Activity Guide Ages 5 to 8 1

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Show
and
Tell
Life Skill
Communication

Project Skill Message

Learning public speaking skills using Makers:
show-and-tell techniques for How Does It Work
A household or everyday object
Objective for What Is It?
Participant gives a meaningful show-and- A selected object or picture of
tell presentation by choosing and doing one one
or more of the suggested activities. Box, bag, or envelope
to contain object
Pencil or marker
Success
Indicator for Who Am I?
Magazines or other sources
Participant discusses a subject in front
of pictures
of an audience using a prop. Paper or poster board
Glue or tape
Scissors
Paper bag

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 Ever since youve known how to talk, youve been doing show-and-

Set 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

the 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

Stage that you thought about it for a long time? Whats the
difference between show-and-tell and showing off?

Speak
Out
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
its 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?

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.
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How Does
It Work?

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.

What Is It?
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.

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 Who Am I?
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.

Collage
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.

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Grab Bag
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 dont know items on the
inside. Heres an example. If youre talking
to people in your class, they know what
grade you are in. Lets say youre in
first grade. You might attach or draw
the number 1 on the outside of the bag.

But maybe they dont 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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More
Ideas Interview someone about
his or her work or hobbies,
then tell a group
about it.

Take a
stuffed animal
or doll around
with you for one
day. Take it with
you everywhere you
go. Afterward, tell
what the adventure Bring a favorite
was like for your book to show-and-
companion. tell, pointing to or
reading a favorite part
out loud. Why do you like
the story? Who is the
Pick something main character? How
that was in the are you like the main
newspaper or something that character? How are
happened in your neighborhood you different from
and tell about it. Ask your the character?
helper for ideas.

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Open Mike
Share
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 peoples show-and-tell?

Process
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?

Generalize
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?

Apply
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?

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Talking Tips
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.

Power
Vocabulary
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

take the object home to learn more about it. This

Helper 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
experiencea 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 toolfor 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
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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 neighbors 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 Authors
Ed Maxa, Extension 4-H Specialist
Carla Burgess, Freelance Writer

Graphic Design
Impressive Designs, LLC

Illustrations
Tanisha Thompson

Published by North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service

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