Listening & Speaking Activities
Grade 6 Oral Communication Excellence
Engaging activities that develop confident speakers, critical listeners, and effective communicators through authentic Caribbean contexts and real-world applications.
Caribbean Culture Podcast Studio
Students create professional podcasts exploring Caribbean traditions, interviewing community members, and sharing cultural stories.
3-4 weeks
Intermediate
Groups of 3-4
Learning Objectives
- Develop interviewing and questioning skills
- Practice clear articulation and voice modulation
- Learn audio editing and production basics
- Explore Caribbean cultural heritage
- Build confidence in public speaking
Materials Needed
- Recording devices or smartphones
- Audio editing software (Audacity, GarageBand)
- Interview planning templates
- Cultural research resources
- Presentation equipment
Activity Procedures
- 1Research Caribbean cultural topics and identify interview subjects
- 2Develop interview questions using various questioning techniques
- 3Conduct practice interviews with peers for feedback
- 4Record interviews with community members or experts
- 5Edit audio content and add intro/outro music
- 6Create podcast cover art and episode descriptions
- 7Present podcasts to class and school community
Assessment Criteria
- Interview question quality and depth
- Speaking clarity and engagement
- Technical production skills
- Cultural knowledge demonstrated
- Collaboration and time management
Extension Activities
- Submit to local radio stations
- Create podcast series throughout the year
- Interview students from other Caribbean islands
- Develop transcripts for accessibility
Parliamentary Debate Championship
Students engage in formal debates on current Caribbean issues, developing argumentation and critical listening skills.
4-5 weeks
Advanced
Teams of 4-6
Learning Objectives
- Master formal debate structure and procedures
- Develop logical argumentation skills
- Practice active and critical listening
- Research current Caribbean issues
- Build confidence in public speaking
Materials Needed
- Debate topic cards
- Research materials and databases
- Timer for debate segments
- Evaluation rubrics
- Parliamentary procedure guides
Activity Procedures
- 1Learn parliamentary debate format and rules
- 2Research assigned topics related to Caribbean issues
- 3Practice constructing logical arguments with evidence
- 4Conduct preliminary debates within class
- 5Participate in inter-class championship rounds
- 6Serve as judges for other teams' debates
- 7Reflect on debate performance and learning
Assessment Criteria
- Argument construction and evidence use
- Rebuttal skills and critical thinking
- Speaking delivery and confidence
- Listening and response quality
- Research depth and accuracy
Extension Activities
- Participate in regional debate competitions
- Debate with students from other schools
- Create video recordings for analysis
- Develop position papers on debate topics
Digital Storytelling Circle
Students share personal and cultural stories using traditional oral techniques enhanced with digital recording and sharing.
2-3 weeks
Beginner to Intermediate
Whole class
Learning Objectives
- Preserve and share cultural stories
- Develop narrative speaking skills
- Practice active listening and response
- Use voice modulation and expression
- Build classroom community
Materials Needed
- Recording devices
- Story planning templates
- Cultural story collections
- Props and visual aids
- Sharing platform (class blog/website)
Activity Procedures
- 1Collect family and cultural stories from community
- 2Practice storytelling techniques (voice, gesture, pacing)
- 3Share stories in small circles for feedback
- 4Record polished versions of stories
- 5Create digital story collections with images
- 6Host storytelling festival for school community
- 7Reflect on cultural learning and connections
Assessment Criteria
- Story structure and narrative flow
- Voice expression and engagement
- Cultural authenticity and respect
- Listening skills during others' stories
- Digital presentation quality
Extension Activities
- Create illustrated story books
- Share with elderly community members
- Translate stories into multiple languages
- Develop story-based drama performances
Caribbean News Anchor Challenge
Students research, write, and present news broadcasts focusing on Caribbean current events and issues.
3 weeks
Intermediate
Groups of 4-5
Learning Objectives
- Develop news writing and presentation skills
- Practice clear, professional speaking
- Learn about current Caribbean events
- Understand media literacy and bias
- Build confidence in formal presentation
Materials Needed
- News sources and databases
- Video recording equipment
- News script templates
- Teleprompter apps
- Green screen or backdrop
Activity Procedures
- 1Research current events in Caribbean region
- 2Write news scripts using proper format
- 3Practice news anchor delivery techniques
- 4Record news segments with proper pacing
- 5Edit videos with graphics and transitions
- 6Present live news broadcasts to class
- 7Analyze and critique news presentation styles
Assessment Criteria
- News writing accuracy and clarity
- Professional speaking delivery
- Research quality and current events knowledge
- Technical production skills
- Critical analysis of media
Extension Activities
- Create weekly news show for school
- Interview local news professionals
- Analyze bias in different news sources
- Develop investigative reporting skills
Caribbean Poetry Slam & Spoken Word
Students write and perform original poetry celebrating Caribbean culture, identity, and contemporary issues.
3-4 weeks
Intermediate
Individual and small groups
Learning Objectives
- Explore Caribbean poetic traditions
- Develop creative writing and performance skills
- Practice expressive speaking and voice control
- Build confidence in artistic expression
- Connect with cultural identity
Materials Needed
- Caribbean poetry collections
- Writing journals and materials
- Recording equipment
- Performance space setup
- Evaluation rubrics
Activity Procedures
- 1Study Caribbean poets and spoken word artists
- 2Explore themes of identity, culture, and social issues
- 3Write original poems using various forms
- 4Practice performance techniques (rhythm, emphasis)
- 5Participate in class poetry slams
- 6Record performances for digital portfolio
- 7Organize school-wide poetry celebration
Assessment Criteria
- Creative writing quality and originality
- Performance delivery and expression
- Cultural themes and authenticity
- Audience engagement and response
- Reflection on artistic growth
Extension Activities
- Participate in community poetry events
- Create poetry chapbooks
- Collaborate with local artists
- Develop multimedia poetry presentations
Interview the Expert
Students conduct formal interviews with community experts, professionals, and elders to gather knowledge and stories.
2-3 weeks
Intermediate
Pairs or small groups
Learning Objectives
- Develop professional interviewing skills
- Practice question formulation techniques
- Learn from community knowledge holders
- Build intergenerational connections
- Develop active listening skills
Materials Needed
- Interview planning templates
- Recording devices
- Contact lists of community experts
- Thank you note templates
- Presentation materials
Activity Procedures
- 1Identify community experts in various fields
- 2Research background information on interviewees
- 3Develop thoughtful interview questions
- 4Practice interview techniques with peers
- 5Conduct formal interviews with experts
- 6Transcribe and analyze interview content
- 7Share learning with class through presentations
Assessment Criteria
- Interview preparation and research quality
- Question development and variety
- Professional conduct during interviews
- Active listening and follow-up skills
- Knowledge sharing and presentation
Extension Activities
- Create community knowledge database
- Develop mentorship relationships
- Organize expert speaker series
- Create documentary-style presentations
Teaching Tips for Listening & Speaking Activities
Creating Safe Speaking Environments
- • Establish clear ground rules for respectful listening
- • Use warm-up activities to build confidence
- • Provide sentence starters for reluctant speakers
- • Celebrate effort as much as achievement
- • Allow processing time before responses
Supporting Diverse Learners
- • Honor home languages and dialects
- • Provide visual supports and graphic organizers
- • Offer choice in presentation formats
- • Use peer partnerships for support
- • Scaffold complex speaking tasks