The Hungry Teacher's Hub

🗣️ Middle School Public Speaking Unit

Give your middle school students a structured, confidence-building introduction to public speaking with this 6th–8th Grade Public Speaking Unit. Designed for older students who are ready to think more critically about audience, purpose, and delivery, this unit walks students through the full process of crafting and delivering an informative speech—from analysis and research to drafting, revision, and presentation.

Students analyze real model speeches, break down effective speaking techniques using tools like SOAPSTone, and apply those skills as they plan, write, revise, and present their own speeches. The unit balances speaking and listening skills with writing instruction, making it easy to integrate into your existing ELA curriculum or use as a focused speaking & listening unit.

Low-prep lesson plans, teaching slides, student organizers, and both print and digital materials are included, so you can focus on instruction—not planning.

📌 Resource Snapshot

Grades: 6th, 7th, 8th
ELA Standard Strands: Speaking & Listening, Writing, Informational Reading
Total Lessons: 6
Daily Lesson Time: 20–45 minutes
Unit Duration: 1–2 weeks
Low Prep: Mostly copies
Digital & Print: Yes
Standards: SL.1, SL.4, SL.6, W.4, W.5, W.6
Hub Collection: February 2026

✅ What’s Included

Six Scaffolded Lessons
Students move from understanding the purpose and structure of informative speeches to researching topics, drafting and revising speeches, and delivering a final presentation to an audience.
Teaching Slides
Ready-to-use slides model effective public speaking, organization, tone, and audience awareness, with clear examples and guided discussion prompts.
Speech Analysis & Mentor Tools
Students analyze real speeches using SOAPSTone, identifying speaker choices, purpose, tone, and effectiveness before applying those strategies to their own work.
Student Writing & Planning Pages
Graphic organizers and drafting tools support brainstorming, outlining, drafting, revising, and reflecting on speeches.
Revision & Practice Tools
Peer feedback forms, checklists, and rubrics help students refine content, organization, clarity, and delivery skills.
Presentation & Listening Tools
Structured listening activities and response sheets ensure students actively engage as respectful listeners while learning from their peers’ presentations.

✨ Here’s What Students Will Learn

Public Speaking Structure
Understand how effective speeches are organized, from strong introductions to purposeful conclusions.
Critical Speech Analysis
Analyze model speeches for audience, purpose, tone, and delivery using structured frameworks.
Research & Planning
Develop informative speeches supported by relevant facts, details, and logical organization.
Writing for an Audience
Draft and revise speeches with attention to clarity, tone, and audience engagement.
Revision & Delivery Skills
Practice speaking skills including eye contact, volume, pacing, posture, and confidence.
Speaking & Listening Skills
Present clearly and engage as an active, respectful listener during peer presentations.

💡 Why This Works

Middle school students need explicit instruction and repeated practice to feel confident speaking in front of others.
This unit breaks public speaking into manageable steps, combining analysis, writing, rehearsal, and presentation in a low-pressure, supportive environment.
Clear models, structured feedback, and authentic speaking tasks help students grow as communicators while meeting Speaking & Listening standards in a meaningful way.

🎯 Perfect For