Hands Down Class Discussion - Natural Curriculum

Word Buster

1) The teacher will introduce some words that relate to the problem.

2) With a partner, take turns (A & B, speaker & listener) to explain what each word means with active listening focused on adding or correcting.

3) Two become four – A speaker from each each pair take turns to explain the meaning of a word with active listening focused on adding or correcting.

Sentence stems:

This word means..

I agree/disagree …

I’d also add that …

Top Tips!

1) Rehearse what you will say in your head before you say it.

2) Try to include newly-learnt mathematical vocabulary.

Express Yourself!

1) Think about how the character in each sentence is feeling.

2) With a partner, take turns reading the sentences aloud. Show the feelings in your voice and make it sound different from the reporting clause.

3) Listen carefully to your partner and give feedback on what was good and how it could be even better.

Sentence Starters:

I like how you…
Your speech was expressive because…

Top Tips:

1) Change the volume, pitch and speed of your voice to match the emotion.

2) Use hand movements to bring the words to life.

Hands Down Class Discussion

1) After the video clip, your teacher will ask a discussion question.

2) Your teacher will then choose the first speaker.

3) After that, the speaker chooses who goes next.

4) To show you’d like to speak, take a pebble from a jar or tap your nose.

Sentence Stems:

I agree/disagree with what you said because …
Building on what you said…

Top Tips!

1) Respect all ideas and challenge others politely.

2) Use your loud crowd speaking voice so everyone can hear.

3) Look at your audience when you talk.

Oracy Power

1) Think about all the times you used oracy (sharing ideas and developing understanding through speaking and listening) in the lesson.

2) Identify how effective you thought your oracy was in the lesson by placing yourself at a point on an ‘Oracy Power’ whiteboard, placemat or washing line O -100% continuum.

3) Take turns to reflect with a talk partner, group or class about your oracy effectiveness throughout the lesson.

Sentence stems:

I spoke clearly when …

I used the correct vocabulary when …

I could have spoken more slowly when …

Maths in Context

1) Think: Watch the clip for a second time, noticing any connections to mathematics.

2) Pair: With a partner, take turns being the speaker and listener, explaining the connections to mathematics.

3) Share: Use your loud crowd presenting voice to share your partnered ideas with the class.

Sentence Stems:

I noticed/heard that…

I think this links to maths because…

Top Tips!

Use precise mathematical vocabulary where possible (multiply, divide, negative numbers, symmetry etc.)
Speak at a volume that your audience can hear.
Make eye contact with your audience when speaking.

Be The Judge

1) Think of some reasons why the animal has won the competition. (This might be due to its beauty or intelligence.)

2) Give a 30-second to 1-minute speech to your talk partner, group or class, explaining why you’ve chosen the animal as the Species of the Year.

Sentence Stems:

It is the most impressive species because …

The creature is truly remarkable because …

Top Tips!

1) Use a serious but enthusiastic voice – as if your decision really matters.

2) Stand tall or sit upright to show authority.

Guess My word

1) With a talk partner, group or class, take turns secretly selecting a word from the Word Wall.

2) Describe the word, giving clues about it but without saying the secret word.

3) Your partner, must be able to guess the word.

4) Together, try to get through as many words as you can in a minute!

Top Tips!

Try to avoid using filler words like “um”, “uh”, “like”, or “you know”.
Use hand gestures while speaking to add layers of meaning.

Voice From the Wild

Try this!

You are now in a position to speak with passion and emotion as the plant, animal or aspect of the natural world featured in the lesson. Give a 30-second to1-minute talk to either your partner, group or class explaining why you are misunderstood.

Natural Curriculum Top Tips:

Structure your speech with the following sentence stems:

“I may be big and strong but …”

“If only people could see …”

Maintain eye contact with your audience.
Pause before or after important points to let them sink in and create drama.

Which Method?

Try this!

Being able to explain and justify mental or written strategies used will build confidence and develop efficiency. With your talk partner, take turns explaining how you solved the number calculation problem. Were your methods similar? Could you have used different methods? Can you agree on a ‘best’ method?

Natural Curriculum’s Top Tips:

Use the following sentence stems:

“I arrived at the answer by …”

“My method is similar to yours because …”

Show active listening by developing what your partner says and kindly correcting any errors.
Think about what you want to say before you say it.
Speak at a volume that just your partner can hear.

Detective Partnered Talk

Try This!

Now that you’ve read the scintillating sentences, its time to do some detective work, develop your oracy skills and show your understanding of the lesson’s learning objective. Once your teacher has explained what you must identify, take turns to articulate your answer with a partner.

Natural Curriculum’s Top Tips:

Use the following sentence stems:

Partner A: “In the first sentence, …”

Partner B: “In the second sentence, …”

- - Think about what you want to say before you say it.
  - Speak at a volume that just your partner can hear.
  - Use grammar and punctuation vocabulary accurately.
  - Listen actively, politely correcting any mistakes your partner has made.

Speak Like An Expert

Try this!

You are now in a position to speak like an expert! Give a 30-second to 1-minute talk to either your partner, group or class about the animal, plant or environmental issue that featured in the lesson.

Natural Curriculum Top Tips:

Speak with enthusiasm abut your subject to show that you are passionate. This could involve changing the pitch of your voice and emphasising key words.

Voice From The Wild

Try this!

You are now in a position to speak with passion and emotion as the plant, animal or aspect of the natural world featured in the lesson. Give a 30-second to1-minute talk to either your partner, group or class explaining why your life matters and how humans must do more to protect you and your home.

Natural Curriculum Top Tips:

Use the following sentence stems:

“I am the …”

“I matter because …”

“Humans must …”

Use hand gestures and facial expressions to express emotions such as sadness.
Maintain eye contact with your audience.
Pause before or after important points to let them sink in and create drama.

First Steps

Try this!

Do you need further help understanding the problem? Will you ask for a mathematical resource to help solve the problem? Will you choose a known problem-solving strategy such as trial and error, working backwards or working systematically? Explain to your partner what you intend to do first in your quest to find a solution to the problem.

Natural Curriculum’s Top Tips:

Use the following sentence stems:

“The first thing that I will do is …”

“The reason that I will do this is …”

Think about what you want to say before you say it.
Speak at a volume that just your partner can hear.

Be an active listener by building on your partner’s idea, politely disagreeing with a reason or asking for further clarification if something isn’t clear.
Use precise mathematical vocabulary where possible (multiply, divide, negative numbers, symmetry etc.).

Repair and Share

Try this!

Once you have read the sentences or text, work with a partner to agree on any improvements that could be made. Once you’ve discussed and agreed on these changes, be ready to clearly share them with the class.

Natural Curriculum’s Top Tips:

Use the following sentence stem: “We believe text cohesion would be improved if …”
When discussing with your partner, speak at a volume that only they can hear.
When reporting back to the class, speak clearly and loudly enough for everyone to hear.
Use grammar and punctuation vocabulary accurately when explaining improvements.