CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.5.4
The Standard
Report on a topic or text or present an opinion, sequencing ideas logically and using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Speaking and Listening Standards
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students plan and deliver a short talk with a focused opening, connected points, and a clear closing. They match facts and descriptive examples to each point, then use clear pronunciation, volume, and pacing.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can give a two-minute talk with a focused opening, logically ordered points, and a clear closing. Each point has accurate support, and listeners can easily hear and follow the message.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may list facts without a clear focus or order. They may choose interesting but unrelated details, or repeat opinions instead of supporting them. Some read too quickly, mumble, or speak so slowly that the message becomes hard to follow.
How to Assess It
- Give students three minutes to prepare a 60-second response to: “Should fifth graders have longer recess?” Ask for two ordered reasons, supporting details, and clear speech.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs fact and detail cards about an animal, then have them sort the cards into an opening, three points, and a closing.
After a short read-aloud, students write: Which idea matters most, and which two details would help you explain it aloud?
Play Presentation Relay: each student delivers one ordered point, while teammates score clear speech, useful evidence, and smooth transitions.
Students prepare a two-minute proposal to the principal for one playground improvement, using survey results and specific examples.
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Printable SL.5.4 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.5.4, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.
Download the worksheetLearning progression
Where This Standard Sits
See the whole path on the Speaking & Listening progression map.
Before This Standard
If students are struggling here, check these first.
What This Unlocks
Mastery here sets students up for these next.
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Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.2.4
Tell a story or recount an experience with appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details, speaking audibly in coherent sentences.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.3.4
Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience with appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details, speaking clearly at an understandabl...
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