Graduation Speech Analysis FREE Video-Based Lesson Sub Plan PDF & Google Drive

This print/post-and-teach worksheet (downloads as both a printable PDF and Google Drive version) was designed to help teachers take advantage of the incredible collection of graduation speeches gathered by National Public Radio at http://apps.npr.org/commencement/.

The first page is specifically designed to be used with the NPR site, while the second sheet is the same grid/content with generic, non-NPR site directions for teachers who would prefer to send students to a video hosted on YouTube or some other site.

Famous authors, actors, and athletes have all shared their wisdom with the next generation and this worksheet gives students a concrete task to complete as they enjoy viewing various commencement addresses.

You could show a specific commencement speech in class and have students complete the worksheet. You could use this as a flipped video homework assignment, where students watch an assigned video at home and complete the worksheet. Or you could take your whole class to the computer lab, have students plug in their earbuds, and complete the worksheet on any of the NPR listings that you’ve pre-selected.

Note: Most of the videos are between 15 and 30 minutes in length, though some run almost an hour. I haven’t watched all of the 350+ speeches listed on the NPR site, but all of the ones I have watched are school appropriate. As always, you should preview any materials you plan on sharing with your students to determine appropriateness for your classroom.

Want more print-and-teach materials to use with a variety of texts? Click here for a budget-priced 10-pack of literature supplement lesson materials.

Special thanks to Sunny Williams at Teachers Pondering for letting me know about NPR’s site, "The Best Commencement Speeches, Ever."

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