Explaining & Reporting (Grades 3-4)

Introduction: What Does It Mean to "Explain and Report to Each Other"?

Hello, everyone!
In elementary school life, you have lots of chances to present to your classmates—whether it is something you investigated in science or social studies, your classroom committee activities, or interesting things you noticed in everyday life.
You probably already have experience introducing and explaining familiar things in the lower grades. In the middle grades (3rd and 4th grade), we take things a step further! You will learn how to "explain and report by giving reasons and examples so that your listeners can easily understand" and how to "listen and ask questions while taking notes."
Some of you might feel nervous, thinking, "Speaking in front of everyone feels a bit embarrassing..." or "Can I really explain things well?" But don't worry! If you follow the steps and learn the key tips, anyone can deliver a presentation that connects clearly with their audience.

Step 1: Choose Your Topic and Organize the Information You Collected

First, decide on your purpose and topic—what do you want to explain or report?
For example, clarify your purpose at the start: "Let's report on the hidden secrets of how to use our school library," or "Let's explain our neighborhood safety map."

1. "Compare" and "Classify into Groups" (Comparison and Classification)

If you take all the notes you gathered from books, encyclopedias, or by interviewing friends and teachers, and just share them without any order, your listeners will get lost and won't know what matters most.
That is why it is essential to compare the materials you gathered and classify them into groups of similar items.

(Examples)
・Compare the differences between old tools and modern tools.
・Classify the features of creatures you discovered into groups by "what they eat" and "where they live."

[Key Tip]
Write your collected information on cards or sticky notes and rearrange them! When you find the "similarities" and "differences," everything will become clear in your mind. Also, when you look up information in a dictionary or encyclopedia, make sure to jot down where you found it (such as the title of the book).

Step 2: Build a Structure That Clearly Delivers the "Main Point"

Once your information is organized, think about the order of your talk (the structure).
A super important catchphrase in middle-grade Japanese Language study is the "main point" of the talk, along with the "reasons" and "concrete examples" that support it.

The Three Parts of a Talk's Structure

① Beginning (Topic and Main Point)
State clearly right away what you are talking about and the most important thing you want to share (the main point).
Example: "We will report on 'How Our Park Is Used,' which we investigated. The most important thing we want to share is that different people use the park depending on the time of day."

② Middle (Reasons and Concrete Examples)
Explain the main point you introduced in the "Beginning" in more detail. Use phrases like "This is because... (reasons)" and "For example... (examples)" here.
Example: "There are two reasons. First, in the morning, there were many small children and elderly people relaxing on the benches. Second, after school, elementary school students gathered and played energetically on the playground equipment."

③ Ending (Summary and Your Own Thoughts)
Finally, summarize the main point of your talk once more and share your personal thoughts from investigating and reflecting.
Example: "As you can see, the park is used by various people depending on the time of day. We want to think of helpful ways to use the park so that everyone can enjoy their time there."

[Common Mistake]
Sometimes, presenters try to say everything they researched, which makes it hard to tell where the main point is! Ask yourself, "What is the single most important thing I want to say?" and be brave enough to leave out details that are not directly related.

Step 3: Speaking Techniques (Voice Projection and Pausing)

Once you have decided on your content, it is finally time to practice speaking aloud!
In the middle grades, do not just speak loudly—learn thoughtful techniques that make it easy and pleasant for your audience to listen.

1. Look at Your Listeners' Eyes

If you keep your eyes glued to your notes and read in a small voice, your thoughts will not reach your audience.
Lift your head every now and then, and speak while making eye contact with friends sitting in different parts of the classroom.

2. Use Intonation and Dynamic Volume

If you speak in a monotone (the same pitch and same volume throughout), your listeners might get sleepy!
・Dynamic Volume: Say your most important words a little louder and pronounce them clearly.
・Intonation: Make sure your voice reaches all the way to the end of each sentence, and be aware of the rise and fall of your pitch.

3. Take Effective "Pauses"

A "pause" is a brief moment where you stop your breath and do not make a sound.
When switching between the "Beginning, Middle, and Ending," or right before an important word you really want people to notice, "take a breath (pause for 1 to 2 seconds)." This helps your listeners think, "Aha! This part is important!" and understand it deeply.

[Helpful Tip]
If you feel nervous about pausing and end up speaking too quickly, try counting two beats in your head—"one, two"—before starting the next sentence. It will make you sound remarkably calm and confident!

Step 4: Techniques for the Listener (Notes and Questions)

In "explaining and reporting to each other," the listener's role is just as important. When there are good listeners, the speaker can present with confidence and peace of mind.

1. Take Notes While Listening

Writing down every single word the speaker says is too hard! Focus your notes on these two key points:
・The "main point (important terms / keywords)" the speaker wants to share
・The "reasons," "numbers," and "examples" that support that main point

2. Ask Questions to Deepen Your Thinking

When the presentation is over, try asking about things you did not understand or things you would like to know more about.
Example: "I have a question about the elderly people in the morning. How were they spending their time on the benches?"
Rather than just listening passively, asking questions and hearing the answers helps everyone understand the topic much better.

3. Form Your Own Thoughts

After listening to a classmate's presentation, it is important to listen while comparing it with your own ideas, asking yourself: "What would I think about this?" or "Is there anything similar to what I researched?"

[Common Mistake]
When listening to a friend's presentation, are you "just sitting quietly"?
Nodding along as you listen and quickly jotting down words that catch your attention will make the talk stick firmly in your mind!

Step 5: Discuss in Groups or with the Whole Class to Summarize Your Ideas

After hearing the explanations and reports, there will be time to discuss them in groups or as an entire class.
Assign roles like a discussion leader (moderator), and look for the "commonalities (similarities)" and "differences" revealed by the presentations to bring the whole class's ideas together.

・Find commonalities: "I see! That part is just like my opinion."
・Clarify differences: "This part is a little different from how I saw it; let's ask why they thought that way."
By acknowledging each other's perspectives and connecting your words, the whole class will expand its learning together.

Summary Checklist

Whenever you give or listen to a presentation or report, remember to check these points:

[Checklist for Speaking]
□ Did you keep the purpose of your topic in mind, and select your information by comparing and grouping it?
□ Did you organize your talk with a "main point" supported by "reasons" and "concrete examples"?
□ Did you look at your listeners and adjust your volume, intonation, and pauses while speaking?

[Checklist for Listening]
□ Did you take notes while focusing on the "main point" the speaker wanted to share?
□ Did you actively ask questions about things you wondered about or wanted to explore further?
□ Were you able to form your own thoughts after listening to the presentation?

It is totally okay if you need to look at your notes at first, or if your voice is a little quiet.
As you practice explaining and reporting to your friends again and again, you will surely become confident in sharing your thoughts with others!