Things You'll Need:
- Index cards
- Egg timer
- Voice recorder
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Step 1
Know your subject well. If you have your choice of topic, the research will come easy. If you were assigned a topic, you will have to research the subject thoroughly. If you do not feel like you would be comfortable answering random questions regarding the topic, keep researching until you do. Brainstorm to come up with the most ideas possible, and then narrow your speech to only include the most relevant ideas.
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Step 2
Know your audience. You are making a speech for grade school children. If you use slang, your audience may view you as their peer more than an authority on your subject. Understand what offends the kids you are speaking to; offensive terms tend to change through the years. Avoid referring to groups as a whole when speaking of any particular ethnic, religious or social status.
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Step 3
Prepare your speech. Write an introductory paragraph explaining what your speech will be about on an index card. Write a topic sentence of each idea you would like to cover. Write three supporting sentences for each topic, and a final conclusion paragraph. Record yourself delivering your speech. Allow yourself no more than four to five minutes to deliver your speech. You will likely lose the attention span of a group of grade-school kids within ten minutes.
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Step 4
Deal with your nerves. Practice delivering your speech with a tape recorder until you have the speech memorized. Since you know your audience, you are aware that grade school children are required to make oral reports and speak before their class every day. They understand your nervousness. If you are anxious before delivering your speech, practice tensing all of your muscles and then relaxing them to feel more calm. Take a pause between your inhale and your exhale to avoid hyperventilation. Remember that the first sentence is the hardest, and the rest should flow quite well without nervousness.
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Step 5
Deliver your speech confidently. Bring your index cards to the podium not as a script, but as a reference point. Avoid audible pauses such as "ah"and "um." If you feel stuck, it is okay to take a breath. Make eye contact with your audience. Grade school children take information in if they feel that it applies to them. Include them in your speech through eye contact. If the children become unruly during your speech, raise your hand in the air and sternly remind them that it is your turn to speak. Allow your voice to fluctuate in tone to help the kids empathize with your subject.
