1Activity Guide Ages 5 to 8

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Show Show

Life Skill Life Skill Communication

Project SkillProject SkillLearning public speaking skills using

show-and-tell techniques

Objective Objective Participant gives a meaningful show-and-

tell presentation by choosing and doing one

or more of the suggested activities.

Success Success IndicatorIndicatorParticipant discusses a subject in front

of an audience using a prop.

Message Message Makers:Makers:for How Does It Work

• A household or everyday object

for What Is It?• A selected object or picture of

one• Box, bag, or envelope

to contain object• Pencil or marker

for Who Am I?• Magazines or other sources

of pictures• Paper or poster board• Glue or tape• Scissors• Paper bag

andand TellTell

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Here are some ideas for a show-and-tell people

will remember. Pick one of the ideas. Prepare

and give a show-and-tell for your family, class, or

other group of people. Make sure you say why you

picked your subject, what you like about it, and

what you want other people to know about it.

Sometimes a show-and-tell seems

more like a “bring-and-brag.” This

happens when a person talks

on and on about a new toy

or other possession. When

it’s not your toy, this can get boring in a hurry.

Instead, think of something you can share that helps someone.

Has someone ever taught you a neat trick? Have you learned

how to do something that other people would like to know

about? Does someone interesting live in your neighborhood?

Speak Speak Out Out

Ever since you’ve known how to talk, you’ve been doing show-and-

tell. You show people something that belongs to you. You tell where

you got it and why you like it. Your teacher may have asked you to

do a show-and-tell at school. You have probably seen others do

a show-and-tell. Which ones stick out in your mind? Did you

ever see something that was so cool and interesting

that you thought about it for a long time? What’s the

difference between show-and-tell and showing off?

Set Set the the StageStage

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Choose a small object that people use every day.

Maybe it is as simple as a pencil or a fork. How is

it made? How does it work? How long has it been

around? Can you think of a way to make it work better? Give a show-and-

tell about this object, telling about some of the things you found out.

Pick an object or use a picture of that object. It

might be something you have in your room or

something you found outside. Put it in a box, bag,

or envelope, then mark the outside with a question

mark. Think of three clues to give others about

your hidden object. For example, (1) it starts with

the letter “H,” (2) it is made out of wood and

metal, and (3) my dad keeps it in his toolbox. In

this case, the hidden object might be a hammer.

Let others ask you more questions if they need to.

Whoever guesses correctly gets to present next.

How Does How Does It Work?It Work?

What Is It?What Is It?

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Collect pictures of things that you

like. You might use photographs or

pictures you clipped from magazines

or other places. Using paper and glue

or tape, make a collage that answers

the question, “Who am I?”

When you are done, use the

collage to give a show-and-

tell about yourself. Point

to each item and explain

what it means to you.

You are never empty-handed when it

comes to show-and-tell. Your best topic

might be you! But how can you do a

show-and-tell about yourself? Here are

two ideas: collage and grab bag.

Who Am I?Who Am I?

CollageCollage

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Talk in front of a group of people using a paper

bag as your “prop.” Think of three things they

probably already know about you. Now think of

three things they might not know already. Find a

picture or small item that stands for each of these

things. Tape or paste the “already know” items on

the outside. Hide the “don’t know” items on the

inside. Here’s an example. If you’re talking

to people in your class, they know what

grade you are in. Let’s say you’re in

first grade. You might attach or draw

the number 1 on the outside of the bag.

Grab BagGrab Bag

But maybe they don’t know that you

live in a round house! Put an item

representing that fact inside the bag.

To give your talk, start by

describing yourself on the outside.

Use the pictures on the bag

to help you remember. Now

tell about yourself on the

inside by drawing your

items out of the bag.

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Bring a favorite

book to show-and-

tell, pointing to or

reading a favorite part

out loud. Why do you like

the story? Who is the

main character? How

are you like the main

character? How are

you different from

the character?

Take a

stuffed animal

or doll around

with you for one

day. Take it with

you everywhere you

go. Afterward, tell

what the adventure

was like for your

“companion.”

More More Ideas Ideas Interview someone about

his or her work or hobbies,

then tell a group

about it.

Pick something

that was in the

newspaper or something that

happened in your neighborhood

and tell about it. Ask your

helper for ideas.

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ShareShare• What was fun about talking in front of people?• What was special about your show-and-tell idea?• How did you feel when you started talking?

When you finished talking?• What did you like about other people’s show-and-tell?

ProcessProcess• How could you make your show-and-tell better?• How did you decide what topic to talk about?• How many different ways did you communicate in

your show-and-tell? (Remember that communication is more than just talking.)

• How could you tell whether people were interested in your show-and-tell?

GeneralizeGeneralize• Why does it matter if you share things with

other people?• Can you think of grownups who talk a lot in front of

people? Is it something they do for fun or work?

ApplyApply• What other places could you do a show-and-tell?• If you can tell how something works or

describe something you did, how can this help you in school?

Open MikeOpen Mike

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Practice your show-and-tell before you do it.Say your name at the beginning.Say what you are going to talk about.Hold your head up and look out while you talk.Say “thank you for listening” when you finish.

audience a group of people who listen to you

fact something that is true

prop an object you hold or point to while talking

subject an idea or thing that you talk about

Talking TipsTalking Tips

Power Power VocabularyVocabulary

Helper TipsHelper Tips• Encourage young people to welcome the speaker

with applause or a group “Hello.” You may also lead them in clapping afterward.

• Encourage the participant to talk about an experience—a place he or she has visited or a new skill. Explain that this is something the audience can “take home with them” as opposed to an expensive toy on display. The participant can still use objects—a souvenir or tool—for the “show” part of the discussion.

• In a group setting, let children choose an object to discuss from a group of items. You might let them

take the object home to learn more about it. This will help them stay motivated.

• Give participants a theme to work with, for example, nature, weather, a color, a season, or a letter of the alphabet.

• Kids need not have visited Hawaii to have a trip worth telling about. Encourage them to talk about a nature walk, a “trash trek” (litter pick-up), bicycle ride, or visit to a neighbor’s house.

• Older kids might be able to tackle a more advanced topic. Suggest they learn about an inventor and his or her invention. The child could use the item as a prop and describe how it works.

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Contributing AuthorsEd Maxa, Extension 4-H SpecialistCarla Burgess, Freelance Writer

Graphic DesignImpressive Designs, LLC

IllustrationsTanisha Thompson

Published by North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service

Distributed in furtherance of the acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability. In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons with-out regard to sexual orientation. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.

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