How To Improve Public Speaking Skills For Students With Fun Activities

Public speaking often ranks as one of the top fears among students—but what if it didn’t have to be that way? What if learning to speak in front of others was something students looked forward to?

By turning practice into play, teachers and facilitators can transform nervousness into excitement and fear into fun. This guide explores how to build public speaking skills in the classroom using creative, hands-on, and enjoyable activities that inspire confidence and communication.

Why Fun Activities Make a Big Difference

When students are engaged in enjoyable activities, they:

• Let their guard down and participate more freely

• Build skills without the pressure of “formal” presentations

• Learn through movement, creativity, and collaboration

• Begin associating public speaking with positive emotions

Making it fun doesn’t mean sacrificing structure—it just means meeting students where they are.

Activity 1: "Topic Toss"

How it works:
Get a soft ball and toss it around the classroom. When a student catches it, they pick a topic from a jar and speak about it for 30 seconds.

Benefits:

• Encourages quick thinking

• Reduces overthinking

• Adds movement and surprise
  
  

Activity 2: “Power of Persuasion”

How it works:
Students pick a random item (like a paperclip or spoon) and try to convince the class why it's the best thing ever invented. Bonus points for creativity and enthusiasm!

Benefits:

• Practices persuasive speaking

• Boosts confidence in expression

• Encourages humor and energy

Activity 3: “Emotion Switch”

How it works:
Have students give a short speech or recite a line while you (or a classmate) call out different emotions—excited, angry, confused, happy—and they have to instantly switch delivery style.

Benefits:

• Teaches voice modulation and expression

• Builds flexibility and awareness of tone

• Helps students get comfortable with performing
  
  

Activity 4: “Talk Show Challenge”

How it works:
Set up a “talk show” scenario with one host and a few guests. They must hold a conversation on a theme (funny, serious, made-up). Let students create characters or personas!

Benefits:

• Builds teamwork and speaking spontaneity

• Encourages active listening

• Makes speaking feel like a fun conversation
  
  

Activity 5: “Mystery Bag Speeches”

How it works:
Put a few mystery items into bags. A student picks one without looking and must give a short speech explaining what it is, how it’s used, or invent a new use for it.

Benefits:

• Sparks imagination and storytelling

• Reduces fear by shifting focus to an object

• Promotes improvisation

Activity 6: “Teach the Class”

How it works:
Each student prepares a short 2-3 minute "mini lesson" where they teach the class how to do something—tie a knot, draw a cartoon, make a smoothie, etc.

Benefits:

• Builds speaker ownership and pride

• Emphasizes clear instructions and structure

• Lets students speak about something they enjoy
  
  

Activity 7: “Speech Selfies”

How it works:
Let students record short video “selfie speeches” on a given topic, then review them alone or with a partner for feedback. Keep it informal and fun.

Benefits:

• Builds comfort with self-assessment

• Helps students spot areas for growth

• Reduces pressure of live performance

Keep It Light, Celebrate Often

Success doesn’t have to mean perfection. Make room for celebration:

• “Best Use of Gesture” award

• “Most Surprising Argument” shout-out

• “Biggest Confidence Boost” milestone

Recognize effort, bravery, and improvement more than polish. The goal is for students to feel proud of their voices.

Final Thoughts: Speaking Should Be Fun

Public speaking doesn’t have to be formal or frightening. In fact, some of the most powerful skill-building happens when students are just having fun. With the right activities, teachers can turn the classroom into a space where everyone finds their voice—and enjoys using it.

When students laugh, play, and speak without fear, they don’t just become better communicators. They become more confident people.