Body language and gestures — Public speaking for kids

Speaker's tip

Tall, still, open — “stand tall with steady feet, keep hands open and let gestures show your words”

1. Helpful: standing tall, feet steady and apart, relaxed shoulders, open hands, facing the audience, natural gestures.
2. Distracting: slouching, swaying, arms crossed tightly, hands deep in pockets, fiddling, tapping your foot, your back to the audience.
3. Gestures show a number, a size, something to look at or a feeling — they must match your words. When not gesturing, rest your hands at your sides.

Use it for: Class presentations, show-and-tell, debates, elocution and stage events.

Worked example: 🧍 Helpful or distracting body language: arms crossed tightly? → distracting

✏️ Practice

Work it out in your head or on paper, type the answer and press Check. Stuck? Press “Show me how”.

🏁 Lesson 4 test

20 questions. Check each answer, then go to the next one. Get 16 or more right to pass.

🏅 Sign in with Google to earn the 🧍 Body Language Boss badge when you pass — and a certificate when you finish all 8 lessons of Part 1 · Speaking basics. You can still take the test without signing in.

🖨️ Public Speaking Worksheet: Body Language

• Worksheet set 1 (PDF)
• Worksheet set 2 (PDF)
• Worksheet set 3 (PDF)