South Dakota ELA 11-12.SL.4.b

ELAGrades 11–12Speaking & Listening

The Standard

11-12.SL.4: Present content appropriate to the audience, task, and purpose while respecting intellectual property.

Demonstrate effective nonverbal communication (eye contact, facial expressions, gestures, presence, and proximity).

South Dakota English Language Arts Standards (2025)

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students use gaze, facial expressions, gestures, posture, and distance to support what they say. They notice audience reactions and adjust their delivery.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student gives a short talk with gestures and expressions that fit the message. They face listeners in a way that feels natural, keep a comfortable distance, and adjust if listeners seem confused.
Common Misconceptions: Some students think good eye contact means staring at one person. Others add gestures that distract from their point or stand so close that listeners feel crowded.
How to Assess It: Ask each student to give a 30-second pitch for one school improvement. Check whether their gaze, expression, gestures, posture, and distance support the pitch.

Lesson moves

In pairs, students announce a school event while partners use a checklist to track gaze, expression, gestures, posture, and distance.
Deliver one announcement twice, with closed and open posture, then ask: Which version felt more welcoming, and why?
Play nonverbal charades with situation cards, such as apologizing or greeting visitors; classmates name the expressions and gestures they noticed.
Set up a mock job interview; students answer one question while choosing a comfortable distance and an attentive posture.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 11-12.SL.4.b, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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