Minds On

Stage performance

Explore the following Big Top Academy video.

Student Success

Think-Pair-Share

If possible, discuss the following questions with a partner:

  • What kinds of presentation strategies does April use during her interview and performance?
  • Are they similar or different strategies?
  • How does the audience respond to April’s performance?

Note to teachers: See your teacher guide for collaboration tools, ideas and suggestions.

Action

Presentation and communication strategies

There are three parts to the Minds On video. An introduction, April’s presentation, and the Big Top performance.

Let’s consider April’s presentation. What kinds of presentation and communication strategies does April use? How does she communicate her story?

Review the presentation strategies, answer the questions, and then check your answers.

Press the name of each presentation strategy to check its definition.

We can use specific words or vocabulary to help the audience clearly understand our message.

We can change our tone to express emotions. Our voice might also go up and down when asking a question.

When we change our pace, it means that we might present our ideas quickly or slowly. If we present too quickly, the audience may not be able to understand our message.

Volume is how loudly or quietly we communicate. We can adjust our volume based on the size and type of audience. Pitch is when we make our voice go high or low, and is connected to our tone.

When we present, we can change our expressions to tell the audience how we feel about the information that we are sharing.

We can use body movement or hand gestures to help communicate meaning.

We can use positive or friendly eye contact to help us connect to our audience during a presentation.

We can use visual aids or props as a way to share information with our audience.

Press ‘Answers’ to check your answers by reviewing a detailed table with presentation strategies and examples based on April’s presentation.

Presentation strategies Does the presenter… Example
Word choice

use descriptive language?

repeat specific words or phrases?

During April’s interview, she describes the process of preparing for the performance. She talks about being nervous, but she is able to “calm her butterflies” before the performance.

Tone

change the tone to ask a question, make an exclamation, or express their feelings?

April’s tone gets higher during the interview when she talks about being excited. It gets lower when she talks about being nervous about her solo.

Pace

change the pace?

April uses a medium pace throughout the interview.

Volume

change the volume?

When April is excited, she speaks louder, and when she is describing feeling nervous, she speaks quietly.

Facial

change their facial expressions to bring attention to certain ideas or express emotions?

April smiles to show she is excited.

April is sitting still and looking directly into the camera

Her expression changes to serious when she is sharing that she is nervous.

April is sitting still and looking low from the camera; her mouth is half open and hey eyebrows slightly raised.
Gestures

use hand or body gestures to bring attention to certain ideas?

April keeps her arms at her sides during the interview. She does not use any big gestures, but she keeps her body language open.

Eye contact

use eye contact?

April makes eye contact with the camera throughout the interview.

Visual aids or props

choose visual aids or props to support their ideas?

April does not use any visual aids or props while she shares.

Now, let’s examine some images of April’s Big Top performance. What kinds of strategies do you notice? How was April’s performance different from her presentation? Answer these questions and then check your answers.

Press ‘April’s Performance’ to check your answers.

April uses body language, gestures, and props during her performance. She also uses eye contact to engage with the audience, and changes her facial expression to communicate feelings.

Let’s analyze!

Let’s examine another Big Top Academy performance video. Analyze Chase’s presentation to determine which presentation and communication strategies he uses.

Next, identify which presentation and communication strategies he uses during his performance to engage the audience. Are they similar to or different from his presentation?

You can use the fillable chart provided, or you may use another method of your choice to record your ideas.

Complete the Presentation Strategies Chart in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document

Presentation Strategies Chart
Presentation strategies Does the presenter… Example
Word choice use descriptive language? repeat specific words or phrases?
Tone change the tone to ask a question, make an exclamation, or express their feelings?

 
Pace change the pace?

 
Volume change the volume?

 
Facial expressions change their facial expressions to bring attention to certain ideas or express emotions?

 
Gestures use hand or body gestures to bring attention to certain ideas?

 
Eye contact use eye contact?

 
Visual aids or props choose visual aids or props to support their ideas?

 

Press the ‘Activity’ button to access Presentation Strategies Chart. 

Activity(Open PDF in a new window)

Next, identify which presentation and communication strategies he uses during his performance to engage the audience. Are they similar or different from his presentation? Record your ideas using a method of your choice.

Consolidation

Presentations and performances

Brainstorm

What do you think?

What kinds of strategies did April and Chase use during their presentations? Were these strategies similar or different from the strategies they used during their performances?

How did the audience respond to Chase’s performance?

What have you learned about presentation and communication strategies? How could you use them in your own future presentations or performances?

A boy in blue t-shirt holds a notebook and presents in front of the class.

Reflection

As you read through these descriptions, which sentence best describes how you are feeling about your understanding of this learning activity? Press the button that is beside this sentence.

I feel…

Now, record your ideas using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.