Teachers design lesson plans that are in accordance with the state standards. To enable primary grade students to convey information to others, the teacher might ask students to research a particular topic and make an oral presentation to the class. Students are expected to summarize main ideas and provide supporting evidence in a formal presentation. Details, examples and anecdotes can be used to clarify and explain the information presented.
To encourage primary students to ask thoughtful questions to gain information, the teacher may design a lesson with a question and answer period following the oral presentation of factual material. Students may be instructed to take notes while listening to the oral presentation, and use those notes to construct questions to find out more about the topic. Questions can be posed orally when the presentations are concluded.
One way to have primary students use traditional structures to convey information such as cause and effect or similarity and differences is to set up a panel discussion of a literary work that was read in class. For example, if the students read the fairy tale "Cinderella," the panel might be asked the condition Cinderella found herself in at the beginning of the story, and what was the cause of her unhappiness. The students might be asked to point out the similarities and differences between Cinderella and her step sisters, and how her life changed by the end of the story.
A classroom activity that gives primary students the opportunity to practice giving precise directions and instruction is to have students break down a common activity into several parts and present the directions orally to the class. The more uncommon the task, the more interested the students are likely to be. For example, if a child is a violinist, he might describe putting rosin on the bow, tuning the violin, etc. On the other hand, students can try humor by describing a very easy, common task in great detail. One example might be, How to Blow a Bubble. Directions may go something like: 1. Buy bubble gum; 2.Take off the gum wrapper; 3. Place bubble gum in your mouth; etc.