, and narratives for different purposes, including to express ideas and persuade.
- Use spoken language to speculate, hypothesise, and explore ideas.
- Listen and respond appropriately to spoken language, including questions, feedback, and elaboration.
- Use spoken language techniques such as pace, pause, intonation, and gesture to engage the audience.
- Reading (Spoken Word texts)
- Analyse and compare spoken texts to understand purpose, audience, and context.
- Writing
- Plan and draft speeches for clear expression and impact.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, students will:
- Understand the key features and types of speeches and their importance in communication and persuasion.
- Identify effective use of gestures to support verbal communication.
- Develop and deliver a short prepared speech on a topic of their choice, using appropriate gestures.
- Reflect on their own and peers’ speech delivery to improve confidence and effectiveness.
Resources
- Printed handouts with speech examples (dyslexia-friendly font, large spacing)
- Whiteboard and markers
- Timer or stopwatch
- Mirror or smartphone/tablet for video recording (optional)
- Gesture prompt cards (visual aids showing common gestures)
- Seating arranged in a semicircle for visibility
Lesson Breakdown
Starter (10 minutes)
Engage & Connect
- Begin with a brief discussion: "Why are speeches important?"
- Show brief examples of famous speeches or quotes about speech impact (read aloud with dyslexia-friendly delivery).
- Think-Pair-Share: Students discuss types of speeches they have encountered (persuasive, informative, entertaining).
Differentiation
- Provide key vocabulary with meanings visually displayed.
- Pair disadvantaged learners with confident peers for support.
Main Teaching & Activities (40 minutes)
1. Introduction to Speech Features (10 mins)
- Teacher-led explanation of Types of Speeches (informative, persuasive, motivational, ceremonial).
- Outline Key Features: clear purpose, structure (opening, main points, conclusion), language techniques (rhetorical questions, repetition), and non-verbal techniques (gestures, eye contact).
- Display gesture prompt cards; discuss how gestures link to spoken word.
Differentiation
- Use multimodal presentation with images and simple text.
- Provide written notes in dyslexia-friendly format for reference.
2. Gesture Workshop (10 mins)
- Explain how gestures enhance speeches – emphasise, engage, and connect.
- Group activity: In threes, students pick phrases and experiment with natural gestures to match them (e.g., “growing problem,” “coming together as one”).
- Quick demonstration by teacher showing effective vs ineffective gestures.
Extension for advanced learners
- Challenge them to create original, subtle gestures that convey abstract concepts.
3. Speech Planning & Preparation (10 mins)
- Students choose a familiar topic (ambition, environment, school values).
- Use a scaffolded speech planner with prompts:
- Opening statement
- 3 main points (bullets)
- Closing statement (call to action or memorable thought)
- Emphasise integrating gestures with key points.
Differentiation
- Provide templates with sentence starters.
- Offer pre-prepared exemplar speeches for those who need additional support.
4. Deliver & Reflect (10 mins)
- Individual short speeches (1-2 minutes) delivered in a friendly, supportive environment.
- Use peer feedback framework:
- 2 strengths (e.g., good gesture, clear message)
- 1 area to improve (gesture, eye contact, volume)
- Option: Video record for self-review (dyslexic-friendly as students watch playback repeatedly at own pace).
Plenary (10 minutes)
- Group reflection: “What makes a speech memorable and powerful?”
- Discuss the role of gestures, voice, and connection with the audience.
- Quick quiz or Kahoot-style questions (if technology permits) on speech features to consolidate learning.
Differentiation Strategies
- Use multimodal input (visual aids, verbal instructions, peer support).
- Provide scaffolds, templates, and examples.
- Allow oral responses or video submissions instead of written where needed.
- Flexible grouping to support less confident speakers.
- Dyslexia-friendly resources: fonts like Arial or Comic Sans, coloured paper options, audiobooks or speech recordings.
Extension Activities
- Research and write a speech on a current issue, incorporating persuasive techniques and advanced gestures.
- Analyse a famous speech (e.g., Winston Churchill’s WWII speech), focusing on gestures and vocal techniques.
- Create a video blog entry practising speech delivery to a wider, online audience.
Assessment
- Ongoing formative assessment through observation of participation and gesture use during group work.
- Peer and self-assessment sheets completed after speech delivery.
- Teacher feedback focused on clarity of message, use of gestures, audience engagement.
Reflection for Teachers
This lesson balances explicit teaching of speech content and gestural communication with practical, creative opportunities for students to practise and reflect. The low student-to-teacher ratio (9 students) supports targeted feedback and differentiation, ensuring all students can build confidence in public speaking within a framework aligned to the National Curriculum.
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