English · Year 2

Active learning ideas

Using Visuals in Oral Presentations

Active learning helps students grasp how visuals enhance communication by doing rather than just listening. Pairing visuals with spoken words builds confidence and clarity, showing children how aids support their message in real time.

• ACARA Content Descriptions
• AC9E2LY07

• 20–40 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Stations Rotation
• 20 min · Pairs

Pairs Practice: Visual Story Pair-Up

Pair students and provide a simple story prompt. Each draws one visual aid to support a key part, then presents it to their partner who signals understanding with thumbs up or down. Partners switch roles and discuss improvements.

What kinds of pictures or objects could you show when telling a story or sharing information?

Facilitation Tip

During Visual Story Pair-Up, circulate and prompt pairs with: 'How does your drawing help your partner tell the story differently?'

What to look for

Ask students to hold up one finger if a picture helps explain a story, and two fingers if it makes it confusing. Then, ask them to point to the part of the picture that helped them understand.

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Activity 02

• Stations Rotation
• 30 min · Small Groups

Small Groups: Prop Selection Challenge

In small groups, students retell a familiar story and hunt classroom objects or quick sketches as props. Groups rehearse together, vote on best matches, and present one to the class with feedback.

How does showing a picture help your audience understand what you are talking about?

Facilitation Tip

In Prop Selection Challenge, ask groups to justify choices by holding up mismatched items and asking: 'Would this confuse your audience?'

What to look for

Provide students with a slip of paper. Ask them to draw one simple picture that could help explain their favorite animal. They should write one sentence explaining why they chose that picture.

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Activity 03

• Stations Rotation
• 40 min · Whole Class

Whole Class: Visual Presentation Carousel

Students prepare a personal story with one visual aid. Form a circle where each shares briefly; audience notes what the visual clarified. Teacher facilitates quick reflections after every three shares.

Can you make a simple drawing or bring an object to help explain your presentation?

Facilitation Tip

For Visual Presentation Carousel, model how to stand beside visuals, gesture naturally, and speak to the whole group, not the image.

What to look for

In pairs, students practice telling a short part of a story using a simple drawing. Their partner listens and then answers: 'What did the drawing help you understand better?' and 'Was the drawing easy to see?'

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Activity 04

• Stations Rotation
• 25 min · Individual

Individual: Draw-and-Rehearse Stations

At stations, students draw visuals for their own short presentation on a class theme. They rehearse alone using a mirror or recorder, then self-assess if the visual matches their words.

What kinds of pictures or objects could you show when telling a story or sharing information?

Facilitation Tip

At Draw-and-Rehearse Stations, provide a timer and remind students to practice speaking in complete sentences while pointing to each part of their drawing.

What to look for

Ask students to hold up one finger if a picture helps explain a story, and two fingers if it makes it confusing. Then, ask them to point to the part of the picture that helped them understand.

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

A few notes on teaching this unit

Start by modeling a short presentation with and without a visual to show the difference in engagement and comprehension. Teach students to match visuals to key points rather than decorating slides. Avoid letting students rely solely on visuals; always connect them back to spoken language. Research shows that pairing words with images improves recall, so emphasize intentional pairing over decoration.

Students will confidently use visuals to clarify ideas and engage listeners during oral presentations. They will explain why each visual was chosen and how it improves audience understanding, demonstrating balanced multimodal skills.

---

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During Visual Presentation Carousel, watch for students who speak only to their drawing or read aloud from notes. Gently remind them: 'Turn to the audience, point to your visual, and explain what it shows in your own words.'

  During Prop Selection Challenge, watch for groups choosing random objects that don’t match the story. Stop the activity and ask: 'Does this object help your partner understand the main idea? Try holding up a mismatched item and ask your group how it causes confusion.'

---

Methods used in this brief

• Stations Rotation