Oral Presentation Guidelines (K-6th)1
Introduction
The skills required for expert oral presentations require incremental progression beginning
at a young age. We believe students should begin making oral presentations as soon as they
begin their formal education in kindergarten. The following grade levels increase and finetune the skills. When the groundwork for oral presentation skills is laid well during the
grammar stage, logic and rhetoric students are free to concentrate more on the content,
argument, and persuasiveness of the presentation material. These older students will benefit
in their ability to present papers, make arguments, and participate in debates without
needing to focus on the basic elements of public speaking. Eye contact, good posture, and
voice mechanics will have become second nature to these students.
Requirements
Students are required to make at least one oral presentation each quarter. This presentation
can be within Bible, history, science, literature, and so forth. Examples include show-andtell, book reports, research reports, character monologues, and scripture and poetry
recitations.
Grading
Students will be graded on their ability to perform these objectives with a certain level of
proficiency. A checklist noting each objective will be used so that the student can be
formally evaluated while making his presentation.
Primary Objectives – The Mechanics of Effective Presentation
The student will be able to:
Kindergarten
A. Posture
1. Stand or sit straight
2. Hold his head up so that his face (especially eyes) can be seen
B. Eye Contact
1. Make eye contact with at least one person
C. Vocal Level
1. Speak loudly enough to be heard from the back of the room
First Grade
A. Posture
1. Stand or sit straight
2. Hold his head up so that his face (especially eyes) can be seen
B. Eye Contact
1. Make eye contact with at least one person
C. Appropriate Gestures
1
Rockbridge Academy’s Oral Presentation Curriculum served as a model in laying out our own oral
presentation skills.
1. Hold arms still at sides or hold notes steadily (avoiding covering mouth, playing
with podium or microphone, wringing hands, etc.)
D. Vocal Level
1. Speak loudly enough to be heard from the back of the room
E. Diction
1. Use clear diction
Second Grade
A. Posture
1. Stand or sit straight
2. Hold his head up so that his face (especially eyes) can be seen
3. Stand with weight equally distributed
B. Eye Contact
1. Make eye contact with at least one person
C. Appropriate Gestures
1. Hold arms still at sides or hold notes steadily (avoiding covering mouth, playing
with podium or microphone, wringing hands, etc.)
D. Facial Expressions
1. Maintain a pleasant expression
E. Vocal Level
1. Speak loudly enough to be heard from the back of the room
F. Diction
1. Use clear diction
Third-Sixth Grade
A. Posture
1. Stand or sit straight
2. Hold his head up so that his face (especially eyes) can be seen
3. Stand with weight equally distributed
4. If reading, hold passage at chest level
B. Eye Contact
1. Follow this procedure for eye contact
a. Look at notes/passage
b. Absorb several words
c. Look up at one person and engage their eyes
d. Look down at notes
e. Absorb several more words
f. Look at another person and engage their eyes
C. Appropriate Gestures
1. Hold arms still at sides or hold notes steadily (avoiding covering mouth, playing
with podium or microphone, wringing hands, etc.)
2. Use at least one gesture
D. Facial Expressions
1. Maintain a pleasant expression
E. Vocal Level
1. Speak loudly enough to be heard from the back of the room
F. Diction
1. Use clear diction
G. Vocal/Pitch/Range
1. Project a pleasant pitch (not monotone)