Our oracy formula

Pick a topic

Anything that can be written about can also be talked about! 

Pick whatever’s on your curriculum plan just now, or search our database of topics …

We’ve got a rich set of different activities, from quick starters to formats that can last a whole lesson …

Oracy’s both at the heart of what we’ve always been doing as teachers, and an exciting journey that can last a lifetime.

Our key message is: get your classes listening, thinking and speaking today!

And, if you’d ever like more support, check out our pupil workshops and teacher CPD

Expert groups

What is the activity? 

Use grouping strategies to help students share ideas with their peers and learn from each other through discussion, by breaking down information into chunks.

How it works 

  1. Group your students into 4 equal groups (A, B, C, D). Each group will learn and master a unique topic or task. They are responsible for becoming an ‘expert’ in this area.
  2. Students are now also given a number, with numbers varied in each group (so in group A there would be a 1, 2, 3 etc).
  3. Numbered groups now gather, containing one ‘Expert’ from each group. Each ‘expert’ presents and teaches their topic/task to other numbers of the new group.

Across the curriculum

Adaptable for all subject areas. For example:

  • In geography, each group could look at a different migration case study
  • In politics each group could look at a particular election, focus group or political party
  • In history, each group could look at a particular battle, invention, treaty or figure
  • In chemistry, each group could look at a particular element
  • In biology/food tech, each group could look at a different nutrient