CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.5.5
The Standard
Include multimedia components (e.g., graphics, sound) and visual displays in presentations when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or themes.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Speaking and Listening Standards
What This Standard Means
Students need to choose visuals, audio, or simple media that make a presentation clearer, not just prettier. They should connect each slide, image, chart, prop, or sound clip to a main idea or theme and explain how it helps the audience understand.
Mastery looks like a focused presentation where every visual has a job. Students can say, “I used this map to show where the story changes,” or “This chart proves my claim.” Common trouble spots are crowded slides, random clip art, reading from the screen, or adding media that distracts from the message.
Ways to Teach It
- Have students revise a plain book talk by adding one image, one quote slide, and one title slide, each tied to a main idea.
- Ask students to write: Which visual in your presentation helps the audience most, and what would they miss without it?
- Show three sample slides and have students label each as helpful, distracting, or unclear, with one reason.
- Have students compare a weather report, sports recap, or recipe video to see how visuals help explain information quickly.
Plan a Lesson for CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.5.5
Generate a complete lesson plan aligned to this standard, with objectives, activities, and materials. Free, no account needed.
Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.8.5
Integrate multimedia and visual displays into presentations to clarify information, strengthen claims and evidence, and add interest.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.6.5
Include multimedia components (e.g., graphics, images, music, sound) and visual displays in presentations to clarify information.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.5
Add audio recordings and visual displays to presentations when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or themes.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.7.5
Include multimedia components and visual displays in presentations to clarify claims and findings and emphasize salient points.