Speech Work: Participating in a Short Play – Basic 6 English Lesson Note (Second Term)

What is Play Performance?

Participating in a play means acting out a story with other students. You need to:

• Speak clearly so everyone can hear
• Use proper intonation to show emotions
• Move naturally on stage
• Remember your lines and cues

Performance Skills:

Voice Control:

• Speak loudly enough for the audience
• Change your voice for different emotions
• Pause at the right moments
• Pronounce words clearly

Body Language:

• Stand straight and face the audience
• Use hand gestures to support your words
• Move around the stage naturally
• Show emotions through facial expressions

Exercise A – Voice Practice

Read these lines with different emotions:

1. “I am so happy to see you!” (excitement) ↗
2. “Please help me find my book.” (pleading) ↘
3. “That was a wonderful performance!” (praise) ↗
4. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” (disagreement) ↘

Exercise B – Group Play Performance

Perform this short scene in groups of three:

The Missing Homework

Characters: ADUKE (student), SEUN (friend), MRS. BELLO (teacher)

ADUKE: (worried) Seun, I can’t find my Mathematics homework anywhere!

SEUN: (helpful) Did you check your bag properly? Maybe it’s under your books.

ADUKE: (searching) I’ve looked everywhere. Mrs. Bello will be so disappointed.

MRS. BELLO: (entering) Good morning, class. Please submit your homework.

ADUKE: (nervous) Ma, I completed my homework, but I can’t find it.

MRS. BELLO: (understanding) Check your bag once more, carefully.

ADUKE: (relieved) Oh! Here it is, stuck between my notebook pages. Thank you, ma!

Performance Tips:

• Practice your lines until you know them well
• Use appropriate gestures and movements
• Speak with feeling and expression
• Listen carefully to other actors’ cues