Public Speaking Ideas
After-school class · notes
Reminder: Give lunch early — especially if heating water for noodles etc.
Weekly plan
Monday
Orientation + intro
Longer orientation, short speaking warmup
Tuesday
Games
Mafia / Mad Libs / Charades
Wednesday
Debate
Structured debate on chosen topic
Thursday
Storytelling
Stories, news reporting, Mad Libs optional
Ongoing
Wrap-up
Aquarium / zoo recap; watch video + summarize
Speaking prompts — used ✓
✓Outside vs insideIan
✓Really fast or really strong
✓Giant vs tiny
✓Invisible vs invincible
✓Would you rather live in the sky or under the sea?
✓Chores or a lot of homeworkMilton
✓Rich and be mean, or poor and help peopleLavinia
✓Baby formula or raw onionLucas
✓Clone yourself or shapeshifterZach
✓Stop time or fast forward time
✓Never go to school or never do chores
✓Control fire or water
✓What is the first thing you think of when you wake up? Describe your morning routine.
✓Biggest concern for the future
✓In what situation is lying a good idea?
✓I wish I was…
✓Share your favorite memory
✓3 wishes
✓2 truths and a lie
✓Would you rather always say what's on your mind or never speak again?
✓Dream house and where would it be
Speaking prompts — available
·Would you rather have one eye or two noses?
·What would you do if your fans and AC are broken and it's 100°F?
·Talk about your favorite thing to do at home
·Day vs nightZach
·What fast food do you like?Lex
·Would you rather have 10 diamonds or 10 trillion dollars?Kayden
·Three legs or three arms?
·Would you rather be an animal or human?Lian
·Too hot or too cold?Claire
·Live in the past or the future?Jaden
·Would you rather ride a train or bus?Jonas
·Would you rather eat pineapple or strawberry?Cody
·Halloween vs ChristmasBryson
·Soccer or basketball?Bryson
·Would you rather be able to see into your future or someone else's?
·Would you rather be young or old?
·Would you rather live forever or time travel?
·Eat a stack of cookies or cake?Edward
·Eat sushi or chocolate?
·Chocolate flavored fried rice or garlic flavored ice cream?
·Would you rather be a dog and meow?Tansy
·Duck or woodpecker?Jacob
·Fly or go through walls?
·Fly or invisible?
·Would you rather sweat sticky lemonade or always have garlic breath?
·Rich but dumb or poor but smart?
·What would you do if you were president?Jamie
·Stuffed animal or real animal?
·If you could be in any TV show…
Debate topics
Should phones be allowed in class? Only child vs siblings Plastic toys vs stuffed animals Bunnies vs penguins Rich vs poor Pollution / environmental issue
Games
Charades Mad Libs Mafia
Public speaking tips
01Calming nerves before speaking
02Use gestures to support your points
03Eye contact — hold each person's gaze for ~4 seconds
04Cut filler words (um, like, you know) — it's okay to pause