Woohoo! We Made It to Summer!
To wrap up the school year, I wanted to give my students a fun and meaningful way to practice their speaking, listening, and presentation skills. What better way than with some creativity, collaboration, and a whole lot of laughter?
The Worst Presentation Ever… On Purpose
We kicked things off with the Worst Prezo Ever EduProtocol. First, we watched the hilarious video clip Life After Death by PowerPoint (Clean)—a favorite that highlights all the ways a presenter can totally fail. The kids loved it! As we watched, they took notes on every presentation flaw they could spot. Then, they teamed up to combine their lists.
Now It’s Their Turn (to Be Terrible)
The next day, I gave each group 45 minutes to create a slideshow on any topic they wanted—basketball, pets, anime, you name it. The catch? They had to include one intentional presentation mistake on every slide. From spinning animations to unreadable fonts, these slides were gloriously awful. One group even said their goal was to make me sick with all their transitions!
The Presentation Switcheroo
Here’s where things got really fun: instead of presenting their own slideshows, each group had to present another group’s slideshow—cold. Watching students try to make sense of slides they’d never seen before was absolutely hilarious. I even selected “judges” to give feedback on just how terrible (in a good way) the slides were. It was an unforgettable day full of laughter and learning.
Shifting to Real Presentations
After all the silliness, we transitioned into real presentations. This time, students could choose any topic they were passionate about—from how to care for a dog to reviewing a favorite anime or book.
Before creating their slideshows, they had to storyboard their entire presentation. Each storyboard included:
- A general topic for each slide
- Key points or information
- Possible images to include
This step gave their projects structure and purpose.
Making the Switch: PowerPoint for the Win
Even though I’m usually a die-hard Google Slides fan, I decided to use PowerPoint for this project—and I may never go back! Here’s why:
- Designer Tab: Offers smart layout suggestions, making slides look clean and professional
- Slide Recording: User-friendly tools for students to record their presentations
- Teleprompter Mode: Students can write notes at the bottom of each slide and have them scroll as they present—so helpful!
- Camera On/Off Option: Gave students the option to record with or without showing their face, which made some feel much more comfortable
Showcasing Their Work
Once the videos were finished, I uploaded them to Google Classroom. Students watched each other’s presentations and used a Google Form to vote on categories like:
- Best Slide Layout
- Best Narrator
- Best Overall Video
Wrapping Up with Pride
This project was a huge hit and the perfect way to close out the year. I loved seeing the students take ownership, express themselves, and support each other.
Next year, I plan to take this even further by connecting the project to TED Talks. I want students to teach the class about something meaningful to them—something that really matters.
Until then… here’s to summer! 🎉
